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oFPROMlNENf^RiPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 

OF THE COUNTY 

TOGETHER WITH- PORTRAITS AND -B/OGRAPHIES-OF-ALL ■ THE 

»©• tf ¥fllf I§ • W-IW -STAT© 



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CHICAGO: 



1890. 




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;glIK greatest uf P^nglish historians, Macaul.vy, and one of the most brilliant writers oi 
the present century, has said : "The liistory of a country is best told ina record of the 
lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the Poutiiait and Biggrai'iiical 
Aliium of tills county has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and 
taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our 
cori)S of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, b}' their 
enterprise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among those 
comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life 
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty by 
industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited 
advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an 
nfluence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who 
ave risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have 
tecoine famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed and 
records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very 
many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content 
to have it said of them us Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "they have done what 
they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the 
anvil, the lawyer's oftice and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace 
once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact 
that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be 
inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and evciy opportunity possible 
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers Hatter them- 
selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biowr.-inh- 
ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
publishers are not to l)lame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to o-ive the 
information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of 
the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested 
one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made 
at their residence or place of business. 

Ch>cauo, September. iS'M. CHAPMAN BROS. 









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FIJiST s'RESinE/\n\ 



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HE Father of our Country was 
Qv born in Westmorland Co., Va., 
Feb. 2 2, 1732. His parents 
were Augustine and Mary 
(Ball) Washington. Tlic family 
to which he belonged h;is not 
l)een satisfactorily traced in 
England. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
[)lanter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildi*d.:::f.Warner 
and had three children, John. 
.Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
tine, the father of George, fiist 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
liim four children, two of whom, 
Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
maturity. Of six children by his 
second marriage, Cieorge was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
and Mildred. 
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George he left the parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
school, when he received private instruction in 
malhemal'cs. His siK-llinsi v/as rather defective. 






Remarkable stories are told of his great physica. 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity wliicli characterized his whole life. 

When George was i4yearsoldhehadadesire togoto 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandonid. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this Inisiness he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
essential to him. In 175 t, though only 19 years of 
age, he was ai)[)ointed adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia wa? 
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
tary districts, of which the northern vv-as assignee to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
and the journey was to be made without military 
escori, through a territory occupied by Indians. The- 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near 
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
a full and useful rejjort of his expedition. A regiment 
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was 
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
Washington took a most imix)rtant part. In the 
memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer 
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
to his brother he says : "I had four bullets through 
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was leveling my companions 
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

After having been five years in the military service, 
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the 
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
CO resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and im|3ortant part. January 17, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
widow of John Parke Custis. 

When the British Parliament had closed the port 
^f Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
delphia,Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
responsible office was conferred upon Washington, 
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted 
it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he 
receive no salary. He would keep an ex'act "account 
of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and 
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
him under every possible disadvantage, and while his 
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 17S3, Washington, in 
a paiting address of surpassing beauty, lesigned his 



commission as commander-in-chief of the army 10 
to the Continental Congress sitting al Annapolis. He 
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
connection with public life. 

In February, 1789, Washington was unanimously 
elected President. In his presidential career he was 
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part 
of other governments ; trials from want ol harmony 
between the different sections of our own country; 
trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and 
while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
sinking at the very outset, it left him exjiosed to 
attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
very annoying. 

At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of 
public life. Later in the year, however, his repose 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France 
At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which he superintended from his 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
his life was suddenly cut off. Decemlier 12, he took 
a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
ill his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
teenth his body was borne with military honors to its 
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
Mount Vernon. 

Of the character of Washington it is imjiossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the operations of 
our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- 
ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
be as lasting as the existence of man. 

The jierson of Washington was unusally tali, erect 
and well proportioned. His muscular strength was 
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry'. 
He commanded respect without any appearance of 
hnughtiness, and ever serious without being dull. 




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^JOOND 1'iXESjDEN T. 



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OHM ADAMS, the second 
President and the first Vice- 
President of the United States, 
was born in Braintree ( now 
Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry- 
Adams, emigrated from England 
about 1640, with a family of eight 
sons, and settled at Braiatree. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
father was a farmer of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvard College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
'sci'.ool of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
gain .elief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
h.id thought seriously of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been tiirned from this l)y what he 
cermed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
cils, cf diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' 
of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
tive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
marriage, (17C15), the attempt of Parliamentary ta,\a- 
*jon turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
steps toward holdin^ t town meeting, and the resolu- 



tions lie offered on the subject became very populat 
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Cong^e^s, 
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himselt 
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
vocated the movement for independence against ths 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he mcved 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
should assume the duties of self-government. He 
w.:s a prominent member of the committee of iive 
appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
on Adams devolved the task of battling it tlirough 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with th; 
glow of e.xcited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife 
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or wil 
be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history 
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
God. It ought to be solemnized with jxjmp, shows- 



24 



JOHN ADAMS. 



games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
tiom one end of the continent to the other, from this 
time forward for ever. You will think me transjxjrted 
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
tlic toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this d-eclaration, and support and defend 
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
worth more than all the means; and that posterity 
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
hope we shall not." 

In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjaniin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
1779. In September of the same year he was again 
chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
might l)e found willing to listen to such pioposels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
Holland, where he negotiated imiortant loans and 
formed important commercial treaties 

Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
was advised to go to England to drink the waters of 
Bath. While in England, still drooping anddesiwnd- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot, he made the trip. 

February 24, T785; Congress appointed Mr. Adams 
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
garded hiin as a traitor. As England did not 
condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
plishing Init little, he sought permission to return to 
nis own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 

When Washington was first chosen President, John 
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President, .^gain 
at the second election of Washington as President, 
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
elected President, though not without much opposition. 
Serving in this office four years, he was succeeded by 
Mr. Je''''erson, his opponent in ]»!itics. 

>/hile Mr Adams was Vice President the great 



French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
classof atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. 
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- 
iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
men, and two jxiwerful parties were thus soon organ- 
ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sympathy with F'rance. 

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
institution which he had been so active in creating and 
supixirting. In r824, his cup of hap])iness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the liighest 
station in the gift of the people. 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
earth to hail its morning I'ght. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished theit 
earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
dependence FOREVER." When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
"Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
signed his s]iiiit into the hands of his God. 

The personal appearance and manners of Mr. 
Adams were not particularly preixjssessing. His face, 
as his jiortrait manifests,was intellectual ard expres- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
the engaging elegance and i;racefulness which marked 
the manners and address of Jefferson. 



'4% 



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wz. 



THIRD PRESIDENT. 



27 







IPFIEBS4)Ko <f 







HOMAS JEFFERSON was 

born April 2, 1743, at Shad- 

S<^«ell, Alherniarli; county, Va. 

His parents were Peter and 
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
the former a native of Wales, 
and the latter born in Lon- 
don. To tlieni were born six 
daughters and two sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
father died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav- 
ing been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 he entered William 
and Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obodeof fashion 
a. id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat e.\pensively, keeping fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay'sociely, yet he 
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irrejiroacha- 
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
s\u:h intluences,tliat he was not ruined. In the sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
hours a day to haid study, allowing himself for ex- 
ercise only a run in tlie evening twilight of a mile out 
of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
higii intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
Creek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and 



S^f^ 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureniinded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately upon leaving college he began tl'.e 
study of law. For the short time he continued in tl;e 
jfractice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
resistance of tlie American Colonies, and the enlarged 
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosei 
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses I r_ 
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and liighly accomplished young widov, 

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, th-n 
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, whicl 
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent ar.G 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye" 
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Veri.oi; 
became the most distinguisiied resort in our land. 

In 1775 he was sent to the Colonial Congress 
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and Ir; 
was placed upon a number of important commitieeD, 
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John .'Vdanis. 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were m:;de 
in it by Congress, and it was passed antl signed July 
4, 1776 What must have been the feelir.gs of that 



z8 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
who was cliargcd with the preparation of that Dec- 
laration, which, wliile it made known the wrongs of 
America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
sioverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
aiarkahle papers ever written ; and did no other effort 
if the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
hufticient to stamp his name with immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
Patrick Henry, as Governor of Virginia. At one time 
the Ihitish officer, Tarletoii, sent a secret expedition to 
Monlicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and 
\\\ the summer of 1782 she died. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
Jan. r, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
dent, and four years later was elected President over 
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
and George Clinton, Vice President. 

The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the 
tran(iuilily and peace of the Union; this was the con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
military expedition intc the Spanish territories on our 
southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there 
a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
fjrty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
.ic, and all that time had been employed in offices of 
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
declining years reijuired, and uixin the organization of 
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. 

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable watering-place. 

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 



sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
great preparations were made in every [lait of ihi; 
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
the ciuzens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer 
and one of the fetv surviving signers of tlie Declara- 
tion, to participate in their testivities. But an ill- 
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under which 
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained no 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish tha', 
he might be permitted to breathe the airof the fiftieth 
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
life! To die on that day,— the birthday of a nation,- - 
the day v/hich his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. 

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of 
freedom ; hand in hand, during the dark and desider- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
century they had labored together for the good of 
the country; and now hand in hand they dejiart. 
In their lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In i)erson Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
white and silvery ; his complexion was fair, his fore- 
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and 
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage; and his command of tem- 
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and 
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
discernable the care with which he formed his slylt 
upon the best models of antiquity. 




J- (Z/C<^^^^ .^y(^ (*-<.M-'^-( ty'K 



FOURTH PRFSIDENT. 



priQES ni^Disoi]. 




1 



AMES MADISON, "Father 
of the Constitution," and fourth 
^' President of the United States, 
was born March 16, 1757, and 
died at his home in Virginia, 
'■^^ June 28, 1836. The name of 
James Madison is inseparably con- 
nected with most of the important 
events in that heroic period of our 
country during which the founda- 
tions of this great republic were' 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of tlie Constitution of the United 
States to l)e called to his eternal 
reward. 

The Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
peake but 15 years after tiie settle- 
ment of Jamestown. The father of 
James Madison was an opulent 
lanter, residing upon a very fine es- 
tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
esque and romantic, on the west side 
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
It was but 25 miles from the home of 
The closest personal and 



Blue Ridge. 

Jefferson at Monticello. 

political attachment existed between these illustrious 

men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
iS he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 




prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but ihret 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 177 i, with a feeble 
body, with a character of utmost purity, and wi;h a 
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf 
quent career. 

Returjiing to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with which he asso 
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a stroi'g 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work ol 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of- 
mind, and his frail health leading him to think tluv 
his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- 
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a nv.nj 
singularly free from passion and [jrejudice, and wi:l; 
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weiphcd 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, lo 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
He refused to treat the whisky-loving voters, and 
consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson weie 
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their appreciation o\ liis 



32 



JAMES MADISON. 



intcllecuial, social and mural worth, contributed not 
a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
our land, and he was iuniiediately assigned to one of 
the most conspicuous positions among them. 

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. 

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
tional government, with no power to form treaties 
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
was not any .State more prominent than Virginia in 
the declaration, that an efficient national government 
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
Virginia, inviting tiie other States to appoint commis- 
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
this subject. Five States only were represented. The 
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
by Mr. Madison, urgmg all the States to send their 
delegates to Pliiladelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
uf tnat Confederate League. The delegates met at 
I he time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island 
was represented. George Washington was chosen 
president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
and the pen of James Madison. 

The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was 
to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
States, with but little power at liome and little respect 
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, 
and urging its adoption. There was great opposition 
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
went into effect in 1789. 

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
avowed leader of the Republican party. While in 
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a 
young widow of remarkable power of fascination, 
whom he married. She was in person and character 
queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied 
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. , 



British orders in council destioyed our conuueii.e, and 
our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, reiiiing 
in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the 
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
boil, even now, to think of an American slii[) brought 
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an Englisli cruiser. 
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
battles of England. This right of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
the British cabinet to relinquish. 

On the i8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave 
iiis approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
of March, t8i3, was re-elected by a large majority, 
and entered upon his second term of office. Tliis is 
not the place to describe the various adventures of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infan'- 
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- 
pling with the most formidable power which ever 
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 
i8t3, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the United States under blockade. 

The Em|>eror of Russia offered his services as me 
ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
burg, upon Washington. 

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of tiie 
metroix>lls. The whole population fled from the city. 
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
House, with her carriage drawn up at the door to 
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, 
and he could not go back without danger of being 
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
Washington were in flames. 

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
Feb. 13, 18x5, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of 
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
age of 85 years, lie fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
son died July 12, 1849. 




7 



^^Zl, 



FIFTH PRESIDENT. 



35 





^ r^LM^ 



PEQES njOIJItOE. 








AMES MONROE, the fifth 
.Presidentof The United States, 
was born in Westmoreland Co., 
Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
life was passed at the place of 
nativity. His ancestors had for 
many years resided in the prov- 
ince in which he was born. When, 
at 17 years of age, in the process 
" «' of completing his education at 
William and Mary College, the Co- 
lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
delphia to deliberate upon the lui- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
Great Britian, declared the separa- 
tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

H.> joined the army when everything looked hope- 
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
tending with an enemy whom they had been taught 
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
political emancipation. Tiie young cadet joined the 
ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured counlry, 
with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 



for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four months 
after the Declaration of Indei)endence, the patriots 
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left 
shoulder. 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was i)ro- 
moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
officer in the staff of Lord Steding. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 177S, in the actions of Brandy 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-de-camp ; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun- 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 1782, he was elected from King George county, 
a member of the Ueglislature of Virginia, and by that 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
at this early period displayed some of that ability 
and aptitude fi>r legislation, which were afterwards 
employed with unremittii^g energy for the public good, 



56 



JAMES MONROE. 



he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
ihe Congress of the Uiiiicd States. 
Decplyas Mr. Monioefeh the imi)erfe<tionsof theolcl 
■ 'onlcderacy, he was opposed lotlienew Constitution, 
•,hi:iking, with many others of 'he Republican parly, 
'.hat it gave too much power to the Central Government, 
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
sui)porters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
secured its adoption. In 1789, lie became a member 
of the United States Senate; which office he held for 
four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
the Federal and the Rei)ublican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
siiict construction of tlie Constitution as to give the 
Central Government as little power, and the State 
Governments as much power, as the Constitution would 
warrant. The Federalists sympathized with F^ngland, 
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
stitution, which would give as much power to the 
Central Government as that document could possibly 
authorize. 

The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
iiuilding u|) this majestic nation, which is destined 
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Washington was then President. England had es- 
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conllict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending powers. France had helped 
us in the struggle for our liljcrties. All the despotisms 
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
thai; that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- 
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

W'ashington, who could appreciate such a character, 
d .'veloped his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister 
(if that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 



Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
roe was elected Ciovernor of Virginia, and held the 
office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territory then known as the Province of 
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Sjiain. Tlieir united efforts were sue ■ 
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
This was probably the largest transfer of real estate 
which was ever made in all the history of the world. 

From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
tain from that country some recognition of our 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
redress. He returned to his home and was again 
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the position of Secretary of State under 
Madison. While in this office war with England was 
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. LTpon the return oi 
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
jii ration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec 
tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
been chosen President with but little opposition, and 
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years j 
later he was elected for a second term. 

Among the important measures of his Presidency 
were the cession of Florida to the LTnited States; the 
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.'' 

Tliis famous doctrine, since known as the "Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
time the United States had recognized the independ- 
ence of the South American states, and did not wish 
to have European powers longer attempting to sub- 
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt 
on the part of European powers to extend their sys- 
tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light than as a manifestation by European 
powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the LTnited 
States." This doctrine immediately affected the course 
of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
sentiment of the LTnited States. 

At the end of his second term Mr. Monroe retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830, 
when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1831 




j, 3, Ai 



''OYt^ 



SIXTH PRESIDENT, 





'^'''' j^-<^''^ a^T^''-' jLt'^"' jbt'^'^^-'-' jLj^'^^^^^ 

I 30RI] QniI]6Y ^D^IIQS. I 




OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
sixth President of the United 
^Slates, was born in the rural 
iionie of his honored father, 
John Adams, in Qaincy, Mass., 
on the I ith cf July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exalted 
vorth, watched over his childhood 
during the almost constant ab- 
sence of his father. Wiien but 
eight years of age, he stood with 
' his niotlier on an eminence, listen- 
ing to the booming of the great bat- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
upon the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

When but eleven years old he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with his father for Europe, 
through a fleet ol ho.;tiL' Britisii cruisers. The bright, 
animated l/oy spent a year and a half in Paris, where 
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
\ninister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
ihe notice of these distinguislied men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
cou:-try, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
loi.a Quincy accompanied his father. ■ At Paris he 
ap[)lied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
to :.'udy; then accompained his father to Holland, 
vnere he entered, first a scliool in .\msterdam, then 
llie llniversity at Leyden. About a year from this 
'ime, in 1781, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
yea"; of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

In this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
•ulture he s[)cnt fourteen months, and tlien returned 
10 Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. Tliis long journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in liis sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
his studies, under a priv.-ite tutor, at Hague. 'I'hence, 




in tiie spring of r782, he accompanied his father tc 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
with the most distinguished men on the Continent- 
examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
became associated with the most illustrious men of 
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
themes which can engross the human mind. Afte" 
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and 
consecrated all liis energies to study until May, 1785, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, v,ho had seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive 
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
able to obtain an independent support. 

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty 
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, lie reached 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Great Brilian. After thus spending a fortnight ir, 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal a.-, 
minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
directing him to the court of Beiiiii, but requesting 
him to remain in London until he should receive his 
instructions, ^\'hile waiting he was married to an 
American lady to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter 
of Mr. Joshua Tohn.son, American consul in I ondon ; 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those iccom- 
plisliment which eminently fitted her to move in tl.e 
elevated sphere for which she was destined. 



4° 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
where he reniaincd until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
filled all the puri»ses of his mission, lie solicited his 
recall. 

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
the Senate of Massai:husetts, from lioslon, and tlien 
was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, liis 
aliility and his e.\i)erience, placed him immediately 
among tiie most prominent and influential members 
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
funiliar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
these points, and no one more resolved to present 
a firm resistance. 

In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
idential chair, and he immediately nominated Jolin 
(^uincy .-Vdams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at Boston, in August, 1809. 

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
European system of weights, measures, and coins; to 
tlie climate and astronomical observations; while he 
Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
Latin classics. In all the universities of Eurojie, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
.\11 through life the Bible constituted an important 
part ol liis studies. It was his rule to read five 
cha[)ters every day. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. 
.'Vdanis Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Europe, lie 
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the 
i8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
of State. 

Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second 
term of office, new candidates began to be presented 
foi the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
William H. Crawford, torty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
se/en. As there was no choice by the people, the 
question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
(!llay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
*f>e ii:ist history of our country than the abuse which 



was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
early, and taking much exercise. M'hen at his home in 
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and apjilying himself to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew- 
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
jwrtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
"the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. 'I he 
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
in Its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in 
presenting petitions for the aliolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
with expulsion from the House, with assassination; 
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was complete. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
he slept, the prajer which his mother tauglit him in 
his infant years. 

On the 2 1 St of February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken t>y jiara ly- 
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is the end of earth .-"then after a moment's 
pause he added, "I am eontent" These were the 
last words of the grand " Okl Man Eloquent." 



SEVENTH PRESIDENT. 



-13 










'^S:^?^, , Sis' 




NDREW JACKSON, the 
-■venth President of the 
United States, was born in 
Waxhavv settlement, N. (J., 
March 15, 1767, a few days 
after his father's death. His 
parents were [joor emigrants 
from Ireland, and took up 
their abode in Waxhaw set- 
tlement, where they lived in 
deepest poverty. 
Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
universally called, grew up a very 
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
features were coarse, his form un- 
gainly; and there was but very 
little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
tractive. 

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
17X1, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
the dauntless boy. 

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
Dlow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other upon the 
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
disabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their 
mother was successful mi obtaining their exchange, 



and took her sick boys home. After a long iilnosE 
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon 
left him entirely friendless. 

Andrew supported himself in various ways, s i:h as 
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was ap[)ointed 
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
witti the Sharp Knife. 

In 1 791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
Jackson into disfavor. 

During these years he worked hard at his profes- 
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
people met in convention at Kno.wille to frame a con- 
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
The new State was entitled to but one meml cr in. 
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack-I 
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its 



44 



ANDREW JACKSON. - 



sv;siions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. lie admired 
Bonaparte, loved France and hated iMigland. As Mr. 
Jackson took his seat, Cien. Washington, whose 
second term of office was then expiring, deliveied his 
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
did not a[)i)rove of the address, and was one of the 
twelve who voled against it. He was not willing to 
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been 
" wise, firm and patriotic." 

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of Iris State, which (losition he held for six years. 

When the war of 1812 with Great Britian com- 
menced, Madison occujiied the Presidential chair. 
Aaron P.'.irr sent word to the President that there was 
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferred upon him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
ofTeied his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops 
were assembled at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
tack i.pon New Orleans, where Gen Wilkinson was 
in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev- 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
the men were ordered liack to their homes. But the 
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
golden opinions ; and he became the most po|)ular 
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." 

So.Tu after this, while attempting to liorsewhi|) Col. 
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
lingering upon a bed of suffering news came that the 
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
-lers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 

The Creek Indians had established a strong ford on 
nnf i'{ t!ie bendsof theTallanoosa River, near the cen- 
ter of .Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
With an army of two thousand men, Gen. Jackson 
t'aversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
d 'VS. He re iched their fort, called Tohopeka or 
Horse-shoe, oa th_> 27th of March. 1814. The bend 



of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable brea.st- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 

The fort was stormed. 'I'he fight was utterly des- 
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves ii.Io the 
fiver; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed A few probably, in the night, sw; rn 
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
power of the Creeks was broken forever. ']"his 1 eld 
plunge into the wilderness, with itsterriffic sl.mghler, 
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remi.aiits 
of the bands came to the camp, begging tor peace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
was appointed major-general. 

Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to 
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fori, 
and from l)Oth ship and shore commenced a furious 
assault The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 

Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
And the battle of New Orleans w hich soon ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
for Gen. Jackson an imjjerishable name. Here his 
troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of about 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two thousand six liundred. 

The name of Gen. Jackson soon Ijegan to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Piesidency, but,in 1824, 
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
for a second term in 1832. Tn 1829, just before he 
assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock cf 
her death he never recovered. 

His administration was one of the most menioral>le 
in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 




^ "7 2^Uc^ .^^^-^-^^-^.^-e^ 



i 



EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 







Ck 






^ 




ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
hth President of the 
United States, was born at 
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1782. He died at the same 
[)lace, July 24, 1S62. His 
body rests in the cemetery 
at Kinderhook. Above it is 
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
high, bearing a simple inscription 
about half way up on one face. 
V The lot is unfenced, unbordeved 
or unbounded by shrub or flower. 

There is but little in the life of Martin Van Bureu 
of romantii; interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and e.xemplary piety. 

He was decidedly a jirecocious boy, developing un- 
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At tlie 
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
in his native village, and conuiienced the study of 
law. As he h.ad not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-ofifice were required of him 
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies witli indefatigable industry. After 
bl^ending si.\ years in an office in bis native village. 



he went to the city of ^few York, and prosecuted his 
studies for the seventh year. 

In 1803, Mr. VanBuren, then twenty-one years of 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listeni^ig to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in his 
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
cause of State Rights ; though at that time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
and State. 

His success and increasing ruputation led him 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, tlu 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years , 
constantly gaining strength by contending in tht- 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished foi 
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short 
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep ovei 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In t8i 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to 
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1S15, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of the State. 

While he was acknowledged as one of the most 
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 



♦s 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



the moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
not require that " universal suffrage" which admits 
the vile, tlie degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
governing the State. In true consistency with his 
democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
path leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
to every man without distinction, no one should be 
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
and some property interests in the welfare of tlie 
State. 

In 1 82 I he was elected a member of the United 
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
-lative State. His course in this convention secured 
[he approval of men of all parties. No one could 
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 

In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
.he Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
.ermined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 
'State Rights" view in opposition to what was 
deemed tlie Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 

Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned liis 
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
States contviiiuted so much towards ejecting John Q. 
Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whetlier 
entitlcHl to tlie reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
g.irded throughout the United States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
"t was supposed that no one knew so well as he how 
;o touch the secret spiings of action; how to pull all 
;he wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to 
organize a political army whicii would, secretly and 
fteaithily accomplish the most gigantic results. By 
these powers it is said tliat he outv/itted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
lew thought then could be accomplished. 

VV ij 1 Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
.■.;ip.,inted Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This 
poiiiion lie resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
apjioipted Minister to England, where he went the 
sime autumn. The Se;iate, however, when it met, 
refu.sed to ratify the nomination, and he leturjied 



home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- 
ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
secured his elevation to the chair of the Cliief Execu 
five. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
Jackson as President of the United States He was 
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
upon him the power to appoint a successor." 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in 
volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
of the slavery question, and finally tlie great commer- 
cial panic which spread over tlie country, all were 
trials to liis wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that lie 
failed of re-election. 

With the exception of being nominated for the 
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate un'il 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
competence for his declining years. His unl)leniislied 
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
4th of March, 1841, tliat Mr. Van Buren retired fiom 
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald 
he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics 
of the country. From this time until his death, on", 
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, ot 
culture and of wealth; enjoyirg in a healthy old 
age, probably far more happiness than lie had before 
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life 




af^*-^: 



/t/. )9r )9a^iyi^ 



"H^ 



NINTH PRESIDKNT. 



S' 







■« wiii^MM wm^m m4^^ii 





ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
SOM, the ninth President of 
the United States, was born 
at Berkeley, Va., Fel). 9, 1773. 
His father, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively op- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, %\ as early elected 
a'meinberof the Continental 
Congress, and was conspicuous 
among the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of the 
British crown. In the celebrated 
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
Ijoth candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

Mr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
William Henry, of course enjoyed 
in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where be graduated 
with honor soon after the death of his father. He 
-hen repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
lObert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

.'Jpon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
ai)andoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



dent Washington. He was then but ly years old. 
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. 'I'his 
Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
position. 

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
was divided liy Congress into two portions. The 
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
\\'isconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap- 
pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign u]X)n the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white [wpulation. The ability and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, 
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When he began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlements in that almost Ijoundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all tlie 
tumult of wealth and traffic. Oneof these settlements 
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the thiid a French 
settlement. 

The vast wilderness over which Gov. H.nrrisci. 
reigned was filled with many tribesof Indians. Abou' 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, 
of the Shavvnese tribe, rose among them. One oi" 
these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching 
Panther;" the other, OUiwacheca, or " The Pro[)liet." 
Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
of great sagacity, I'ar-reaching foresight and indomit- 
able perseverance in any enterprise in which he might 
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, 
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
anorator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
they dwelt. 

But the Prophet was not merely anoratcn:: he was, 
in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
tiie Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
by the Great Spirit. 

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
October 28, 18 12, his army began its march. When 
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
tlieir appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was 
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of [leace. 

But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by such ])rotes- 
tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise. 
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept 
upon their arms. 

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
loaded musket l)y his side, and his bay oiict fixed. The 
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
ble, and Just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the desperation which superstition and passion most 
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the 
little army. The savages had been amply provided 
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
war-whoop was accompained l)y a shower of bullets. 

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
Dus yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a 
s|ieedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
\intil day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
charge witli the l>ayone.t, and swept every thing be- 
fore them, and completely routing thf" foe. 



Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending from the Can - 
adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
with their savage allies, rushing like wolves from the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
ing, plundering, scali)ing, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
Under these despairing circumstances. Gov. Harrison 
was appointed Ijy President Madison commander-in- 
chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect tlie frontiers. 

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; bul 
Cieneral Harrison was found equal to the position, 
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re 
sponsiliilities. 

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharinji 
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British officers, 
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
before the fire, without bread or salt. 

In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
the National House of Representatives, to represent 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In iSrg, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors 
of tliat State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 

In 1836, tlie friends of Gen. Harrison Ijrought him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re -nominated by his 
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler forthe Vice Presidency. 
The contest was very animated. Gen. Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
his triumph was signal. 

The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
brilliant with which any President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous prospects. Gen'. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after 
his inau<ruration as President of the United States. 



I 



i 





7/7Z/ 




TENTH PRESIDENT. 



55 




^WSm T¥ILEMo 




^'^?i7f 



OHN TYLER, the tenth 
, I'residentof the United States. 
He was born in Charles-city 
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
was the favored child of af- 
fluence and high social po- 
' sition. At the early age of 
twelve, John entered William 
and Mary College and grad- 
ii.ited with much honor when 
hut seventeen years old. After 
graduating, he devoted him- 
self with great assiduity to the 
study of law, partly with his 
father and p.irtly with Edmund 
Randolph, one of the most distin- 
guished lawyers of Virginia. 

At nineteen years of age, lie 
'k commenced the practice of law. 
His success was rapid and aston- 
ishing. It is said that three 
months had not elapsed ere there 
was scarcely a case on the dock- 
I et of the court in which he was 

not retained. \\'hen but twenty-one years of age, he 
was ;',hnost unanimously elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
nratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
lefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
w,s elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
unanimous vote or his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
ably with the Djmocratic party, opposing a national 
bank, intPTnal improvements by the General ^Vivcn- 



ment, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict con* 
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
were so arduous that before the close of his second 
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
by a very large majority of votes. Governor of his 
native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
man, thtn represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
United States. A portion of the Democratic party 
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
and brought forward John Tyler as his op|)onent, 
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. 

In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and 
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
ing all projects of internal improvements by the (jen- 
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had 
abandoned the principles of the Democratic party. 
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
had always avowed. 

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
l;is profession. There was a ;pl:t in the Deir.ocraiic 



S6 



JOHN TYLER. 



party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- 
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
forty-si.x. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was 
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
of law, and devoted iiimsclf to tlie culture of his plan- 
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
for the better education of his children ; and he again 
took his seal in the Legislature of Virginia. 

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
1839. The majority of.votes were given to Gen. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
thy with the Whig party in the Noith: but the Vice 
President has but very little power in the Govern- 
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
Democratic Vice President were chosen. 

In 1 84 1, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. In one short month from 
that time. President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus -cund himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
une.xpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
office. He was placed in a position of e.xceeding 
delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
opposed tc tb.e main principles of the party which had 
brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
sistent, hone:t man, with an unblemished record. 
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig caliinet. Should 
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
whicii had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
mony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
selected to retain their seats. He reccommended a 
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
bless us. 

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with 
his veto. He tsuaeested, however, that he would 



ajiprove of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
Bolls, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
touched the pride of the President. 

The opposition now e.\ultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. The parly which elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
an end. 

Siill the President attempted to conciliate. He 
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs 
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
old friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and 
probably to his own unspeakable relief. His first wife, 
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
and in June, 1844, PresidentTyler was again married, 
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
many personal and intellectual accomplishments. 

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
est, Charles-city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished with information from 
books and experience in the world, and possessing 
brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was 
the scene of unasual attractions. ^Vitll sufficient 
means for the exercise of a generous ho=|)itality, he 
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own principles and 
policy had helped to introduce. 

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State- 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, b" 
force of arms, the Government over which he had 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 




C^J^ 



U-^;^. ^ ^g» — _ 



ELE I Ei\ Til PRESWEN T. 



59 





i 



AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 

^5&President of the United States, 

was born in Mecklenburg Co., 

N. C.,Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 

>":>^ ents were Samuel and Jane 

/ (Knox) Polk, the former a son 

-tS of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 

at the above place, as one of the 

first pioneers, in 1735. 

In the year 1006, with his wife 
and children, and soon after fol- 
lowed by most of the members of 
the Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
miles farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
derness, James K. Polk spent the 
early years of his childhood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
' gradually increased in wealth until 

he became one of the leading men of the region. His 
mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
sense and earnest piety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
:i liberal education. His mother's training had made 
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 



i 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disapixjintmeut. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. ^V'ith 
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
scliolars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in 1818,, with the highest honors, be« 
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at thi? 
time much impaired by the assiduity with whicli he 
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
office of Felix Grundy, to sludy law. Here Mr. Poll- 
renewed his acquaintance with .Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably beci 
slightly acquainted before. 

Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republiciui, 
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi- 
cal faith. He was a popular public speaker, and \v."s 
constantly called ujx)n to address the meetings of h.is 
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such thct 
he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump. 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial aid 



\ 



6o 



/AMES K. POLK. 



lourterus in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
nature in the jojs and griefs of others which ever gave 
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
tinuec- in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
of 'I'^nnessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
always in his seat, always courteous; and whenever 
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
ambitious rhetorical display. 

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo- 
ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, imme"diately demanded his passports and 
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
to be an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message, President Polk urged that 
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
other States. In the meantime. Gen. Taylor was sent 



with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
where he erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
the western banks. 

The anticipated collision soon took place, and wa; 
was declared against Mexico l>y President Polk. The 
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of "occupation," 
then of " invasion, ''was sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands 
We now consented to peace upon the condition that 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right: there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 

On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor. Mr Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
and his health was good With an ample fortune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
of tranquility and hapinness were i)efore him. But the 
cholera — that fearful scourge— was then sweeping up 
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
and died on the 15th of June, 1S49, in the fifty-fourth 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 




i \^ / 



-j^i 




^%^- 



TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 



63 









ACHARY TAYLOR, iweltth 
President of the United States, 
was born on tiie 241]! of Nov., 
1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
%s father, Colonel Taylor, was 
''^ a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
tinguished patriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When Zachary 
was an infant, his father with his 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentucky, where he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. In this front- 
?(ii5* ier home, away from civilization and 
I all its refinements, young Zachary 
could enjoy hut few social and educational advan- 
tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
oianifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Indians wlio were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
In iSoS, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
tliis he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
from one of the first families of Maryland. 

Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in 1S12, Capt. Taylor (for lie had then been 
promoted 10 that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
icd by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 



company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Early in the autumn of 181 2, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. The.i 
approach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible jireparalion to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at 'a distance. 

The sun went down; the savages disappeared, the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest around, followed by the discharge ol 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
ture. No pen can describe, r.o immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
continued. The savages tiien, bafiled at every point, 
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Until the^lose of the war, MajorTaylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 



64 



ZACHARY TAYLOR 



tellectiial stimiilas. Thus witii him the unevenlfiil 
years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in 
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 

For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
emiiloyments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
beyond the limits of his own immediate ac(iuaintance. 
In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
■ tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
hac' promised they should do. The services rendered 
heie secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
tc ;he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
mand of the United States troops in Florida. 

After two years of such wearisome employment 
amidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. Taylor 
obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
r..nd was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
Alabama and Georgia. Establishing liis headquarters 
al Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
imposed upon him. 

In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river 
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by tlie United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
was l)rought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
forces much larger than he commanded. 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
\\\Q sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.' 

Tlie tidiiigs of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
;pread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
ful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 
lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- 
claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
who had been long years in the public service found 
fl.tir claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 



had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
Aito, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 

Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
pared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — 
Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
Thougii he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, 
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- 
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians. 

In the midst of all these troubles. Gen. Taylor, 
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, r85o. 
His last words were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- 
mented his death. 

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
description of his character: — " With a good store of 
common sense. Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
quence. The frontiers and small military posts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and quite i)igoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigilile, well suited to the 
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out 
side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated jihrase, 
'touch with a pair of tongs.' 

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's spelling-book, on the jiart of one wearing a 
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. Insliorf 
few men have ever had a more comfortable', labo:- 
saving contempt for learning of every kind." 





(^C^t.c^^^ J t/^^:^'i'-i^ocnx) 



THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



67 











ting to 
( iimsl 



ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
teenth President of the United 
States, was born at Summer 
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
the 7lh of January, iSoo. His 
hither was a farmer, and ow- 
mg to misfortune, in humble cir- 
mistances. Of his mother, the 
daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
i^ll, of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
said that she [XJssessed an intellect 
of very high order, united with much 
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
position, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
1 83 1 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished [jiom- 
.>e, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In conseciuence of the secluded home and limited 
ineans of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, which he occasionally attended were 
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
r.nd expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
wns about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
a:;d had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
AN'hen fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
Ijooks. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed^ 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age of 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened tha'. 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
Wood, — who was struck with the jirepossessing au- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made hisaccjuaint- 
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion abou'; 
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
lege. But many a boy loiters through university hall- 
ind then enters a law office, who is by no meaas »s 



08 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
tense mental culture. 

In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was 
admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He tlien 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
his [)ractice of course was limited, and there was no 
opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame. 
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
she might be called to fill, — -Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
State of New York, as a rei)resentative from Erie 
County. Though he had never taken a very active 
part in [jolitics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties, 
[hat his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degne the respect of his associates. 

In the autiHiin of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
Ihe United States Congress. He entered that troubled 
irena in some of the most tuumltuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict respecting the 
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
then raging. 

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress; was re- 
elected, and- look his seat in 1837. His ]iast ex|ie- 
rience as a re[)resentative gave hmi stiength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- 
gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide re|)ute, and 
his popularity filled tiie State, and in the year 1847, 
he was elected Comptroller of the State. 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
proclaimed in tiumpet-tones all over the land. But 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 

Lhider the influence of these considerations, the 
naniesof Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1S49, 
Cicn. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 

On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
aliout one year and four months after his inaugura- 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 

Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend 
with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
the South; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt 
the inadeipiacyof all measuresof transient conciliation. 
The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the power of the Government should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
Fillmcre's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
more, having served one term, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that 
his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe 
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 










M^^^cy^^ 



FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



7« 



^'W 




^■^a.'J-'KpA 'Wg 



Wfm- ^" FRANKLIN FIERCE 



15 







RANKLIN PIP:RCE, tht 
fourteenth President of the 
I'f United States, was born in 
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revolutionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a home in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of inflexible integrity; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an uncompromis- 
ing Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate. Christian wom- 
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 

Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-develoijed boy. 

When si.xteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
one of the most popular young men in the college. 
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
the State, and a man of great privgite worth. The 
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
he was associatad. 

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
his administration. He was the yoimgest member in 
the Senate. In the year 1834. he married Miss Jane 
Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
station with wiiich her husband was honored. Of the 



72 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



three sons who were born to thein, all now sleep with 

their parents in the grave. 

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but 
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the 
same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
He took an important part in this war, proving him- 
self a brave and true soldier. 

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
cates of the Me.xican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
tions, giving his cordial sui)port to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democratic party. Tlie compromise 
measures met cordially with his ajjproval ; and he 
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, whicli so shocked the religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a " Northern man with Southern principles.'* 
The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
quently regarded him as a man wliom they could 
safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 

On the 1 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
move ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pieice 
«as therefore inaugurated President of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1853. 



His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
comitry had ever experienced. The controversy be- 
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching ite 
culminating point. It became evident that there was 
an " irrepressible conflict" between them, and tliat 
tills Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of the Union were borne to the North on every South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was the condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated those measures of Government which they ai> 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefidly dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two . 
liad died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or child. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
men, an honored communicant of the Kpiscopai 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- 
erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- 
people were often gladened by his material bounty. 




d 



ZZyyjze^ (2^ 



^ca:y:^£€^/n.€6^?7/y 



I'lFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



75 




>»» 






L'.'^i'j^^'^'.^'i'^'i'J^^i'^^^'^igi'^'i^'giivatar^i'^-T'jX 



«^ 



<«« • 



-»-• 




•-« 7**- 





AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
.teenth President of the United 
States, was born in a small 
frontier town, at the foot of the 
eastern ridge of the Alleglia- 
nies, in Franklin Co., Penn.,on 
the 23d of April, 1791. The ;;lace 
where the humble cabin of his 
father stood was called Stony 
Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
mantic s[)Ot in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
grandly all around. His father 
was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
a poor man, who had emigrated in 
1783, with little property save his 
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his obscure part in the d-rama of life. In this se- 
cluded home, where James was born, he remained 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantagi s. When James was eight years of age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
liis son was placed at school, and commenced a 
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
Ijrogress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution. His application 
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 



abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with 
facility. 

In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest 
honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was 
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
twenty-si.x years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate or^e of the 
judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of 
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
quired an ample fortune. 

Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
ures proposed by President Jackson, of m ikaig repri- 



76 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 



sals ag.ii.ist Fiance, to enfovce the payment of our 
(.Liinis igaiii^t that country ; and defended the course 
of the i'ro-.kient in his unprecedented and wholesale 
reuijval from office of those who were not the sup- 
porters of his administration. Upon tliis cpiestion he 
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
from the journal of the Senate the vote of censure 
against ^'iw. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
Earnestly he oi)posed the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia, and urged the [jrohibition of the 
circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
States mails. 

As to petitions on I lie siiliject of slavery, he advo- 
cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
that the reply should be returned, tliat Congress had 
no power to legislate u|)on the subject. " Congress," 
said lie, " might as well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
States where it now e.\ists." 

U|ion Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces by the American troops into the disjiuted 
territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration 
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
account of tlie course our Government [jursued in that 
movement 

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
to l)ear against the VVilmot Proviso. He gave his 
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1S50, 
which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
Buchanan with the mission to England. 

In tlie year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
oar country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
ceived 1 14 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
174, and was elected. The [lopular vote stood 
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. Gn 
March. 4th. 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
■'ears were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been 
allied in political principles and action for years, were 
shaking the destruction of the Government, that they 
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
In this emcrgeniv, Mr. fiuclianan was hnpe'cssly be- 
wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 



ciples, consistently opiwse the State-rights party in 
their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
bound by his oath faitht"ully to administer the laws 
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
lic. He tiierefbre did nothing. 

The op^ionents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
party declared, that if he were elected, ancl the con- 
trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Washington, and the lion's share of the territor_\' of 
the United States. 

Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the [iro-slavery 
party was such, that he had been willing to offertheni 
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had [irofessed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
operation of the Government to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental ini- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
laws in any State wliich had withdrawn, or which 
was attempting to witlidraw from the Union. This 
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed. "The 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
three months before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston; Fort Sumpter 
was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
were seized ; our depots of military stores were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
appropriated by the rebels. 

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

The administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame,' 
that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows 
of flame and blood over our wlioleUind, no word came 
from his lips to indicate his wish that our countrv's 
banner should triuni|ih over the flag of the relieltion. 
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. 




^Mt!t 




<^ 



^-^T^^ 



SIXTEENTH PKESIVENT. 



79 








ABRAHAM 1> ^^,,/ , ,,.,^^ ._:_ 



■ c:. <. >.. ,:<■ ^i 






BRAHAM LINCOLN, the 

sixteenth President of llie 
•{viXJnited States, was born in 
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
1809. About the yean 7 80, a 
man by the name of Abraham 
^ Lincohi left Virginia with his 
family and moved into the then 
wildsof Kentucky. Only two years 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
eld, was stealthily approached by 
an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme poverty with five 
ittle children, three boys and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
)oys, was four years of age at his 
father's death. This Thomas was 
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
whose name must henceforth fo'-ever be enrolled 
wiih the most prominent in the annals of our wodd. 
Of course no lecord has been kept of the life 
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
I he poorest of the (wor. His home was a wretched 
log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest, 
luhication he had none; he could never either read 
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
.ess, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
laborer in the fields of others. 

When twenty-eight years of age he built a log- 
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
grants, who had also come from Virginia. _ Their 
second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
a iialace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
" All that I am, or hope to be," e.xclaims the grate- 
ful son " I owe to my angel-mother. ' 

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 



cabin and small farm, and moved to Tndi.T.ia Where 
two years later his mother died. 

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's cl.aim in 1830, 
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-caliin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
education and was intensely earnest to unprove his 
mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
Lord thy God in vain ;" and a profane expression he 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
single vice. 

Young Abraham wotked for a time as a hired laborer 
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
w^here he was employed in building a large flat-boat. 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lin- 
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
great satisfacticn to his employers. In this advcn- 



So 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



tiire his cmployiiis were so well pleased, that upon 
his rot.irii tiiey placed a store and mill under his care. 

Ill 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
returned to Sangamon County, and allliough only 23 
yeai's of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem, 
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he 
received lie carried there ready to deliver to those 
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
made this his business. In r834 he again became a 
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
Stuart, of S[)ringfield, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New Salem to Sjiringfield, borrowed of 
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 

In 1S54 the great discussion began between Mr. 
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. 
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
test in 1 85 8 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
slavery question, and he took the broad ground of 
.he Declaration of Independence, that all men . are 
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a far higlier prize. 

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
on the i6th ot June, i860. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
live thousand. An immense building called "The 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame 
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
orominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
Ih.e nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he tlien 
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: 
and aslittledid he dream that he was to render services 
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of 
the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second 
tnly, if second, to that of AVashington. 

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
The tirade of abuse that vas poured upon this good 



and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stopi)ing in all the large cities on his 
way making speeches. The whole journey was froughi 
with much danger. Many of the .Southern States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination ji 
were afterwards brought to liglit. A gang in Balti- '! 
more had arranged, upoir his arrival to "get u|) a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plot. A secret and special train was provided to 
take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at an 
unexpected hour of the night. The train started at 
half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- 
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train hail 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people. 

In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opjionents before the convention he gave 
important positions. 

During no other administration have the duties 
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
trials, bo»h personal and national. Contrary to his 
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
had left Si)ringfield, in 1861, however, plans had been 
made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim 
to oneof thein. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
was announced that they would Le present. ' Gen. 
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
ing, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, 
very 'reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth 
entered the box where the President and family were 
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. 
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
model. His name as the savior of his country v-^.W 
live with that of Washington's, its father; hisco-.ntry- 
men being unable to decide wiiii h vs tl'e creator. 






^^^;^^-?^^i52>^ 



67? KAi V TEliN J 7/ rRESID£:i\ T. 



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1. 



b NDREW JOHNSON, seven - 
'« teenth I'resident of the United 



States, 



The early life of 
Andrew Johnson contains but 



syjf ,^-'' ,;^^ ' /-- '-^ ^'■"J record of poverty, destitii- 




y tion and friendlessness. 
7 was born December 29, 180S, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to the class oi' the 
"poor whites " of the South, -were 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not confer even the slight- 
est advantages of education upon 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost nis life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the 
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being imable either to read or write, was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
Was i:i the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, 
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book., 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed o\- 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreatior to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1S26, and located at 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos 
sessed some education. Under her instructions lip 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in political 
affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
He became a very active member of the legislature 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
1840 "stuinped the State," advocating Martin '^'an 
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in ojjposition to thos , 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired nnicli 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

In 184T, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in 1855. In all these responsible |X)si 
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abi. 



i 



84 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 



ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
United States Senator. 

Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated 
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sal)le 
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
and become merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of which 
were, that the white people of the Territories should 
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
the *'ree States of the North should return to the 
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
ior was the son of a carpenter." 

In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i8bo, he 
was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- 
irn Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 

1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must be punished ; that the Government will not 
always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of which is so well known, 
was in utter icKonsistency with, and the most violent 



opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech. 

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
side would have sustained the impeachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though impotently, 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name I 
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special 
session convened by President Grant, on the 5 th of 
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with, paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
2 A.M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
with every demonstration of respect 





A-^^^. 



^^ 



I 



EIGH TliENTll rKESlDENT. 



87 



')f^'<5)(2VV®)g<®>5g!^^^, 



i^r- 




m^^^m^ 







LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
j§) eighteenth President of the 
T^> United States, was born on 
the 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a humble 
home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George- 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Miliiary Academy at West 
Point. Here he was regarded as a 
ioiid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military jiosts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resacade la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 
side of the anir»al, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
10 aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
the leatlier business, with a younger brother, at (ia- 
lena, III. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
"Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
unteers, and led them .as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the State, where their services were 
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
State in belialf of the Government. On the 15 th of 



88 



UL YSSES S. GRA NT. 



June, t86i, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
stripes were unfurled in its stead. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
immediately made a Major-General, and the military 
district of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 

Gen. Crrant was next ordered to co-operate with 
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
and enter uix5r. 'Jif duties of his new office. 



Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
sembled from all quarters foi" its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The LTnion was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
tlie country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago. 
May 2r, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the popular vote, and 2r4 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Republican party 
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second tenn 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant 
started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was everywhere received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed ujxjn any citizen of the United States. 

He was the most prominent candidate before the 
Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re- 
nomination for President. He went to New York and 
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
the illustrious General. 



i 




s 



iyi'^_,£j^. 



o- 




NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. 



9* 





RUTHERi:ORD) B, HAYES. 




%^A^. 



h UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
m the nineteenth President of 
gj the United States, was born m 
M Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
''^ death of his father, Rutherford 
Hayes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
tune ovtrmking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
land in i6;io, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
George wat born in Windsor, and remained there 
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 




born. He was married, in September, 18 13, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
t63S, to John Birchard, one of tht; principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious 
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
the close of the war of i8t2, for reasons inexplicable 
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day 
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, 
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son,of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
some time l)efore as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 



9^ 



RUTHJ:.JiFOJZV B. IIAVBS'. 



subject of this sketch was so feeble at binli that he 
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at 
most. As the months went by he grew weaker and 
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
aim, said in a bantering way, " That's right ! Stick to 
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
wonder if he would really come to something yet." 

" You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You 
vait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him 
President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
death; and when, in 1S25, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The boy was seven years old before he wont to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as much from his mother and 
sister as he would have done at school. His sports 
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
of others, which are marked traits of his character. 

His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- 
proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- 
paration commenced with a tutor at home; but he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen, 
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 

Innnediately after his graduation he began the 
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1 845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was 
Admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-Iaw 
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, 
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
fession. 

In 1849 he moved to Cincumati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this period, had a powerful influence upon his subse- 
quent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
members such men as'^hief Justice Salmon P. Chase, 



Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman 
hood. The Literary Club brought Mr. Hayes into 
constant association with young men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display f.ie 
qualities so long' hidden by his bashfulness and 
modesty. 

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judgj of 
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ar- 
cept the nomination. Two years later, the office ol 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council 
elected him for the unexpired term. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at 
the zenith of his professional 1:5.. His rank at the 
bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take -id 
arms for the defense of his country. 

His military record was bright and illustrious. In 
October, 1861, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
of Souti'i i>iountain he received a wound, and while 
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished Fervices 
during the campaigns of 1S64. in AV'est Virginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. 

In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
and after his election was importuned to resign his 
commission in the army; but he finally declared, "I 
shall never come to Washington until I can come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1S66. 

In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
over Hon. Allen G. Thunnan, a popular Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
Ho was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 

]n 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
full term, not, hcwever, with satisfaction to his party, 
but his admin \stration was an average op.° 



TWENTIETH PRESIDENT. 



95 







5f,'i' ' in- ?ij 




AMES A. GARFIELD, twen- 
tieth President of the United 
States, was born Nov. ig, 
1 83 1, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
ents were Abram and EUza 
(Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestry and from fami- 
lies well known in the early his- 
^% tory of that section of our coun- 
try, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike the houses of 
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
...IS about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
,ween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
lard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built, 
i'he household comprised the father and mother and 
heir four children — Mehetaliel, Thomas, Mary and 
'ames. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con- 
.racted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
diis time James was about eighteen months old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
(ell how much James was indebted to his brother's 
(cil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
itrs live in .Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
jienter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
motlier in lie' "Struggles to keep the little family to- 



gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor 
the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sureof the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until hi 
was about si.xteen years old was to be a captain of 
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with th.^ 
understanding, however, that he should try to obtair 
some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
mained at this work but a short time when he wen'- 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
which church he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. 
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
College as its President. As above slated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and [)laces where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion : 



90 



/AMES A. GARFIELD. 



" President Garfield was more than a man of 
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
iiy judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
liis character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian comnmnions 
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another in some of the many types of fashionable 
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
jhurch of his mother, the church in which he was 
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
tarian charity for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'" 

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. ii, 1858, who proved herself 
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
v/hom are still living, four boys and one girl. 

Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
w Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. The great 
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
ceived his commission as Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Lifantry, Aug. 
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native State the officer 
(Humphrey Mirshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
before, so now he was the youngest General in the 
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, 
in its operations around Corinth and its march through 
Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the 
General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- 
crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of StafT." 

The military lu'story of Gen. Garfield closed with 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
the stars of the Major-General. 

Without an effort on his part Gei? Garfield wav 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
had been represented in Congress for sixty years 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua 
R. Giddings. It was not without a straggle that he 
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- 
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
body. There he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
tribunel of the American people, in regard to whict 
you will not find, if you wish mstruction, the argu- 
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
Mr. Garfield." 

Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
He was elected in the following November, and on 
March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every 
day it grew in favor with the peoijle, and by the first 
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- 
pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind 
liim, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no further 
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the peopfe 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty 
days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
19, 1883, at Elheron, N. J., on the very bank of the 
ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The 
world wept at his deatli, as it never had done on the 
death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committed the fouJ deed. 



/)" 




rWEJSTY.FIRST PRESIDENT. 



99 










mw,m'^m}^ ^.. ^mwimisib^ m 





HESTER A. ARTHUR, 

_?) twenty-first Presi'Liu of the 

s''-*United States was born in 

Franklin Com' ty, Vermont, on 

thefifthof Odober, 1830, and is 

the oldest of a family of two 

sons and five daughters. His 

father was the Rev. Dr. William 

Arthur, a Baptist d ,rgypian, who 

emiguited to tb.s counti')' from 

the county Antrim, Ireland, in 

»y his 18th year, and died in 1875, in 

Newton ville, neai Albany, after a 

long and successful ministry. 

Young Arthur was educated at 
Union College, S( henectady, vvhere 
he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
ter his graduation he taught school 
in Vermont for two years, and at 
the expiration cf that time came to 
New York, with $500 in his pocket, 
and eiitered the office of ex-Judge 
^W E. D. Culver as student. After 
being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with iiis intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
\\\ the West, and for three months they roamed about 
in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
but in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward iruarrpd the daughter of Lieutenant 



Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon. 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then v/ent to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

Another great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 



loo 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- 
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Re])ublican party. 
Previous to the war he was Judge- Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed hun Engineer- 
in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to the Government during the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
of New York, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national extent. 

He always took a leading part in State and city 
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous 
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
was composed of the '-ading politicians of the Re- 
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
respective candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
was one of the most animated known in the history of 
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
the Democratic [larty, was a popular man, and his 
party made a valiant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the country's choice 
.vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
March 4, 1S81, as President and Vice-President. 
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moments of 
anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- 



tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- 
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
able patience that he manifested during those hours 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- 
like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that tlie suffering Garfield might recover, to 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
honored position in the world was at any moment 
likely to fall to him. 

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
before in its history over the death of any other 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
the Vice President to ussume the responsibilities of 
the high office, and he took the oath in New York, 
Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many important measures were to be immediately 
'decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he 
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
Arthur took the reins of the Government in his own 
hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was 
a popular candidate before his party for a second 
term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo 
pie, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
to them and with credit to himself. 



I 



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Cj^t^uC^Oy'^^^Z 



TIVENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 



103 



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TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- second Pres- 
ident of the United States, was 
born in 1837, in the obscure 
town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
-story white house which is still 
standing, characteristically to mark 
the humble birth-place of one of 
America's great men in striking con- 
trast with the Old World, where all 
men high in office must be high in 
origin and born in the cradle of 
wealth. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years of age, his 
father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most^ 
straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born, 

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
menced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned 
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
capacity of the village school and expressed a most 



emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
to be a position in a country store, where his father 
and the large family on his hands had considerable 
influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
the first year, and if iie proved trustworthy he was to 
receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- 
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or 
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a 
high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
studies until the family removed with him to a point 
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
but three Sundays. This event broke uyi the family, 
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 



I04 



S. GROVE R CLEVELAND. 



calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
there was some charm in that name for him ; but 
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
isk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not 
rpeak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do, 
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
)avv," was the reply. "Good gracious!" remarked 
the old gentleman ; " do you, indeed ? What ever put 
that into your head? How much money have you 
got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
any." 

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
year, wiiile he could " look around." One day soon 
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told Lhem what he 
wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
ne was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
tiave the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
of $3 or $4 a week. Out of tliis he had to pay for 
his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
Out in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
"t," was practically his motto. 

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell 
to his duty to inflict capital punishment upon two 
criminals. In 1881 he was elected Mayor of the 
City of Bufflilo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- 
pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms 



in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
performance of duty has generally been considered 
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for 
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
to betray the interests of the peopls and to worse 
than squander the people's money." The New York 
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, 
and his administration of the affairs of State was 
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
any, were made very public throughout the nation 
after he was nominated for President of the United 
States. For this high office he was nominated July 
II, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he 
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
the Chief E.xecutive of the United States, in which 
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
March, 1885. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the 
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York; Secretary 
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ; 
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New 
York ; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, 
of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
Arkansas. 

The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his 
inauguration. 




t:-- • ■ 




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dZ^^?^"/\,4.-*H^^-i<. 



TWENTY-THIRD PKESIDENT. 



107 




g^Mn':ja'inin ^aiwi^on^ 













■•o*o-©V'<v1g)-<^°" 




•iENJAMIN HARRISON, the 

oweiity-third I'lesidciit, is 

fV^ the descendant of one of the 

'In 

historical families of t li i s 
country. The head of tiie 
°A.}3 family was a Major (leneral 
ji0 Harrison, one of Oliver 
^' Cromwell's trusted follow- 

ers and fighters. In the zenith of Crom- 
well's power it became the duty of this 
Harrison to p.articipate in the trial of 
Charles I, and afterward to sign the 
death warrant of the king. He subse- 
quently paid for this with his life, being 
hinig Oct. 13, IGGO. His descendants 
came to America, and the next of tiic 
family that appears in history is Benja- 
;;:in !Iarrison, of Yii-ginia, great-grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, and 
after whom he was named. Benjamin Harrison 
was a member of the Continental Congress during 
the years i774-5-G, and was one of the original 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. He 
was three times elected Governor of Virginia. 
Gen. William Henry Harrison, the son of the 



distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a suc- 
cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812, 
and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- 
western Territory, was elected President of the 
United States in 1840. His career was cut short 
by death within one month after Ins inauguration. 
President Harrison was born at Nortii Bend, 
Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. ."^O, 18;j3 His life up to 
the time of his graduation by the Miami University, 
at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- 
try lad of a family of small means. His father was 
able to give him a good education, and nothing 
more. He became engaged while at college to the 
daughter of Dr. Scott, Princip.al of a female schoo' 
at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en- 
ter upon the study of the law. He went to Cin 
cinnati and then read law for two years. At the 
expiration of that time young Harrison receiv. d th:. 
only inheritance of his life ; his aunt dying left him 
a lot valued at S<800. He regarded this legacy as & 
fortune, and decided to get married at once, <ak3 
this money and go to some Eastern town an", be- 
gin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with 
the monej- in his pocket, he started out witii his 
young wife to fight for a place \n the world. Ke 



lOi^ 



iiKlNdAMliSr HARRISON. 



deciilcd to go to In;lianapolis, which was even at 
ihat time a town of promise. He met with slight 
ciicoiii-agement at fust, making scarcely anything 
the first j-ear. He worked diligently, applying him- 
self closely to his calling, built up an extensive 
practice and took a leading rank in the legal pro- 
fession. He is the father of two children. 

In 18G0 Mr. Harrison was nominated for tlie 
position of Supreme Court Reporter, and *,'ien be- 
gan his experience as a stump speukc He can- 
vassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by a 
handsome majority. In 18G2 he raised the 17th 
Indiana Infantrj', and was chosen its Colonel. His 
regiment was composed of the rawest of material, 
out Col. Harrison employed all his time at first 
mastering military tactics and drilling his men, 
when he therefore came to move toward the East 
with Sherman his regiment was one of the best 
arilled and organized in the army. At Resaea lie 
especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery 
r.t Pcachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
cr.al, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most 
complimentary terms. 

During the absence of Gen. Harrison in tlie field 
he Supreme Court <)cclared the office of the Su- 
preme Court Reporter vacant, and auotlier person 
was elected to the position. From the time of leav- 
irg Indiana willi his regiment until the fall of 1 hG t 
he had taken no leave tif absence, but having been 
nominated that year for the same ollice, he got a 
thirty-day leave of absence, .and during that time 
made a briiliant canvass of the State, and was elected 
for another term. He then started to rejoin Sher- 
man, but on the wa}- was stricken down with scarlet 
lever, and after a most trying siege made his w.ay 
to the front in time to participate in the closing 
incidents of fhe war. 

In 18G8Gen. Harrison declined :\ re-election as 
j«porter, and resnmctl the practice of lavv. In 187G 
fie was a candidate for Governor. Although de- 
/ Bated, the brilliant campaign he made won for him 
3 National reputation, and he was much sought, es- 
pecial.y in the East, to make speeches. In 1880, 
as usual, he took an active jtart in the campaign, 
und w;» elected to the United States Senate. Here 
iie served six j'ears, and v;as known as one of the 
ablest men, best lawyerr and strongest debaters in 



that body. With the expiration of his Senatorial 
term he returned to the practice of his professior., 
becoming the head of one of tlie strongest firms in 
Die State. 

The political campaign of 1888 was one of the 
inost memorable in the history of our country. The 
convention which assembled in Chicago in .lune and 
named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard be.arer 
of the Republican party, was great in every partic- 
ular, and on this .account, and the attitude it as- 
sumed uj^on the vital questions of the day, chief 
among which w,as the tariff, awoke a deep interest 
in the campaign throughout the Nation. Slujrtly 
after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. 
Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This move- 
ment became popul.ar, and from all sections of the 
country societies, clubs and deleg.ations journeyed 
thither to p.ay their respects to the distinguished 
statesman. The popularity of these was greatly 
increased on account of the remarkable speeches 
made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through 
the summer and autumn to these visiting delega- 
tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were 
his speeches that they at once placed him in tiie 
foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. 

( )n account of his eloquence as a speaker and his 
power as a debater, lie was called upon at an un- 
commonly early age to take part in the discussion 
of the gre.at questions that then began t j agitate 
the country-. He w.as an uncompnmiising ant: 
shnery man, and was matched against some of i.'_e 
n.ost eminent Dera(>cr.atic speakers of his State. 
No man who felt the touch of his bl.ade desired to 
be pitted with him again. "With all his eloq-'encc 
as an orator he never spoke for oratorical effect, 
but his words always went like bullets to the mark 
He is purely American in his ide.as and is a spier 
did type of the American st.atesm.an. Gifted wit; 
(piick [u'reeption, .a logical mind and a ready tongue, 
he is one of the most distinguished .iniprduiplu 
si)eakers in the Nation. Many of these soeeches 
s[)arkled with the rarest of eloquence and contained 
.•iigumenls of greatest weight. Many of liis terse 
statements have already become ai)horisnis. Origi- 
nal in thouglit, precise in logic, terse in statement, 
yet with.'il faultless in eloquence, he is recognized as 
the sound statesman and bril'iaut orator o*' the day 





o^ 




GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 




Egc^^iBo-^^ 




^ HADRACH BOND, the first 
Governor of Illinois after its 
organization as a State, serving 
from iSi8 to 1S22, was born in 
Frederick County, Maryland, 
in the year 1773, and was 
raised a farmer on his father's 
plantation, receiving only a plain 
English education. He emigrated 
to this State in 1794, when it was a 
part of the "Northwest Territory," 
continuing in the vocation in which 
he had been brought up in his native 
State, in the " New Design," near 
Eagle Creek, in what is now Monroe 
County. He served several terms as 
a member of the General Assembly 
of Indiana Territory, after it was organized as such, 
and in 181 2-14 he was a Delegate to the Twelftli 
and Thirteenth Congresses, taking his seat Dec. 3, 
1 81 2, and serving until Oct. 3, 1814. These were 
the times, the reader will recollect, when this Gov- 
ernment had its last struggle with Great Britain. 
The year i8i2is also noted in the history of this 
State as that in which the first Territorial Legislature 
was held. It convened at Kaskaskia, Nov. 25, and 
adjourned Dec. 26, following. 

While serving as Delegate to Congress, Mr. Bond 
was instrumental in procuring the right of pre-emp- 
tion on the public domain. On the expiration of his 
term at Washington he was appointed Receiver of 
Public Moneys at Kaskaskia, then the capital of ihe 
Territory. In company with John G. Comyges, 



Thomas H. Harris, Charles Slade, Michael Jones, 
Warren Brown, Edward Humphries and Charles W 
Hunter, he became a proprietor of the site of the 
initial city of Cairo, which they hoped, from its favor- 
able location at the junction of the two great 
rivers near the center of the Great West, would 
rapidly develop into a metropolis. To aid the enter- 
prise, they obtained a special charter from the Legis- 
lature, incorporating both the City and the Bank of 
Cairo. 

In 18 r 8 Mr. Bond was elected the first Governor 
of the State of Illinois, being inaugurated Oct. 6 
that year, which was several weeks before Illinois 
was actually admitted. The facts are these: In 
January, 1818, the Territorial Legislature sent a peti- 
tion to Congress for the admission of Illinois as a 
State, Nathaniel Pope being then Delegate. The 
petition was granted, fixing the northern line of the 
State on the latitude of the southern extremity of 
Lake Michigan; but the bill was afterward so amend- 
ed as to extend this line to its present latitude. In 
July a convention was called at Kaskaskia to draft a 
constitution, which, however, was not submitted to 
the people. By its provisions, supreme judges, pros 
ecuting attorneys, county and circuit judges, record- 
ers and justices of the peace were all to be appointed 
by the Governor or elected by the Legislature. This 
constitution was accepted by Congress Dec. 30. At 
that time Illinois comprised but eleven counties, 
namely, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, 
Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington 
and Franklin, the northern portion of the State be- 
ing mainly in Madison County. Thus it appears 
that Mr. Bond was honored by tlie naming of a 



SHADRACH BOND. 



county b3foie he was elected Governor. The present 
county of Bond is of small limitations, about 60 to 80 
miles south of Springfield. For Lieutenant Governor 
the people chose Pierre Menard, a prominent and 
worthy Frenchman, after whom a county in this State 
is named. In this election there were no opposition 
candidates, as the popularity of these men had made 
tiieir promotion to the chief offices of the S^ate, even 
before the constitution was drafted, a foregone con- 
clusion. 

Tlie principal points that excited the people in 
reference to political issues at this period were local 
or "internal improvements," as they were called. 
State banks, location of the capital, slavery and the 
personal characteristics of the proposed candidates. 
Mr. Bond represented the " Convention party," for 
introducing slavery into the State, supported by Elias 
Kent Kane, his Secretary of State, and John Mc- 
Lean, while Nathaniel Pope and John P. Cook led 
the anti-slavery element. The people, however, did 
not become very much excited over this issue until 
1820, whin the fun jus Missouri Compromise was 
adopted by Congress, limiting slavery to the south 
of the parallel of 36° 30' except in Missouri. While 
tliis measure settled the great slavery controversy, 
so far as the average public sentiment was tempor- 
arily concerned, until 1854, when it was repealed 
under the leidership of Stephen A. Douglas, the issue 
as considered locally in this State was not decided 
until 1824, after a most furious campaign. (See 
sketch of Gov, Coles.) The ticket of 181 8 was a 
compromise one. Bond representing (moderately) the 
pro-slavery sentiment and Menard the anti-slavery. 

An awkward element in the State government 
under Gov. Bond's administration, was the imperfec- 
tion of the State constitution. The Convention 
wished to have Elijah C. Berry for the first Auditor 
of Public Accounts, but, as it was believed that the 
new Governor would not appoint him to the office, 
the Convention declared in a schedule that "an 
auditor of public accounts, an attorney general and 
such other officers of the State as may be necessary, 
may be appointed by the General Assembly." The 
Constitution, as it stood, vested a very large ajipoint- 
ing power in the Governor ; but for the purpose of 
getting one man into office, a total change was made, 
and tlie power vested in tlie Legislature. Of this 
provision the Legislature took advantage, and de- 



clared that State's attorneys, canal commissioners, 
bank directors, etc., were all '" officers of the State " 
and must therefore be appointed by itself independ- 
ently of the Governor. 

During Gov. Bond's administration a general law 
was passed for the incorporation of acadeinies and 
towns, and one authorizing lotteries. The session of 
1822 authorized the Governor to appoint commis- 
sioners, to act in conjunction with like commissioners 
appointed by the State of Lidiana, to report on the 
practicability and expediency of improving the navi- 
gation of the Wabash River; also inland navigation 
generally. Many improvements were recommended, 
sotne of which have been feebly worked at even till 
the present day, those along the Wabash being of no 
value. Also, during Gov. Bond's term of office, the 
capital of the State was removed from Kaskaskia to 
Vandalia. Li 1820 a law was passed by Congress 
authorizing this State to open a canal through the 
public lands. The State appointed commissioners 
lo explore the route and prepare the necessary sur- 
veys and estimates, preparatory to its execution; 
but, being unable out of its own resources to defray 
tlie expenses of the undertaking, it was abandoned 
vuitil some time after Congress made the grant of 
land for the purpose of its construction. 

On the whole. Gov, Bond's administration was 
fairly good, not being open to severe criticism from 
any party. In 1824, two years after the expiration 
of his term of office, he was brought out as a candi- 
date for Congress against the formidable John P. 
Cook, but received only 4,374 votes to 7,460 for the 
latter. Gov. Bond was no orator, but had made 
many fast friends by a judicious bestowment of his 
gubernatorial patronage, and these worked zealously 
fur him in the campaign. 

In 1827 ex-Gov. Bond was appointed by the Leg- 
islature, with Wm. P. McKee and Dr. Gershom 
Jayne, as Commissioners to locate a site for a peni- 
tentiary on the Mississippi at or near Alton. 

Mr. Bond was of a benevolent and convivial dis- 
position, a man of shrewd observation and clear ap- 
preciation of events. His person was erect, stand- 
ing six feet in height, and after middle life became 
portly, weighing 200 pounds. His features were 
strongly masculine, complexion dark, hair jet and 
eyes hazel ; was a favorite with the ladies. He died 
April I [, 1830, in peace and contentment. 




Ld/\^<-uZc) Co-U2<^ 



GO VERNORS OF ILLIiVOlS. 



"5 




(TSji-V.' 



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]£6war5 Colee. 




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DWARD COLES, second 
Governor of Illinois, 1823- 
6, was born Dec. 15, 1786, 
ill Albemarle Co., Va., on 
the old family estate called 
" Enniscorthy," on the 
Green Mountain. His fath- 
er, Jolin Coles, was a Colonel in the 
Revolutionary War. Having been fit- 
ted for college by private tutors, he 
was sent to Hampden Sidney, where 
he remained until the autumn of 1805, 
when lie was removed to William and 
Mary College, at Williamsburg, Va. 
This college he left in the summer of 
iSo7,ashort time before the final and graduating 
exami lation. Among his classmates were Lieut. 
Gen. Scott, President John Tyler, Wm. S. Archer, 
United States Senator from Virginia, and Justice 
Baldwin, of the United States Supreme Court. The 
President of the latter college. Bishop Madison, was 
a cousin of President James Madison, and that cir- 
cumstance was the occasion of Mr. Coles becoming 
personally acipiainted with the President and re- 
ceiving a position as his private secretary, 1809-15. 
The family of Coles was a prominent one in Vir- 
ginia, and their mansion was the seat of the old- 
fashioned Virginian hospitality. It was visited by 
such notables as Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, 
Monroe, the Randolphs, Tazewell, Wirt, etc. At the 
age of 23, young Coles found himself heir to a plant- 
ation and a considerable number of slaves. Ever 
since his earlier college days his attention had been 
drawn to the question of slavery. He read every- 



thing on the subject that came in his way, and 
listened to lectures on the rights of man. The more 
he reflected uiwn the subject, the more impossible 
was it for him to reconcile the immortal declaration 
"that all men are born free and equal " with the 
practice of slave-holding. He resolved, therefore, to 
free his slaves the first opportunity, and even remove 
his residence to a free State. One reason which de- 
termined him to accept the appointment as private 
secretary to Mr. Madison was because he believed 
that through the acquaintances tie could make at 
Washington he could better determine in what part 
of the non-slaveholding portion of the Union he would 
prefer to settle. 

The relations between Mr. Coles and President 
Madison, as well as Jefferson and other distinguished 
men, were of a very friendly character, arising from 
the similarity of their views on the question of slavery 
and their sympathy for each other in holding doc- 
trines so much at variance with the prevailing senti- 
ment in their own State. 

In 1857, he resigned his secretaryship and spent a 
portion of the following autumn in exploring the 
Northwest Territory, for the purpose of finding a lo- 
cation and purchasing lands on which to settle his 
negroes. He traveled with a horse and buggy, with 
an extra man and horse for emergencies, through 
many parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, 
determining finally to settle in Illinois. At this time, 
however, a misunderstanding arose between our 
Government and Russia, and Mr. Coles was selected 
to repair to St. Petersburg on a special mission, bear- 
ing important papers concerning the matter at issue. 
The result was a conviction of the Emperor (Alex- 



ii6 



EDWARD COLES. 



andar) of the error committed by his minister at 
Washington, and the consequent withdrawal of the 
the latter from the post. On his return, Mr. Coles 
visited other parts of Europe, especially Paris, where 
he was introduced to Gen. Lafayette. 

In the spring of rSig, he removed with all his 
negroes from Virginia to Edwardsville, 111., with the 
intention of giving them their liberty. He did not 
make known to them his intention until one beautiful 
morning in .^pril, as they were descending the Ohio 
River. He lashed all the boats together and called 
all the negroes on deck and made them a short ad- 
dress, concluding his remarks by so expressing him- 
self that by a turn of a sentence he proclaimed in 
liie shortest and fullest manner that they were no 
longer slaves, but free as he was and were at liberty 
to proceed with him or go ashore at their pleas- 
ure. A description of the effect upon the negroes is 
best desciibed in his own language : 

"The effect upon them was electrical. They stared 
at rr.e and then at each other, as if doubting the ac- 
curacy or reality of what they heard. In breathless 
silence they stood before me, unable to utter a word, 
but with countenances beaming with expression which 
no words could convey, and which no language 
can describe. As they began to see the truth of 
what they had heard, and realize tlieir situation, there 
came on a kind of hysterical, giggling laugh. After 
a pause of intense and unutterable emotion, bathed 
in tears, and with tremulous voices, they gave vent to 
their gratitude and implored the blessing of God 
on me." 

Before landmg he gave them a general certificate 
of freedom, and afterward conformed more particu- 
larly with tiie law of this State requiring that each 
individual should have a certificate. This act of 
Mr. Coles, all the more noble and heroic considering 
the overwhelming pro-slavery influences surrounding 
him, has challenged the admiration of every philan- 
thropist of modern times. 

March 5, i8ig. President Monroe appointed Mr. 
Coles Registrar of the Land Office at EdwardsviLe, 
at that time one of the principal land offices in the 
State. While acting in this capacity and gaining 
many friends by his ixjliteness and general intelli- 
gence, the greatest struggle that ever occurred in 
Illinois on the slavery question culminated in the 
furious contest characterizing the campaigns and 
elections of 1822-4. In the summer of 1823, when a 
new Governor was to be elected to succeed Mr. 
Bond, the pro-slavery element divided into factions, 
putting forward for the executive office Joseph 
Piiillips, Chief Justice of the State, Thomas C. 
Browne and Gen. James B. Moore, of the State Mil- 
ilia. The anti-slavery element united upon Mr. 
Coles, and, after one of the most bitter campaigns, 
s'.icceeded in electing him as Governor. His plural- 
ity over Judge Phillips was only 59 in a total vote of 



over 8,000. The Lieutenant Governor was elected 
by the slavery men. Mr. Coles' inauguration speech 
was marked by calmness, deliberation and such a 
wise expression of appropriate suggestions as to 
elicit the sanction of all judicious politicians. But 
he compromised not with evil. In his message to 
the Legislature, the seat of Government being then 
at Vandalia, he strongly urged the abrogation of the 
modified form of slavery whi';h then existed in this 
State, contrary to the Ordinance of 1787. His posi- 
tion on this subject seems the more remarkable, when 
it is considered that he was a minority Governor, the 
population of Illinois being at that lime almost ex- 
clusively from slave-holding States and by a large 
majority in favor of the perpetuation of tiiat old relic 
of barbarism. The Legislature itself was, of course, 
a reflex of the popular sentiment, and a majority of 
them were led on by fiery men in denunciations of 
the conscientious Governor, and in curses loud and 
deep upon him and all his friends. Some of the 
public men, indeed, went so far as to head a sort of 
mob, or " shiveree" party, who visited the residence 
of the Governor and others at Vandalia and yelled 
and groaned and spat fire. 

The Constitution, not establishing or permitting 
slavery in this State, was thought tlierefore to be 
defective by the slavery ])oliticians, and they desired 
a State Convention to be elected, to devise and sub- 
mit a new Constitution ; and the dominant politics 
of the day was "Convention" and "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both parties issued addresses to the people. 
Gov. Coles himself being the author of the address 
published by the latter party. This address revealed 
the schemes of the conspirators in a masterly , man- 
ner. It is difficult for us at this distant day to esti- 
mate the critical and extremely delicate situation in 
which the Governor was placed at that time. 

Our hero maintained himself honorably and with 
supreme dignity throughout his administration, and 
in his honor a county in this State is named. He 
was truly a great man, and those who lived in 
this State during his sojourn here, like those who 
live at the base of the mountain, were too near to see 
and recognize the greatness that overshadowed them. 

Mr. Coles was married Nov. 28, 1833, by Bisliop 
De Lanccy, to Miss Sally Logan Roberts, a daughter 
of Hugh Roberts, a descendant of Welsh ancestrv, 
who cam." to this country with Wm. Penn in 1682. 

After the expiration of his term of service, Gov. 
Coles continued his residence in Edwardsville, sup- 
erintending his farm in the vicinity. He was fond 
of agriculture, and was the founder of the first agri- 
cultural society in the State. On account of ill 
health, however, and having no fannly to tie him 
down, he spent much of his time in Eastern cities. 
About 1832 he changed his residence to Philadel- 
phia, where he died July 7, 1868, and is buried at 
Woodland, near that city. 




:^/0 



'(i>cp^^tHyb>KP^ 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



119 




.er'-^^Tx^''^ ■■■■'••>J 




^ \n I a 11 E'^ d, w, a^P d^ s 




••<^^###'-^>" 




«« 



INIAN EDWARDS, Governor 
from 1827 to 1S30, was a son 
of Benjamin Edwards, and 
was born in Montgomery 
o County, Maryland, in March, 
~,.^ 1775- H'^ domestic train- 
^^' ing was well fitted to give 
his mind strength, firmness and 
honorable princii)les, and a good 
foundation was laid for the elevated 
character to which he afterwards 
attained. His parents were Bap- 
tists, and very strict in their moral 
piinciples. His education in early 
youth was in comi)any with and 
partly under the tuition of Hon. Wm. 
Wirt, whom his father patronized 
and who was more than two years 
older. An intimacy was thus 
formed between them whiclr was lasting for life. He 
was further educated at Dickinson College, at Car- 
lisle, Pa. He next commenced the study of law, but 
before completing his course he moved to Nelson 
County, Ky., to open a farm for his father and to 
purchase homes and locate lands for his brothers and 
sisters.. Here he fell in the company of dissolute 
companions, and for several years led the life of a 
spendthrift. He was, however, elected to the Legis- 
lature of Kentucky as the Representative of Nelson 
iJounty before he was 2 i years of age, and was re- 
elected by an almost unanimous vote. 




In 1798 he was licensed to practice law, and the 
following year was admitted to the Courts of Tennes- 
see. About this time he left Nelson County for 
Russellville, in Logan County, broke away from his 
dissolute companions, commenced a reformation and 
devoted himself to severe and laborious study. He 
then began to rise rapidly in liis profession, and soon 
became an eminent lawyer, and inside of four years 
he filled in succession the offices of Presiding Judge 
of the General Court, Circuit Judge, fourth J^'dge of 
the Court of Appeals and Chief Justice of the State, 
— all before he was 32 years of age! In addition, in 
1802, he received a commission as Major of a battal- 
ion of Kentucky militia, and in 1804 was chosen a 
Presidential Elector, on the Jefferson and Clinton 
ticket. In 1806 he was a candidate for Congress, 
but withdrew on being promoted to the Court of 
Appeals. 

Illinois was organized as a separate Territory in 
the spring of iSog, when Mr. Edwards, then Chief 
Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, received 
from President Madison the appointment as Gover- 
nor of the new Territory, his commission bearing date 
April 24, 1S09. Edwards arrived at Kaskaskia i.i 
June, and on the i ith of that month took the oath of 
office. At the same time he was appointed Su|)eriii- 
tendent of the United States Saline, this Government 
interest then developing into considerable proportion; 
in Southern Illinois. Although during the first three 
years of his administration he had the power to make 
new counties and appoint all the officers, yet he always 
allowed the people of each county, by an informal 



120 



NINIAN EDWARDS. 



vote, to select their own officers, both civil and mili- 
tary. The noted John J. Crittenden, afterward 
United States Senator from Kentucky, was appointed 
by Gev. Edwards to the office of Attorney General of 
the Territory, which office was accepted for a short 
time only. 

The Indians in tSro committing sundry depreda- 
tions in the Territory, crossing the Mississippi from 
the Territory of Louisiana, a long correspondence fol- 
lowed between the respective Governors concerning 
the remedies, which ended in a council with the sav- 
ages at Peoria in 1812, and a fresh interpretation of 
ihe treaties. Peoria was depopulated by these de- 
predations, and was not re-settled for many _years 
afterward. 

As Gov. Edwards' term of office expired by law in 
1S12, he was re-appointed for another term of three 
years, and again in 1815 for a third term, serving 
until the organization of the State in the fall of 18 18 
and the inauguration of Gov. Bond. At this time 
ex-Gov. Edwards was sent to the United States 
Senate, his colleague being Jesse B. Thomas. As 
Senator, Mr. Edwards took a conspicuous part, and 
acquitted himself honorably in all the measures that 
came up in that body, being well posted, an able de- 
Dater and a conscientious statesman. He thought 
seriously of resigning this situation in 182 1, but was 
persuaded by his old friend, \Vm. Wirt, and others to 
continue in office, which he did to the end of the 
term. 

He was then appointed Minister to Mexico by 
('resident Monroe. About this time, it appears that 
Air. Edwards saw suspicious signs in the conduct of 
Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the United States 
Treasury, and an ambitious candidate for the Presi- 
dency, and being implicated by the latter in some of 
his statements, he resigned his Mexican mission in 
order fully to investigate the charges. The result 
was the exculpation of Mr. Edwards. 

Pro-slavery regulations, often termed "Black Laws," 
disgraced the statute books of both the Territory and 
.he State of Illinois during the whole of his career in 
;his commonwealth, and Mr. Edwards always main- 
tained the doctrines of freedom, and was an important 
;.ctor in the great struggle which ended in a victory 
for his party in 1824. 

In 1826-7 the Winnebago and other Indians com- 
mitted sone depredations in the northern part of the 



State, and the white settlers, who desired the lands 
and wished to exasperate tiie savages into an evacu- 
ation of the country, magnified the misdemeanors of 
the aborigines and thereby produced a hostility be- 
tween the races so great as to precipitate a little war, 
known in history as the "Winnebago War." A few 
chases and skirmishes were had, when Gen. Atkinson 
succeeded in capturing Red Bird, the Indian chief, 
and putting him to death, thus ending the contest, at 
least until the troubles commenced which ended in 
the " Black Hawk War " of 1832. In the interpre- 
tation of treaties and execution of their provisions 
Gov. Edwards had much vexatious work to do. The 
Indians kept themselves generally within the juris- 
diction of Michigan Territory, and its Governor, 
Lewis Cass, was at a point so remote that ready cor- 
respondence with him was difficult or impossible. 
Gov. Edwards' administration, however, in regard to 
the protection of the Illinois frontier, seems to have 
been very efficient and satisfactory. 

For a considerable portion of his time after his re- 
moval to Illinois, Gov. Edwards resided upon his 
farm near Kaskaskia, which he had well stocked with 
horses, cattle and sheep from Kentucky, also with 
fruit-trees, grape-vines and shrubbery. He estab- 
lished saw and grist-mills, and engaged extensively 
in mercantile business, having no less than eight or ten 
stores in this State and Missouri. Notwithstanding 
the arduous duties of his office, he nearly ahvays pur- 
chased the goods himself with which to supply the 
stores. Although not a regular practitioner of medi- 
cine, he studied the healing art to a considerable ex- 
tent, and took great pleasure in prescribing for, and 
taking care of, the sick, generally without charge. 
He w.is also liberal to the poor, several widows and 
ministers of the gospel becoming indebted to him 
even for their homes. 

- He married Miss Elvira Lane, of Maryland, in 
1803, and they became the affectionate parents of 
several children, one of whom, especially, is weh' 
known to the people of the " Prairie State," namely, 
Ninian Wirt Edwards, once tlie Superintendent c' 
Public Instruction and still a resident of Springfield 
Gov. Edwards resided at and in the vicinity of Kas- 
kaskia from 1809 to 1818; in Edwardsville (named 
after him) from that time to 1824; and from the lat- 
ter date at Belleville, St. Clair County, until his 
death, July 20, 1833, of Asiatic cholera. Edwards 
County is also named in his honor. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



127 




»■ » > i « fr— o'g^-<ill>'-$e^ # 1 1 " ' 




^l|oHN REYNOLDS, Governor 1831- 
J! 'f&g^ 4, was born in Montgomery Coun- 
' ty, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 1788. 

His father, Robert Reynolds and 
his mother, nee Margaret Moore, 
were both natives of Ireland, from 
which country they emigrated to 
the United States in 1785, land- 
ing at Philadelphia. The senior 
Reynolds entertained an undying 
hostility to the British Govern- 
ment. When the subject of this 
sketch was about six months old, 
his parents emigrated with him to 
Tennessee, where many of their 
relatives had already located, at the base of the 
Copper Ridge Mountain, about 14 miles northeast of 
the present city of Knoxville. There they were ex- 
posed to Indian depredations, and were much molest- 
ed by them. In 1794 they moved into the interior 
of the State. They were poor, and brought up their 
children to habits of manual industry. 

In 1800 the family removed to Kaskaskia, 111., with 
eight horses and two wagons, encountering many 
Hardships on the way. Here young Reynolds passed 
the most of his childhood, wliile his character began 
to develop, the most prominent traits of which were 
ambition and energy. He also adopted the principle 
and practice of total abstinence from intoxicating 
liquors. In 1807 the family made another removal, 



this time to the " Goshen Settlement," at the foot of 
the Mississippi bluffs three or four miles southwest 
of Edwardsville. 

On arriving at his 20th year, Mr. Reynolds, seeing 
tliat he must look about for his own livelihood and 
not yet having determined what calling to pursue, 
concluded first to attend college, and he accordingly 
went to such an institution of learning, near Knox- 
ville, Tenn., where he had relatives. Imagine his 
diffidence, when, after passing the first 20 years of 
his life without ever having seen a carpet, a papered 
wall or a Windsor chair, and never having lived in a 
shingle-roofed house, he suddenly ushered himsel ' 
into the society of the wealthy in the vicinity of 
Knoxville! He attended college nearly two years, 
going through the principal Latin authors ; but it 
seems that he, like the rest of the world in modern 
times, had but very little use for his Latin in after 
life. He always failed, indeed, to exhibit any good 
degree of literary disciplme. He commenced the 
study of law in Knoxville, but a pulmonary trouble 
came en and compelled him to change liis mode 
of life. Accordingly he returned home and re- 
cuperated, and in 1812 resumed his college and 
law studies at Knoxville. In the fall of 1812 he was 
admitted to the Bar at Kaskaskia. About this time 
he also learned the French language, whicli \\h 
practiced with pleasure in conversation with his 
family for many years. He regarded this language 
as being superior to all others for social intercourse. 



124 



JOHN REYNOLDS. 



From his services in the West, in the war of 1812, 
lie obtained the sobriquet of the " Old Ranger." He 
was Orderly Sergeant, then Judge Advocate. 

Mr. Reynolds opened his first law office in the 
winter and spring of 1814, inthe French village of 
Cahokia, then the capital of St. Clair County. 

In the fall of 1S18 he was elected an Associate 
Justice upon the Supreme Bench by the General 
Assembly. In 1825 he entered more earnestly than 
ever into the practice of law, and the very next year 
was elected a member of the Legislature, where he 
acted independently of all cliques and private inter- 
ests. In 1828 the Whigs and Democrats were for 
the first time distinctively organized as such in Illi- 
nois, and the usual party bitterness grew up and 
raged on all sides, while Mr. Reynolds preserved a 
iudicial calmness and moderation. The real animus 
if the campaign was " Jackson " and " anti-Jackson," 
'he former party carrying the State. 

In August, 1830, Mr. Reynolds was elected Gov- 
.rnor, amid great excitement. Installed in office, he 
did all within his power to advance the cause of edu- 
cation, internal improvements, the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal, the harbor at Chicago, settling the coun- 
try, etc.; also recommended the winding up of the 
State Bank, as its affairs had become dangerously 
complicated. In his national politics, he was a 
moderate supporter of General Jackson. But the 
most celebrated event of his gubernatorial admin- 
istration was the Black Hawk War, which occurred 
in 1832. He called out the militia and prosecuted 
the contest with commendable diligence, appearing 
in person on the battle-grounds during the most 
critical periods. He was recognized by the President 
as Major-General, and authorized by him to make 
treaties with the Indians. By the assistance of the 
general Government the war was terminated without 
much bloodshed, but after many serious fights. This 
war, as well as everything else, was materially re- 
tarded by the occurrence of Asiatic cholera in the 
West. This was its first appearance here, and was 
the next event in prominence during Gov. Reynolds' 
term. 

South Carolina nullification coming up at this time, 
t was heartily condemned by botli President Jackson 
e.nd Gov. Reynolds, who took precisely the same 
grounds as the Unionists in the last war. 

On the termination of his gubernatorial term in 
.834, Gov. Reynolds was elected a Member of Con- 
t^ress, still considering himself a backwoodsman, as 
' & had scarcely been outside of the State since he 
became of age, and had spent nearly all his youthful 
days in the wildest region of the frontier. His first 
DOve in Congress was to adopt a resolution that in 
all elections made by the House for officers the votes 
should be given viva voce, each member in his jjlace 
naming aloud the person for whom he votes. This 
created considerable heated discussion, but was es- 



sentially adopted, and remained the controlling prin- 
ciple for many years. The ex Governor was scarcely 
absent from his seat a single day, during eight ses- 
sions of Congress, covering a period of seven years, 
and he never vacillated in a party vote; but he failed 
to get the Democratic party to foster his " National 
Road " scheme. He says, in " My Own Times " (a 
large autobiography he published), that it was only 
by rigid economy that he avoided insolvency while in 
VVashington. During his sojourn in that city he was 
married, to a lady of the place. 

In 1837, while out of Congress, and in company 
with a few others, he built the first railroad in the 
Mississippi Valley, namely, one about six miles long, 
leading from his coal mine in the Mississippi bluff to 
the bank of the river opposite St. Louis. Having not 
the means to purchase a locomotive, they operated it 
by horse-power. The next spring, however, the com- 
pany sold out, at great sacrifice. 

In 1839 the ex-Governor was appointed one of the 
Canal Commissioners, and authorized to borrow 
money to prosecute the enterprise. Accord'ngly, he 
repaired to Philadelphia and succeeding in obtaining 
a million dollars, which, however, was only a fourth 
of what was wanted. The same year he and his 
wife made at our of Europe. This year, also, Mr. 
Reynolds had the rather awkward little responsibility 
of introducing to President Van Buren the noted 
Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, as a " Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In 1846 Gov. Reynolds was elected a member of 
the Legislature from St. Clair County, more particu- 
larly for the purpose of obtaining a feasible charter 
for a macadamized road from Belleville to St. Louis, 
a distance of nearly 14 miles. This was immediately 
built, and was the first road of the kind in the State. 
He was again elected to the Legislature in 1852, when 
he was chosen Speaker of the House. In i860, aged 
and infirm, he attended the National Democratic 
Convention at Charleston, S. C, as an anti-Douglas 
Delegate, where he received more attention from the 
Southern Delegates than any other member. He 
supported Breckenridge for the Presidency. After 
the October elections foreshadowed the success of 
Lincoln, he published an address urging the Demo- 
crats to rally to the support of Douglas. Immedi- 
ately preceding and during the late war, his corre- 
spondence evinced a clear sympathy for the Southern 
secession, and about the first of March, i86r, he 
urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the 
treasure and arms in the custom-house and arsenal 
at St. Louis. Mr. Reynolds was a rather talkative 
man, and apt in all the Western phrases and catch- 
words that ever gained currency, besides many cun- 
ning and odd ones of his own manufacture. 

He was married twice, but had no children. He 
died in Belleville, in May, 1865, just after the close 
of the war. 



I 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



127 






II LIAM LEE D. EWING, 
Governor of Illinois Nov. 3 
8 to 17, 1834, was a native 
of Kentucky, and probably 
of Scotch ancestry. He bad 
-» . a fine education, was a gentle- 

' mm of polished manners and 

iclmcd sentnnent. In 1830 John Rey- 
nolds w lb elected Governor of the State, 
and Zadok Casey Lieutenant Governor, 
and for the principal events that followed, 
and the characteristics of the times, see 
sketch of Gov. Reynolds. The first we 
^^ see in history concerning Mr. Ewing, in- 
forms us that he was a Receiver of Public 
MoLeys at Vandalia soon after the organization of 
t<iis State, and that the public moneys in his hands 
v.'ere deposited in various banks, as they are usually 
-■'• thi. present day. In 1823 the State Bank was 
obbed, by which disaster Mr. Ewing lost a thousand- 
dollar deposit. 

The subject of this sketcli had a commission as 
/^olonel in the Black Hawk War, and in emergencies 
he ac^ed also as Major. In the summer of 1832, 
■"/hen i- was rumored among the whites that Black 
Hawk and his men had encamped somewhere on 
Rock River, Gen. Henry was sent on a tour of 
reconnoisance, and with orders to drive the Indians 
from the State. After some opposition from his 
subordinate officers, Henry resolved to proceed up 
Rock River in search of the enemy. On the 19th of 
July, early in the morning, five baggage wagons, 



camp equipage and all heavy and cumbersome arti- 
cle.i were piled U[) and left, so that the army miglit 
make speedy and forced marches. For some miles 
the travel was exceedingly bad, crossing swamps 
aid the worst thickets; but the large, fresh trail 
gave life and animation to the Americans. Gen. 
Dodge and Col. Ewing were both acting as Majors, 
and composed the " spy corps " or vanguard of the 
orniy. It is supposed the army marched nearly 50 
miles this day, and the Indian trail they followed 
Ijecame fresher, and was strewed with much property 
and trinkets of the red-skim that they had lost or 
thrown away to hasten their march. During the 
following night there was a terrific thunder-storm, and 
the soldiery, with all their appurtenances, were thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On approaching nearer the Indians the next day. 
Gen. Dodge and Major Ewing, each commanding a 
battalion of men, were placed in front to bring on the 
battle, but the savages were not overtaken this day 
Forced marches were continued until they reached. 
Wisconsin River, where a veritable battle ensued, 
resulting in the death of about 68 of Black Hawk's 
men. The next day they continued the chase, and 
as soon as he discovered the trail of the Indians 
leading toward the Mississippi, Maj. Ewing formed 
his battalion in order of battle and awaited the order 
of Gen. Henry. The latter soon appeared on the 
ground and ordered a charge, which directly resulted 
in chasing the red warriors across the great river. 
Maj. Ewing and his command proved particularly 
efficient in war, as it seems they were the chief actors 
in driving the main body of the Sacs and Fo.xes, in- 



128 



WILLIAM L. D. EWING. 



eluding Black Hawk himself, across the Mississippi, 
while Gen. Atkinson, commander-in-chief of the ex- 
pedition, with a lK)dy of the army, was hunting for 
them \n another direction. 

In the above affair Maj. Ewing is often referred to 
as a "General," wliich title he had derived from his 
connection with the militia. 

It was in the latter part of the same year (1832) 
that Lieutenant Governor Casey was elected to Con- 
gress and Gen. Ewing, who had been elected to the 
Senate, was chosen to preside over that body. At 
ihe August election of 1834, Gov. Reynolds was also 
elected to Congress, more tlian a year ahead of the 
time at which he could actually take his seat, as was 
then the law. His predecessor, Charles Slade, had 
just died of Asiatic cholera, soon after the elec- 
tion, and Gov. Reynolds was chosen to serve out his 
unexpired term. Accordingly he set out for Wash- 
ington in November of that year to take his seat in 
Congress, and Gen. Ewing, by virtue of his office as 
President of the Senate, became Governor of the 
Stat2 of Illinois, his term covering only a period of 
15 days, namely, from the 3d to the 17th days, in- 
clusive, of November. On the 17th the Legislature 
met, and Gov. Ewing transmitted to that body his 
message, giving a statement of the condition of the 
affairs of the State at that time, and urging a contin- 
uance of the policy adopted by his predecessor ; and 
on the same day Governor elect Joseph Duncan 
was sworn into office, thus relieving Mr. Ewing from 



the responsible situation. This is the only time that 
such a juncture has happened in the history of Illi- 
nois. 

On the 29th of December, 1835, Gen. Ewing was 
elected a United Slates Senator to serve out the 
unexpired term of Elias Kent Kane, deceased. The 
latter gentleman was a very prominent figure in the 
early politics of Illinois, and a county in this State is 
named in his honor. The election of Gen. Ewing to 
the Senate was a protracted struggle. His competi- 
tors were James Semple, who afterwards held several 
important offices in this State, and Richard M. 
V'oung, afterward a United States Senator and a 
Supreme Judge and a man of vast influence. On 
the first ballot Mr. Semple had 25 votes. Young 19 
•uid Ewing 18. On the eighth ballot Young was 
dropped; the ninth and tenth stood a tie; but on 
the 1 2th Ewing received 40, to Semple 37, and was 
accordingly declared elected. In 1837 Mr. Ewing 
received some votes for a continiiance of his term in 
Congress, when Mr. Young, just referred to, was 
elected. In 1842 Mr. Ewing was elected State 
Audit 'r on the ticket with Gov, Ford. 

Gen. Ewing was a gentleman of culture, a lawyer 
by profession, and was much in public life. In person 
lie was above medium height and of heavy build, 
with auburn hair, blue eyes, large-sized head and 
short face. He was genial, social, friendly and 
affable, with fair talent, though of no high degree of 
originality. He died March 25, 1846. 





Jc/^^/^i^ ^ 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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% -vii!£j2A3^^*<S-'^«»* ' 






K^is?- 





OSEPH DUNCAN, Governor 
1834-8, was born at Paris, 
Ky., Feb. 23, 1794. At the 
tender age of 19 years he en- 
^ hsted in the war against Great 
Britain, and as a soldier he 
m acquitted himself with credit. He 
was an Ensign under the daunt- 
less Croghan at Lower Sandusky, 
or Fort Stephenson. In Illinois 
lie first appeared in a public capa- 
city as Major-General of the Militia, 
a pjosition which his military fame 
had procured him. Subsequently 
he became a State Senator from 
Jackson County, and is honorably 
mentioned for introducing the first bill providing for 
a free-school system. In 1826, when the redoubt- 
able John P. Cook, who had previously beaten such 
men as John McLean, Elias Kent Ka)ie and ex- 
Gov, Bond, came up for the fourth time for Congress, 
Mr. Duncan was brought forward against him by his 
friends, greatly to the surprise of all the politicians. 
As yet he was but little known in the State. He was 
an original Jackson man at that time, being attached 
to his political fortune in admiration of the glory of 
his militaiy achievements. His chances of success 
against Cook were generally regarded as hopeless, 
but he entered upon the campaign undaunted. His 
speeches, though short and devoid of ornament, were 
full of good sense. He made a diligent canvass of 
the State, Mr. Cook being hindered by the condition of 
his health. The most that was expected of Mr. 
Duncan, under the circumstances, was that he would 



obtain a respectable vote, but wiiiiout defeating Mr. 
Cook. The result of the campaign, however, was a 
source of surprise and amazement to both friends 
and foes, as Mr. Duncan came out 641 votes ahead! 
He received 6,321 votes, and Mr. Cook 5,680. Un- 
til this dcnoHcincnt, the violence of party feeling 
smoldering in the breasts of the people on account 
of the defeat of Jackson, was not duly appreciated. 
Aside from the great convention struggle of 1824, no 
oiher than mere local and pergonal considerations 
had ever before controlled an election in Illinois. 

From the above date Mr. Duncan retained his 
seat in Congress until his election as Governor in 
.\ugust, 1834. The first and bloodless year of the 
Black Hawk War he was appointed by Gov. Rey- 
nolds to the position of Brigadier-General of the 
volunteers, and he conducted his brigade to Rock 
Island. But he was absent from the State, in Wash- 
ington, during the gubernatorial campaign, and did 
not personally participate in it, but addressed circu- 
lars to his constituents. His election was, indeed, 
attributed to the circumstance of his absence, be- 
cause his estrangement from Jackson, formerly his 
political idol, and also from the Democracy, largely 
in ascendency in the State, was complete; but while 
his defection was well known to his Whig friends, 
and even to the leading Jackson men of this State, 
the latter were unable to carry conviction of that fact 
to the masses, as mail and newspaper facilities at 
that day were far inferior to those of the present 
time. Of course the Governor was much abused 
afterward by the fossilized Jackson men who re- 
garded party ties and affiliations as above all 
other issues that could arise; but he was doubtless 



132 



JOSEPH DUNCAN. 



sincere in his opposition to the old lieio, as the latter 
j;ad vetoed several important western measures 
which were dear to Mr. Duncan. In his inaugural 
message he tlirew off the mask and took a bold stand 
rgainst the course of the President. The measures 
'.e recommended in his message, however, were so 
desirable that the Legislature, although by a large 
majority consisting of Jackson men, could not refrain 
.from endorsing them. These measures related 
/iiainly to bai:ks and internal improvements. 

It was while Mr. Buncan was Governor that the 
people of Illinois went whirling on with bank and in- 
ternal improvement schemes that well nigh bank- 
'upted the State. The hard times of 1837 caiiie on, 
and the disasters that attended the inauguration of 
diese plans and the operation of the banks were mu- 
tually charged upon the two political parties. Had 
any one man autocratic power to introduce and 
carry on any one of these measures, he would proba- 
bly have succeeded to the satisfaction of the public ; 
Lut as many jealous men had hold of the same plow 
handle, no success followed and each blamed the other 
'or the failure. In this great vortex Gov. Duncan 
was carried along, suffering the like derogation of 
character with his fellow citizens. 

At the height of the excitement the Legislature 
"provided for" railroads from Galena to Cairo, Alton 
to Shawneetown, Alton to Mount Carmel, Alton to the 
eastern boundary of the State in the direction of 
Terre Haute, Quincy via Springfield to the Wabash, 
Bloon-.ington to Pekin, and Peoria to Warsaw, — in all 
about 1,300 miles of road. It also provided for the 
improvement of the navigation of the Kaskaskia, 
Illinois, Great and Little Wabash aiad Rock Rivers ; 
also as a placebo, $200,000 in money were to be dis- 
tributed to the various counties wherein no improve- 
ments were ordered to be made as above. The 
estimate for the expenses for all these projects was 
placed at a little over $10,000,000, which was not 
more than half enough ! That would now be equal to 
saddling upon the State a debt of $225,000,000! It 
was sufficient to bankrupt the State several times 
over, even counting all the possible benefits. 

One of the most exciting events that ever occurred 
'a\ this fair State was the murder of Elijah P. Love- 
by in the fall of 1837, at Alton, during Mr. Duncan's 
term as Governor. Lovejoy was an " Abolitionist," 
editing the Observer at that place, and the pro- 
slavery slums there formed themselves into a mob. 



and after destroying successively three presses be- 
longing to Mr. Lovejoy, surrounded the warehouse 
where the fourth press was stored away, endeavoring 
to destroy it, and where Lovejoy and his friends 
were entrenching themselves, and shot and killed the 
brave reformer! 

About this time, also, the question of removing the 
State capital again came up, as the 20 years' limit for 
its existence at Vandalia was drawing to a close. 
There was, of course, considerable excitement over 
the matter, the two main points competing for it be- 
ing Springfield and Peoria. The jealousy of the lat- 
ter place is not even yet, 45 years afterward, fully 
allayed. 

Gov. Duncan's term expired in 1838. In 1842 
he was again proposed as a candidate for the Execu- 
tive chair, this time by the Whig party, against Adam 
W. Snyder, of St. Clair County, the nominee of the 
Democrats. Charles W. Hunter was a third candi- 
date for the same position. Mr. Snyder, however, died 
before the campaign had advanced very far, and his 
luirty substituted Thomas Ford, who was elected, 
receiving 46,901 votes, to 38,584 for Duncan, and 
909 for Hunter. The cause of Democratic success 
at this time is mainly attributed to the temporary 
support of the Mormons which they enjoyed, and the 
want of any knowledge, on the part of the masses, 
that Mr. Ford was opposed to any given policy en- 
tertained in the respective localities. 

Gov. Duncan was a man of ratlier limited educa- 
tion, but with naturally fine abilities he profited 
greatly by his various public services, and gathered 
a store of knowledge regarding public affairs which 
served him a ready purpose. He possessed a clear 
judgment, decision, confidence in himself and moral 
courage to carry out his convictions of right. In his 
deportment he was well adapted to gain the admira- 
tion of the people. His intercourse with them was 
both affable and dignified. His portrait at the Gov- 
ernor's mansion, from which the accompanying was 
made, represents him as having a swarthy complex- 
ion, high cheek bones, broad forehead, piercing black 
eyes and straight black hair. 

He was a liberal patron of the Illinois College at 
Jacksonville, a member of its Board of Trustees, and 
died, after a short illness, Jan. 15, 1844, a devoted 
member of the Presbyterian Church, leaving a wife 
but no children. Two children, born to them, had 
died in infancy. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



«35 






m 



ii^i 














ynOMAS CARLIN, tlie sixth 
Governor of the State of 
lUiiiois, serving from 1838 
to 1842, was also a Ken- 
tuckian, being born near 
Frankfort, that State, July 
18, 1789, of Irish paternity. 
The opportunities for an education 
being very meager in his native 
place, he, on approaching years of 
jud",ment and maturity, applied 
himself to those branches of learn- 
ing that seemed most important, 
and thus became a self-made man ; 
and his taste for reading and 
study remained with him through 
life. In 1803 his father removed 
10 Missouri, then a part of " New Spain," where he 
died in 1 8 10. 

In 1812 young Carlin came to Illinois and partici- 
]ialed in all the "ranging" service incident to the 
war of that [leriod, proving himself a soldier of un- 
daunted bravery. In 1814 he married Rel)ecca 
Huitt, and lived for four years on the bank of the 
Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Mis- 
sc.;vi, where he followed farming, and then removed 
to Greene County. He located the town site of Car- 
n/»ton,in that county, and in 1*525 made a liberal 
donation of land for county building purposes. He 
was the first Sheriff of that county after its separate 
organization, and afterward was twice elected, as a 
Jackson Democrat, to the Illinois Senate. In the 
Hlack Hawk War he commanded a spy battalion, a 
post of considerable danger. In 1834 he was ap- 
pointed by President Jackson to the position of 
Receiver of Public Moneys, and to fulfill the office 



more conveniently he removed to the city of Quincy. 

While, in 1838, the unwieldy internal improvement 
system of the State was in full operation, with all its 
expensive macliinery, amidst bank suspensions 
throughout the United States, a great stringency in 
the money market everywliere, and Illinois bonds 
forced to sale at a heavy discount, and the " hardest 
limes " e.xisting that the people of the Prairie State 
ever saw, the general election of State officers was 
•'approaching. Discreet men who had clierished the 
hope of a speedy subsidence of the public infatua- 
tion, met with disappointment. A Governor and 
Legislature were to be elected, and these were now 
looked forward to for a repeal of the ruinous State 
policy. But the grand schemt^ had not yet lost its 
dazzling influence upon the minds of the people. 
Time and experience had not yet fully demonstrated 
its utter absurdity. Hence the question of arresting 
its career of profligate expenditures did not become 
a leading one with the dominant party during. the 
campaign, and most of the old members of the Leg- 
islature were returned at this election. 

Under these circumstances the Democrats, in State 
Convention assembled, nominated Mr. Carlin for the 
office of Governor, and S. H. Anderson for Lieuten- 
ant Governor, while the Whigs nominated Cyrus Ed- 
wards, brotherof Ninian Edwards, formerly Governor, 
and W. H. Davidson. Edwards came out strongly 
for a continuance of the State policy, while Car'i. 
rcmained non-committal. This was the first tmic 
that the two main political parties in this State were 
unembarrassed by any third party in the field. The 
result of the election was: Carlin, 35,573 ; Ander- 
son, 30,335 ; Edwards, 29,629 ; and Davidson, 28,- 

7t.';- 

Upon the meeting of the subsequent Legislature 

(1839), the retiring Governor CDuncan) in his mes- 



136 



THOMAS CARLIN. 



sage sjxike in emphatic terms of the impoHcy of the 
internal improvement system, presaging the evils 
threatened, and uiged that body to do their utmost 
to correct the great error; yet, on the contrary, tlie 
Legislature not only decided to continue the policy 
but also added to its burden by voting more appro- 
priations and ordering more improvements. Although 
the money market was still stringent, a further loan 
of $4,000,000 was ordered for the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal alone. Cmcago at that time began to 
loom up and promise to be an important city, even 
the great emporium of the West, as it has since in- 
deed came to be. Ex-Gov. Reynolds, an incompe- 
tent financier, was commissioned to effect the loan, 
and accordingly hastened to tlie East on this respons- 
ible errand, and negotiated the loans, at considera- 
ble sacrifice to the State. Besides this embarrassment 
tc Curlin's administration, the Legislature also de- 
clared that he had no authority to appoint a Secretary 
of State until a vacancy existed, and A. P. Field, a 
Whig, who had already held the post by appointment 
througli three administrations, was determined to 
keep the place a while longer, in spite of Gov. Car- 
lin's preferences. The course of the Legislature in 
this regard, however, was finally sustained by the 
Supreme Court, in a. quo warranto case brought up 
before it by John A. McClernand, whom the Gov- 
ernor had nominated for the office. Thereupon that 
dignified body was denounced as a "Whig Court!' 
endeavoring to establish the principle of life-tenure 
of office. 

A new law was adopted re-organizing the Judici- 
ary, and under it five additional Supreme Judges 
were elected by the Legislature, namely, Thomas 
Ford (afterward Governor), Sidney Breese, Walter B. 
Scates, Samuel H. Treat and Stephen A. Douglas — 
all Democrats. 

It was during Gov. Carlin's administration that the 
noisy campaign of " Tippecanoe and Tyler too " oc- 
curred, resulting in a Whig victory. This, however, 
did net affect Illinois politics very seriously. 

Another prominent event in the West during Gov. 
Carlin's term of office was the excitement caused by 
the Mormons and tlieir removal from Independence, 
Mo., to Nauvoo, 111., in 1840. At the same time 
they began to figure somewhat in State politics. On 
account of their beheving — as they tliought, accord- 
ing to the New Testament — that they should have 



" all things common," and that consequently " all 
the earth " and all that is upon it were the" Lord's " 
and therefore the property of his " saints," they 
were suspected, and correctly, too, of committing 
many of the deeds of larceny, robbery, etc., that 
were so rife throughout this country in those days. 
Hence a feeling of violence grew up between the 
Mormons and "anti-Mormons." In the State of 
Missouri the Mormons always supported the Dem- 
ocracy until they were driven out by the Democratic 
government, when they turned their support to the 
Whigs. They were becoming numerous, and in the 
Legislature of 1840-1, therefore, it became a matter 
of great interest with both parties to conciliate these 
people. Through the agency of one John C. Ben- 
nett, a scamp, the Mormons succeeded in rushing 
through the Legislature (both parties not daring to 
oppose) a charter for the city of Nauvoo which vir- 
tually erected a hierarchy co-ordinate with the Fed- 
eral Government itself. In the fall of 1841 the 
(lovernor of Missouri made a demand upon Gov. 
Carlin for the body of Joe Smith, the Mormon leader, 
as a fugitive from justice. Gov. Carlin issued the 
writ, but for some reason it was returned unserved. 
It was again issued in 1842, and Smith was arrested, 
but was either rescued by his followers or discharged 
by the municipal court on a writ of habeas corpus. 

In December, 1841, the Democratic Convention 
nominated Adam W. Snyder, of Belleville, for Gov- 
ernor. As he had been, as a member of the Legisla- 
ture, rather friendly to the Mormons, the latter 
naturally turned their support to the Democratic 
party. The next spring the Whigs nominated Ex- 
Gov. Duncan for the same office. In the meantime 
the Mormons began to grow more odious to the 
masses of the people, and the comparative prospects 
of the respective parties for success became very 
problematical. Mr. Snyder died in May, and 
Thomas Ford, a Supreme Judge, was substituted as 
a candidate, and was elected. 

At the close of his gubernatorial term, Mr. Carlin 
removed back to his old home at Carrollton, where 
he spent the remainder of his life, as before his ele- 
vation to office, in agricultural pursuits. In iS/.g 
he served out the unexpired term of J. D. Fry in the 
Illinois House of Representatives, and died Feb. 4. 
1852, at his residence at Carrollton, leaving a wife 
and seven children. 



I 



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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



J 39 





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A. -A. 



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5HOMAS FORD, Governor 
from 1842 to 1846, and au- 
thor of a very interesting 
history of Illinois, was born 
at Uniontown, Pa., in the 
year 1 800. His mother, after 
the death of her first hus- 
band (Mr. Forquer), married Rob- 
ert Ford, who was killed in 1802, 
by the Indians in the mountains 
of Pennsylvania. She was conse- 
quently left in indigent circum- 
stances, with a large family, mostly 
girls. With a view to better her 
condition, she, in 1804, removed to 
Missouri, where it had been cus- 
tomary by the Spanish Govern- 
ment to give land to actual settlers; but upon her 
arrival at St. Louis she found the country ceded to 
the United States, and the liberal policy toward set- 
tlers changed by the new ownership. After some 
sickness to herself and family, she finally removed to 
Illinois, and settled some three miles south of Water- 
loo, but the following year moved nearer the Missis- 
sippi bluffs. Here young Ford received his first 



schooling, under the instructions of a Mr. Humphrey, 
for which he had to walk three miles. His mother, 
though lacking a thorough education, was a woman 
of superior mental endowments, joined to energy 
and determination of character. She inculcated in 
her children those high-toned principles which dis- 
tinguished her sons in public life. She exercised a 
rigid economy to provide her children an education ; 
but George Forquer, her oldest son (six years older 
than Thomas Ford), at an early age had to quit 
school to aid by his labor in the support of the family. 
He afterward became an eminent man in Illinois 
affairs, and but for his early death would probably 
have been elected to the United States Senate. 

Young Ford, with somewhat better opportunities, 
received a better education, though limited to the 
curriculum of the common school of those pioneer 
times. His mind gave early promise of superior en- 
dowments, with an inclination for mathematics. His 
proficiency attracted the attention of Hon. Daniel P. 
Cook, who became his efficient patron and friend. 
The latter gentleman was an eminent Illinois states- 
man who, as a Member of Congress, obtained a grant 
of 300,000 acres of land to aid in completing the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, and after whom the 
I county of Cook was named. Through the advice of 



140 



THOMAS FORD. 



this i^entleman, Mr. Ford turned his attention to the 
study of law, but Forquer, then merchandising, re- 
garding his education defective, sent him to Transyl- 
vania University, where, however, he remained but 
one term, owing to Forquer's failure in business. On 
his return he alternated his law reading with teach- 
ing school for support. 

In 1829 Gov. Edwards appointed him Prosecuting 
Attorney, and in 183 1 he was re-appointed by Gov. 
Reynolds, and after tliat he was four times elected a 
Judge by the Legislature, without opposition, twice a 
Circuit Judge, once a Judge of Chicago, and as As- 
sociate Judge of the Supreme Court, when, in 1S41, 
the latter tribunal was re-organized by the addition 
of five Judges, all Democrats. Ford was assigned to 
the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and while in this capacity 
he was holding Court in Ogle County he received a 
notice of his nomination by the Democratic Conven- 
tion for the office of Governor. He immediately re- 
signed his place and entered upon the canvass. In 
August, 1842, he was elected, and on the 8th of De- 
cember following he was inaugurated. 

All the offices which he had held were unsolicited 
by him. He received them upon the true Jefferson- 
lan principle, — Never to ask and never to refuse 
office. Both as a lawyer and as a Judge he stood 
deservedly high, but his cast of intellect fitted him 
rather for a writer upon law than a practicing advo- 
cate in the courts. In the latter capacity he was void 
of the moving power of eloquence, so necessary to 
success with juries. As a Judge his opinions were 
"ound, lucid and able expositions of the law. In 
practice, he was a stranger to the tact, skill and in- 
sinuating address of the politician, but lie saw through 
ihe arts of demagogues as well as any man. He was 
[ilain in his demeanor, so much so, indeed, that at 
one time after the expiration of his term of office, 
during a session of the Legislature, he was taken by 
a stranger to be a seeker for the position of door- 
keeper, and was waited upon at his hotel near mid- 
r.iglit by a knot of small office-seekers with the view 
of effecting a "combination ! " 

Mr. Ford had not the " brass " of the ordinary 
politician, nor that impetuosity which characterizes a 
political leader. He cared little for money, and 
hardly enough for a decent support. In person he 
was of small stature, slender, of dark complexion, 
with black hair, sharp features, deep-set eyes, a 
pointed, aquiline nose having a decided twist to one 
side, and a small mouth. 

The three most important events in Gov. Ford's 
r.dministration were the establishment of the high 
iinancial credit of the State, the " Mormon War "and 
.he Mexican War. 

In the first of these the Governor proved himself 
*o be en;inentlv wise. On coming into office he found 
'he State badly |)iralyze(l by the ruinous effeits of 
die notorious "internal improvement" schemes of 



the preceding decade, with scarcely anything to 
show by way of "improvement." The enterprise 
that seemed to be getting ahead more than all the 
rest was the Illinois & Michigan Canal. As this 
promised to be the most important thoroughfare, 
feasible to the people, it was well under headway in 
its construction. Therefore the State policy was 
almost concentrated ui^on it, in order to rush it on le 
completion. The bonded indebtedness of the State 
was growing so large as to frighten the people, and 
they were about ready to entertain a proposition for 
repudiation. But the Governor had the foresight to 
recommend such measures as would maintain the 
]juljlic credit, for which every citizen to-day feels 
thankful. 

But perhaps the Governor is remembered more for 
his connection with the Mormon troubles than for 
anything else; for it was during his term of office 
that the " Latter-Day Saints " became so strong at 
Nauvoo, built their temple there, increased their num- 
bers throughout the country, committed misdemean- 
ors, taught dangerous doctrines, suffered the loss of 
theirleader, Jo Smith, by a violent death, were driven 
out of Nauvoo to the far West, etc. Having been a 
Judge for so many years previously, Mr. Ford of 
course was no i-committal concerning Mormon affairs, 
and was therefore claimed by both parties and also 
accused by each of sympathizing too greatly with the 
other side. Mormonism claiming to be a system of 
religion, the Governor no doubt was "between two 
fires," and felt compelled to touch the matter rather , 
" gingerly," and doubtless felt greatly relieved when ' 
that pestilential people left the State. Such compli- 
cated matters, especially when religion is mixed up 
with them, expose every person participating in 
them to criticism from all parties. 

The Mexican War was begun in the spring of 
1845, and was continued into the gubernatorial term 
of Mr. Ford's successor. The Governor's connection 
with this war, however, was not conspicuous, as it 
was only administrative, commissioning officers, etc. 

Ford's " History of Illinois " is a very readable and 
entertaining work, of 450 small octavo pages, and is 
destined to increase in value with the lapse of time. 
It exhibits a natural flow of compact and forcible 
thought, never failing to convey the nicest sense. In 
tracing with his trenchant pen the devious operations 
of the professional politician, in which he is inimit- 
able, his account is open, perhaps, to the objection 
that all his contemporaries are treated as mere place- 
seekers, while many of them have since been judged 
by the people to be worthy statesmen. His writings 
seem slightly open to the criticism that they exhibit 
a little splenetic partiality against those of his con- 
temporaries who were [jrominent during his term of 
office as Governor. 

The death of Gov. Ford took place at Peoria, 111., 
Nov. 2, 1850. 



/^ 





GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



143 




^^r'/>^^ :^^. 



}i„ — — ■'- 

* 



Augustus O. French. 



I 








■^ 



''" ■ 'iUGUSTUS C. FRENCH, 
Govcrnov of Illinois from 
1 846 to 1852, was born in 
the town, of Hill, in the 
State of New Hampshire, 
Aug. 2, 1808. He was a 
descendant in the fourth 
generation of Nathaniel 
French, who emigrated from England 
in 1687 and settled in Saybury, Mass. 
In early life young French lost his 
father, but continued to receive in- 
struction from an exemplary and 
Christian mother until he was 19 years 
old, when she also died, confiding to 
his care and trust four younger broth- 
ers and one sister. He discharged his trust with 
parental devotion. His education in early life was 
such mainly as a common school afforded. For a 
brief period he attended Dartmouth College, but 
Irom pecuniary causes and the care of his brothers 
and sister, he did not graduate. He subsequently 
read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1831, and 
shortly afterward removed to Illinois, settling first at 
Albion, Edwards County, where he established him- 
self in the practice of law. The following year he 
removed to Paris, Edgar County. Here he attained 
eminence in his profession, and entered public life 
by representing that county in the Legislature. A 
strong attachment sprang up between him and Ste- 
phen A. Douglas. 

In 1839, Mr. French was appointed Receiver of 
the United States Land Office at I'alestine, Craw- 
ford County, at which place he was a resident when 



elevated to the gubernatorial chair. In 1844 he was 
a Presidential Elector, and as such he voted for 
James K.. Polk. 

The Democratic State Convention of 1846, meet- 
ing at Springfield Feb. 10, nominated Mr. French 
for Governor. Other Democratic candidates were 
Lyman Trumbull, John Calhoun (subsequently of 
Lecompton Constitution notoriety), Walter B. Scales, 
Richard M. Young and A. W. Cavarly, — an array of 
very able and prominent names. Trumbull was per- 
haps defeated in the Convention by the rumor that 
he was opposed to the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
as he had been a year previously. For Lieutenant 
Governor J. B. Wells was chosen, while other candi- 
dates were Lewis Ross, Wm. McMurtry, Newton 
Cloud, J. B. Hamilton and \V. W. Thompson. The 
resolutions declared strongly against the resuscita- 
tion of the old State Banks. 

The Whigs, who were in a hopeless minority, held 
their convention June 8, at Peoria, and selected 
Thomas M. Kilpatrick, of Scott County, for Governor, 
and Gen. Nathaniel G. Wilcox, of Schuyler, for 
Lieutenant Governor. 

In the campaign the latter e.xposed Mr. French's 
record and connection with the passage of the in- 
ternal improvement system, urging it against his 
election; but in the meantime the war with Mexico 
broke out, regarding which the Whig record was un- 
popular in this State. The war was the absorbing 
and dominating question of the period, sweeping 
every other political issue in its course. The elec- 
tion in .A.ugust gave Mr. French 58,700 votes, and 
Kilpatrick only 36,775. Richard Eells, Abolitionist 
candidate for the same office, received 5,152 votas 



144 



AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH. 



By the new Constitution of 1S4S, a new election for 
State officers was ordered in Novenibet of that year, 
before Gov. French's term was half out, and lie was 
re-elected for the term of four years. He was there- 
fore the incuinbeiu for six consecutive years, the 
only Governor of this State who has ever served in 
that capacity so long at one time. As there was no 
organized opposition to his election, he received 67,- 
453 votes, to 5,639 for Pierre Menard (son of the 
first Lieutenant Governor), 4,748 for Charles V. 
Dyer, 3,834 for W. L. D. Morrison, and r,36i for 
James L. D. Morrison. But Wm. McMurlry, of 
Knox County, was elected Lieutenant Governor, in 
place of Joseph B. Wells, who was before elected 
and did not run again. 

Governor French was inaugurated into office dur- 
ing the progress of the Mexican War, which closed 
during the summer of 1847, although the treaty of 
Guadalupe Hidalgo was not made until Feb. 2, 
1848. The policy of Gov. French's party was com- 
mitted to that war, but in connection with that affair 
he was, of course, only an administrative officer. 
During his term of office, Feb. 19, 1847, the Legisla- 
ture, by special permission of Congress, declared that 
all Government lands sold to settlers should be im- 
mediately subject to State taxation; before this they 
were exempt for five years after sale. By this ar- 
r.ingement the revenue was materially increased. 
.\bout the same time, the distribution of Government 
land warrants among the Mexican soldiers as bounty 
llirew upon tlie market a great quantity of good 
l.mds, and this enhanced the settlement of tlie State. 
The same Legislature authorized, with the recom- 
mendation of the Governor, the sale of the Northern 
Cross Railroad (from Springfield to Meredosia, the 
first in the State and now a section of the Wabash, 
St. Louis & Pacific) It sold for $100,000 in bonds, 
although it had cost the State not less than a million. 
The salt wells and canal lands in the Saline reserve 
in Gallatin County, granted by the general Govern- 
ment to the State, were also authorized by the 
Governor to be sold, to apply on the State debt. In 
1850, for the first time since 1839, the accruing State 
revenue, exclusive of specific appropriations, was 
sufficient to meet the current demands upon the 
treasury. The aggregate taxable property of the 
State at this time was over !| 100,000,000, and tl' ; 
(Mpulation 85 1,470. 



In 1849 the Legislature adopted the township or- 
ganization law, which, however, proved defective, 
and was properly amended in 1851. At its session 
in the latter year, the General Assembly also passed 
a law to exempt homesteads from sale on executions 
This beneficent measure had been repeatedly uiged 
upon that body by Gov. French. 

In 1S50 some business men in St. Louis com- 
menced to build a dike opposite the lower part of 
their city on the Illinois side, to keep the Mississippi 
in its channel near St. Louis, instead of breaking 
away from them as it sometimes threatened to do. 
This they undertook without permission from the 
Legislature or Executive authority of f,his State; and 
as many of the inhabitants thers complained that 
the scheme would inundate and ruin much valuable 
land, there was a slight conflict of jurisdictions, re- 
sulting in favor of the St. I.,ouis project ; and since 
then a good site has existed there for a city (East St. 
Louis), and now a score of railroads center there. 

It was in September, 1850, that Congress granted 
to this State nearly 3,000,000 acres of land in aid of 
the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
which constituted the most important epoch in the 
railroad — we might say internal improvement — his- 
tory of the State. The road was rushed on to com- 
pletion, which accelerated the settlement of the in- 
terior of the State by a good class of industrious citi- 
zens, and by the charter a good income to the State 
Treasury is paid in from the earnings of the road. 

In 185 r the Legislature passed a law authorizing 
free stock banks, which was the source of much leg- 
islative discussion for a number of years. 

But we have not space further to particularize 
concerning legislation. Gov. French's administra- 
tion was not marked by any feature to be criticised, 
while the country was settling up as never before. 

In stature. Gov. French was of medium height, 
s(iuarely built, light complexioned, with ruddy face 
and pleasant countenance. In manners he was 
]5lain and agreeable. By nature he was son.iewhat 
diffident, but he was often very outspoken in his con- 
victions of duty. In public siieech he was not an 
orator, but was chaste, earnest and persuasive. In 
business he was accurate and methodical, and in his 
administration he kept up the credit of the State. 

He died in 1S65, at his home in Lebanon, St 
Glair Co., 111. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



147 




%uti %. |jKHi4es0ia. 






2^^«^^:<5^^ 







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S<s§-<iBW®><t 



:;<)EL A. MATTESON, Governor 
f^'2»s 1853-6, was born Aug. 8, 1808, 
:i in Jefferson County, New York, 
to which place his father had re- 
moved from Vermont three years 
before. His father was a farmer 
in fair circumstances, but a com- 
mon English education was all 
that his only son received. Young 
Joel first tempted fortune as a 
small tradesman in Prescott, 
Canada, before he was of age. 
He returned from that place to 
his home, entered an academy, 
taught school, visited the prin- 
cijial Eastern cities, improved a farm his father had 
given him, made a tour in the South, worked tlierc 
in building railroads, experienced a slorni on the 
Gulf of Mexico, visited the gold diggings of Northern 
Georgia, and returned 7>ta Nashville to St. Louis and 
through Illinois to his father's home, when he mar- 
ried. In 1833, having sold his farm, he removed, 
ivith his wife and one child, to Illinois, and entered 
a claim on Government land near the head of An 
Sable River, in what is now Kendall County. At 
that time there were not more tlian two neighbors. 
within a range of ten miles of his place, and onl\ 
three or four houses h-etween him and Chicago. He 
opened a large farm. His family was boarded 1 j 



miles away while he erected a house on his claim, 
sleeping, daring this time, under a rude pole shed. 
Here his life was once placed in imminent peril by 
a huge prairie rattlesnake sharing his bed. 

In 1S35 he bought largely at the Government land 
sales. During the speculative real-estate mania which 
broke out in Chicago in 1836 and spread over the State, 
he sold his lands under tlie inflation of that period 
and removed to Joliet. In 1838 he became a heavy 
contractor on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Upon 
tlie completion of his job in 1841, when hard times 
prevailed, business at a stand, contracts paid in State 
scrip; when all the public works except the canal 
were abandoned, the State offered for sale 700 tons 
of railroad iron, which was purchased by Mr. Mat- 
teson at a bargain. This he accepted, shipped and 
sold at Detroit, realizing a very handsome profit, 
enough to pay off all his canal debts and leave him a 
surplus of several thousand dollars. His enterprise 
next prompted him to start a woolen mill at Joliet, 
in which he prospered, and which, after successive 
enlargements, became an enormous establishment. 

In 1842 he was first elected a State Senator, but, 
by a bungling apportionment, John Pearson, a Senator 
holdi'ig over, was found to be in tlie same district, 
and decided to be entitled to represent it. Mat- 
teso.i's seat was declared vacant. Pearson, however 
with a nobleness difficult to appreciate in this day of 



148 



JOEL A. MATTESON. 



greed for office, unwilling lo rei)resenl his district 
under the circumstances, immediately resigned his 
unexpired term of two years. A bill was passed in a 
few hours ordering a new election, and in ten days 
time Mr. Matteson was returned re-elected and took 
his seat as Senator. From his well-known capacity 
as a business man, he was made Chairman of the 
Committee on Finance, a position he held during 
this half and two full succeeding Senatorial terms, 
discharging its important duties with ability and faith- 
fulness. Besides his extensive woolen-mill interest, 
when work was resumed on the canal under the new 
loan of $1,600,000 he again became a heavy con- 
tractor, and also subsequently operated largely in 
l>uilding railroads. Thus he showed himself a most 
energetic and thorough business man. 

He was nominated for Governor by the Demo- 
cratic State Convention which met at Springfield 
April 20, 1852. Other candidates before the Con- 
vention were I). L. Gregg and F. C. Sherman, of 
Cook; John Dement, of Lee ; Thomas L. Harris, of 
Menard; Lewis W. Ross, of Fulton ; and D. P. Bush, 
of Pike. Gustavus Koerner, of St. Clair, was nom- 
inated for Lieutenant Governor. For the same offices 
the Whigs nominated Edwin B. Webb and De-xtcr A. 
Knowlton. Mr. Matteson received 80,645 votes at 
the election, while Mr. Webb received 64,408. Mat- 
teson's forte was not on the stump; he had not cul- 
tivated the art of oily flattery, or the faculty of being 
all things to all men. His intellectual qualities took 
rather the direction of efficient executive ability. His 
turn consisted not so much in the adroit manage- 
ment of party, or the powerful advocacy of great gov- 
ernmental principles, as in those more solid and 
enduring operations which cause the physical devel- 
opment and advancement of a State, — of commerce 
and business enterprise, into which he labored with 
success to lead the people. As a politician he was 
just and liberal in his views, and both in official and 
private life he then stood untainted and free from 
blemish. As a man, in active benevolence, social 
rirtues and all the amiable qualities of neighbor or 
citizen, he had few superiors. His messages present 
a perspicuous array of facts as to the condition of the 
State, and are often couched in forcible and elegant 
diction. 

The greatest excitement during his term of office 
was the repeal of the Missouri (Compromise, by Con- 



gress, under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas in 
1 85 4, when the bill was passed organizing the Terri- 
tory of Kansas and Nebraska. A large portion of 
the Whig party of the North, through their bitter op- 
position to the Democratic party, naturally drifted 
into the doctrine of anti-slavery, and thus led to what 
was temporarily called the "Anti-Nebraska" party, 
while the followers of Douglas were known as " Ne- 
braska or Douglas Democrats." It viras during this 
embryo stage of the Republican party that Abraham 
Lincoln was brought forward as the "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate for the United States Senatorship, while 
Gen. James Shields, the incumbent, was re-nom- 
inated by the Democrats. But after a fewballotings 
in the Legislature (r8s5), these men were dropped, 
and Lyman Trumbull, an Anti-Nebraska Democrat, 
was brought up by the former, and Mr. Matteson, 
then (Governor, by the latter. On the iith ballot 
Mr. Trumbull obtained one majority, and was ac- 
cordingly declared elected. Before Gov. Matteson 's 
term expired, the Republicans were fully organized 
as a national party, and in 1S56 put into the field a 
full national and State ticket, carrying the Stale, but 
not the nation. 

The Legislature of 1855 passed two very import- 
ant measures, — the present free-school system and a 
submission of the Maine liquor law to a vote of the 
people. The latter was defeated by a small majority 
of the popular vote. 

During the four years of Gov. Matteson 's admin- 
istration the taxable wealth of the State was about 
trebled, from $i37,8r8,o79 to $349,951,272; the pub- 
lic debt was reduced from $17,398,985 to $12,843,- 
144; taxation was at the same time reduced, and the 
State resumed paying interest on its debt in New 
York as fast as it fell due ; railroads were increased 
in their mileage from something less than 400 to 
about 3,000 ; and the population of Chicago was 
nearly doubled, and its commerce more than tpiad- 
rupled. 

Before closing this account, we regret that we have 
to say that Mr. Matteson, in all other respects an 
upright man and a good Governor, was implicated 
in a false re-issue of redeemed canal scrip, amount- 
ing to $224,182.66. By a suit in the Sangamon Cir- 
cuit Court the State recovered the jirincipal and all 
tlie interest excepting $27,500. 

He died in the winter of I.S7 2--3, at Chicago. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



151 





1 1 f'-j'^>^t-.i-^^;j^^&U^^^gltaa^t;^'^|'^/V■;^|^^■'r^■' ■'^■'^|:^^ 



i^'i\'<iF''^ 




'^>-5— # — o-s^HiiB)>-5s5>o 



1 1 LIAM H. BISSELL, Gov- 
ernor 1S57-60, was born 
A))ril 25, 181 1, in the 
bUite of New York, near 
Painted Post, Yates County, 
flis parents were obscure, 
IiDiiLst, God-tearing i)eo[)le, 
"ho reared their children under the daily 
cxam|)le of indusliy and frugalitv, accord- 
ing to the custom of that class of Eastern 
society. Mr. Bissell received a respecta- 
ble but not thorough academical education. 
By assiduous application he acquired a 
knowledge of medicine, and in his early 
manhood came ^Vest and located in Mon- 
roe County, this Slale, where he engaged in the 
practice of that profession. But he was not enam- 
uved of his calling: he was swayed by a broader 
ambition, lo such an extent tliat the mysteries of the 
healing art and its arduous duties failed to yield him 
further any charms. In a few years he discovered 
his choice of a profession to be a mistake, and when 
lie approached the ago of 30 he sought to begin 
anew. Dr. Bissell, no doubt unexpectedly to him- 
self, discovered a singular facility and charm of 
speech, the exercise of which acquired for him a 
ready local notoriety. It soon came to be under- 




stood that he desired lo abandon his profession and 
lake up that of the law. During terms of Court he 
would spend his time at the county seat among the 
members of the Bar, who extended to him a ready 
welcome. 

It was not strange, therefore, that he should drift 
into public life. In 1S40 he was elected as a Dem- 
ocrat to the Legislature from Monroe County, and 
was an efficient member of that body. On his re- 
iLirn home he qualified himself for admission to the 
Bar and speedily rose to the front rank as an advo- 
cate. His powers of oratory were captivating. With a 
[Jure diction, charming and inimitable gestures, 
clearness of statement, and a remarkable vein of sly 
Iiumor, his effoi'ts before a jury told with irresistible 
effect. He was chosen by the Legislature Prosecut- 
ing Attorney for the Circuit in which he lived, and 
in that position he fully discharged his duty to the 
State, gained the esteem of the Bar, and seldom 
failed to convict the offender of the law. 

In stature he was somewhat tall and slender, and 
with a straight, military bearing, he presented a dis- 
tinguished appearance. His complexion was dark, 
his head well poised, though not large, his address 
pleasant and manner winning. He was exemplary 
in his habits, a devoted husband and kind parent. 
He was twice married, the first time to Miss James, 



'52 



WILLIAM H HfSSKCL. 



ol Monroe County, by whom he had tvvo children, 
botli daughters. She died soon after the year 1840, 
and Mr. B. married for his second wife a daughter 
of EUas K. Kane, previously a United States Senator 
from this State. She survived hi n 'nit a short time, 
and died without issue. 

When the war with Mexico was declared in 1846, 
Mr. Bissell enlisted and was elected Colonel of his 
regi'nent, over Hon. Don Morrison, by an almost 
unanimous vote, — 807 to 6. Considering the hmitid 
opportunities he had had, he evinced a high order of 
military talent. On the bloody field of Buena Vista 
he acquitted himself with intrepid and distinguished 
ability, contributing with his regiment, the Second 
Illinois, in no small degree toward saving the waver- 
ing fortunes of our arms during that long and fiercely 
contested battle. 

After his return home, at the close of the war, he 
was elected to Congress, his opponents being the 
Hons. P. B. Fouke and Joseph Gillespie. He served 
two terms in Congress. He was an ardent politician. 
During the great contest of 1850 he voted in favor 
of the adjustment measures; but in 1854 he oppos'ed 
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise act and 
therefore the Kansas-Nebraska bill of Douglas, and 
thus became identified with the nascent Republican 
party. 

During liis first Congressional term, while the 
Southern members were following their old practice 
of intimidating the North by bullying language, 
and claiming most of the credit for victories in the 
Mexican War, and Jefferson Davis claiming for the 
Mississippi troops all the credit for success at Buena 
Vista, Mr. Bissell bravely defended the Northern 
troops : whereupon Davis challenged Bissell to a duel, 
which was accepted. This matter was brought uj) 
against Bissell when he was candidate for Governor 
and during his term of office, as the Constitution of 
this State forbade any duelist from holding a State 
office. 

In 1856, when the Republican party first put fortli 
a candidate, John C. Fremont, for President of the 
United States, the same party nominated Mr. Bissell 
for Governor of Illinois, and Jolin Wood, of Quincy, 
for Lieutenant Governor, while the Democrats nomi- 
nated Hon. W. A. Richardson, of Adams County, 
for Governor, and Col. R. J. Hamilton, of Cook 
County, f'.'v Lieutcnnnt Governor. The result of the 



election was a plurality of 4,729 votes over Richard- 
son. The American, or Know-Nothing, party had a 
ticket in the field. The Legislature was nearly bal- 
anced, but was politically opposed to the Governor. 
His message to the Legislature was short and rather 
ordinary, and was criticised for expressing the sup- 
posed obligations of the people to the incorporators 
of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and for re- 
opening the slavery question by allusions to the 
Kansas troubles. Late in the session an apportion- 
ment bill, based upon the State census of 1855, was 
passed, amid much partisan strife. The Governor 
at first signed the bill and then vetoed it. A furious 
debate followed, and the question whether the Gov- 
ernor had the authority to recall a signature was 
referred to the Courts, that of last resort deciding in 
favor of the Governor. Two years afterward another 
outrageous attempt was made for a re-apportionment 
and to gerrymander the Stale, but the Legislature 
failed to pass the bill over the veto of the Governor. 

It was during Gov. Bissell's administration that 
the notorious canal scrip fraud was brought to light, 
implicating ex-Gov. Matteson and other prominent 
State officials. The principal and interest, aggregat- 
ing i|2S5,5oo, was all recovered by the Stale except- 
ing $27,500. (See sketch of Gov. Matteson.) 

In 1859 an attempt was discovered to fraudu- 
lently refund the Macalister and Stebbins bonds and 
thus rob the State Treasury of nearly a cjuarler of a 
million dollars. The State Government was impli- 
cated in this affair, and to this day remains unex- 
plained or unatoned for. For the above, and other 
matters previously mentioned. Gov. Bissell has been 
severely criticised, and he has also been most shame- 
fully libelled and slandered. 

On account of exposure in the army, the remote 
cause of a nervous form of disease gained entranced 
into his system and eventually developed paraplegia, 
affecting his lower extremities, which, while it left 
his body in comparative health, deprived him of loco- 
, motion except by the aid of crutches. While he was 
generally hopeful of ultimate recovery, this myste- 
rious disease pursued him, without once relaxing its 
stealthy hold, to the close of his life, Marcli 18, 
i860, over nine months before the expiration of his 
gubernatorial term, at the early age of 48 years. He 
died in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. 0/ 
which tie ha'i been a member since 1854. 




1 




Go VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



'SS 





■*- 



#^<^ 



( »IIN WOOD, Governo.- iS6o-i,and 
^9* the first settler of Quiiujy, 111., 
J. ' y/jT'/J was horn in the town of Senipro- 

•rfS*^^ IS>z^> k... nius (now Moravia), Cayuga Co., 
N. v., Dec. 20, 1798. He was 
the second child and only son of 
Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother, 
lice Catherine Crause, was of 
German parentage, and died 
while he was an infant. Dr. 
Wood was a learned and skillful 
physician, of classical attain- 
ments and proficient in several 
modern lai guages, who, after 
serving throughout the Revolu- 
tionary War as a Surgeon, settled on the land granted 
liim by the Government, and resided there a re- 
si)ected and leading influence in his section until his 
death, at the ripe age of 92 years. 

Tlie subject of this sketch, impelled by the spirit 
of Western adventure then pervading everywhere, 
left his home, Nov. 2, 1818, and passed tlie succeed- 
ing winter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following sum- 
mer he pushed on to Illinois, landing at Shawneetown, 
and spent the fall and folhiwing winter in Calhoun 
County. In 1820, in company with Willard Keyes, 
he settled in Pike County, about 30 miles southeast 
of Quincy, where for the next two years he pursued 
farming. In 1821 he visited "theBUififs" (as the 
present site of Quincy was called, then uninhabited) 
and, pleased with its prospects, soon after [)urchased 
a (piarter-sectioii of land near by, and in the follow- 
ing fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin, 



18 X 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of whi'h 
he then became the first and for some months tin- 
only occupant. 

About this time he visited his old friends in Pike 
County, chief of whom was William Ross, the lead- 
ing man in building u[) the village of Atlas, of that 
county, which was thought then to be the possible 
commencement of a city. One day they and others 
were traveling together over the country between the 
two points named, making observations on the com- 
parative merits of the respective localities. On ap- 
proaching the Mississippi near Mr. Wood's place, 
the latter told his companions to follow him and he 
would show them where he was going to build a city. 
They went about a mile off the main trail, to a high 
point, from which the view in every direction was 
most magnificent, as it had been for ages and as yet 
untouched by the hand of man. Before them swept 
by the majestic Father of Waters, yet unburdened by 
navigation. After Mr. Wood had expatiated at 
length on the advantages of the situation, Mr. Ross 
replied, " But it's too near Atlas ever to amount to 
anything!" 

Atlas is still a cultivated farm, and Quincy is a 
city of over 30,000 population. 

In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a newspaper notice, 
as the law then prescribed, of his intention to apply 
to the General Assembly for the formation of a new 
county. This was done the following winter, result- 
ing in the establishment of the present Adams 
County. During the next summer Quincy was se- 
lected as the county scat, it and the vicinity then 
containing but four adult male residents and half 



•5" 



JOHN WOOD. 



ihat number of females. Siiioe that period Mr. 
Wood resided at the place of his early adoi)tion un- 
til his death, and far more than any other man was 
he identified with every measure of its progress and 
history, and almost continuously kept in public posi- 
tions. 

He was one of the early town Trustees, and after 
ihe place became a city he was often a member of 
ihe City Council, many times elected Mayor, in the 
■"ace of a constant large opposition political majority. 
In 1S50 he was elected to the State Senate. !n 1856, 
on the organization of the Republican party, he was 
chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State, on the 
ticket with Wm. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the 
death of the Litter, March 18, 1S60, he succeeded to 
the Chief Executive chair, which he occupied until 
Gov. Yates was inaugurated neariy ten months after- 
ward. 

Nothing very marked characterized the adminis- 
tration of Gov. Wood. The great anti-slavery cam- 
paign of 18C0, resulting in the election of the honest 
r.linoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the 
United States, occurred during the short period 
while Mr. Wood was Governor, and the excitement 
and issues of that struggle dominated over every 
other consideration, — indeed, supplanted them in a 
great measure. The people of Illinois, during ail 
that time, were passing the comparatively petty strifes 
under Bissell's administration to the overwhelming 
issue of preserving the whole nation from destruction. 

In 1S61 ex-Gov. Wood was one of the five Dele- 
gates from Illinois to the " Peace Convention " at 
Washingtoii, and in April of the same year, on the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, he was appointed 



Quartermaster-General of the State, which jxjsition 
he held throughout the war. In 1864 he took com- 
mand as Colonel of the 137th 111. Vol. Inf, with 
whom he served until the period of enlistment ex- 
pired. 

Politically, Gov. Wood was always actively identi- 
fied with the Whig and Republican parties. Few 
men have in personal experience comprehended so 
many surprising and advancing local changes as 
vested in the more thar. half century recollections of 
Gov. Wood. Sixty-four years ago a solitary settler 
on the "Bluffs," with no family, and no neighbor 
within a score of miles, the world of civilization away 
behind him, and the strolling red-man almost his 
only visitant, he lived to see grjwing around him, 
and under his auspices and aid, oversi)reading the 
wild hills and scraggy forest a teaming city, second 
only in size in the State, and surpassed nowhere in 
beauty, prosperity and promise; whose people recog- 
nize as with a single voice the proverbial honor and 
liberality that attach to the name and lengthened 
life of their pioneer settler, "the old Governor." 

Gov. Wood was twice married, — first in January, 
1826, to Ann M. Streeter, daughter of Joshua Streeter, 
formerly of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. They had 
eight children. Mrs. W. died Oct. 8, 1863, and in 
June, 1865, Gov. Wood married Mrs. Mary A., widow 
of Rev. Joseph T. Holmes. Gov. Wood died June 4, 
1880, at his residence in Quincy. Four of his eight 
children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife of 
Gen. John Tillson; Daniel C, who married Mary J. 
Abernethy; John, Jr., who married Josephine Skinner, 
and Joshua S., who married Annie Bradley. The 
last mentioned now resides at Atchison, Kansas, and 
all the rest are still at Quincy. 










D 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS, 



'59 




I'^^^^'g'^' 







%\'q%WL%^ 



[:;!^:^^-VT^ 









;^ICHARD YATES, the "War 

■"'* Governor,'' 1861-4, was born 
.? Jan. 18, 1818, on the banks of 
the Ohio River, at Warsaw, 
r Galhitin Co., Ky. His father 
S^ moved in 1831 to Illinois, and 
afier stopping for a time in 
Springfield, settled at Island 
Grove, Sangamon Connty. Here, 
after attending school, Richard joined 
tlie family. Subsequently he entered 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
vl'f'K^^L where, in 1837, he graduated with 

first honors. He chose for his pro- 
fession the law, the Hon. J. J. Har- 
din being his instructor. After ad- 
mission to the Bar he soon rose to distinction as an 
advocate. 

Gifted with a fluent and ready oratory, he soon 
appeared in the political hustings, and, being a 
passionate admirer of the great Whig leader of the 
West. Henry Clay, he joined his political fortunes to 
.he party of his idol. In 1840 he engaged with great 
^■rdor in the exciting " hard cider " campaign for 
rfarrison. Two years later he was elected to the 
Legislature from Morgan County, a Democratic 
stronghold. He served three or four terms in the 
Legislature, and such was the fascination of his ora- 
■ory that by 1850 his large Congressional District, 
extending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties 
. orth to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him 
tne '^Vhig nomination for Congress. His Democratic 
opponent was Maj. Thomas L. Harris, a very jiop- 
-c\zx man who had won distinction at the battle of 
Cerro Gordo, in the Mexican War, and who had 
aeaten Hon. Stephen T. Logan for the same position. 



two years before, by a large majority. Yates wa? 
elected. Two years later he was re-elected, over 
John Calhoun. 

It was during Yates second term in Congress that 
the great question of tlie repeal of the .Missouri Com- 
[jromise was agitated, and the bars laid down for re- 
opening the dreaded anti-slavery question. He took 
strong grounds against the repeal, and thus became 
identified with the rising Republican party. Conse- 
quently he fell into the minority in his district, which 
was pro-slavery. Even then, in a third contest, he 
fell behind Major Harris only zoo votes, after the 
district had two years before given Pierce 2,000 
majority for President. 

The Republican State Convention of i S60 met at 
Decatur May g, and nominated for the office of Gov- 
ernor Mr. Yates, in preference to Hon. Norman B. 
Judd, of Chicago, and Leonard Swett, of Blnoraing- 
ton, two of the ablest men of tlie State, wlio were 
also candidates before the Convention. Francis .\. 
Hoffman, of DuPage County, was nominated for 
Lieutenant Governor. This was the year when Mr. 
Lincoln was a candidate for President, a period re- 
membered as characterized by the great v/hirlpool 
which precipitated the bloody W ir of tlie Rebellion. 
The Douglas Democrats nominated J. C. Allen of 
Crawford County, for Governor, and Lewis W. Ro>s, 
of Fulton County, for Lieutenant Governor. The 
Breckenridge Democrats and the Bell-Everett party 
had also full tickets in the field. After a most fear- 
ful campaign, the result of the election gave Mr. 
Yates 172,196 votes, and Mr. Allen 159,253. Mr. 
Yates received over a thousand more votes than did 
Mr. Lincoln himself. 

Gov. Yates occupied the chair of State during the 



i6o 



RICHARD YA TES. 



most critical period of our country's history. In the 
fate of the nation was involved that of each State. 
The life struggle of the former derived its sustenance 
from the loyalty of the latter; and Gov. Yates 
seemed to realize the situation, and proved himself 
both loyal and wise in upholding the Government. 
He had a deep hold u|)on the affections of the 
people, won by his moving eloquence and genial 
manners. Erect and symmetrical in person, of ])re- 
possessing appearance, with a winning address and a 
magnetic power, few men possessed more of the ele- 
ments of popularity. His oratory was scholarly and 
captivating, his hearers hardly knowing why they 
were transported. He was social and convivial. In 
the latter respect he was ultimately carried too far. 

The very creditable military efforts of this Stale 
during tlie War of the Rebellion, in putting into the 
field the enormous number of about 200,000 soldiers, 
were ever promptly and ably seconded by his excel- 
lency ; and the was ambitious to deserve the title of 
"the soldier's friend." Immediately after the battleof 
Shiloh he repaired to the field of carnage to look 
after the wounded, and his appeals for aid were 
promptly responded to by tlie people. His procla- 
mations calling for volunteers were impassionate 
ap[)eals, urging upon the people the duties and re- 
quirements of patriotism; and his special message 
in 1S63 to the Democratic Legislature of this State 
pleading for material aid for the sick and wounded 
soldiers of Illinois regiments, breathes a deep fervor 
of noble sentiment and feeling rarely equaled in 
beauty or felicity of expression. Generally his mes- 
sages on iiolitical and civil affairs were able and com- 
prehensive. During his administration, however, 
there were no civil events of an engrossing character, 
although two years of his time were rejilete with 
partisan quarrels of great bitterness. Military ar- 
rests, Knights of the Golden Circle, riot in Fulton 
County, attem]3ted suppression of the Chicago Titnes 
and the usurping State Constitutional Convention of 
1862, were the chief local topics that were exciting 
during the Governor's term. This Convention assem- 
bled Jan. 7, and at once took the high position that 
■\e law calling it was no longer Ijinding, and that it 
ad supreme power; that it represented a virtual 
assemblage of the whole people of the State, and was 
sovereign in the exercise of all power necessary to 
\;ffiRct a peaceable revolution of tlie State Government 



and to the re-establishment of one for the "happiness, 
prosperity and freedom of the citizens," limited only 
by the Federal Conuitution. Notwithstanding the 
law calling the Convention required its members to 
take an oath to support the Constitution of the State 
as well as that of the general Government, they 
utterly refused to take such oath. They also as- 
sumed legislative powers and passed several import- 
ant "laws!" Interfering with the (tiien) i)resent 
executive duties. Gov. Yates was provoked to tell 
them plainly that " he did not acknowledge the right 
of the Convention to instruct him in the performance 
of his duty." 

In 1S63 the Governor astonished the Democrats 
by " proroguing " their Legislature. This body, after 
a recess, met June 2, that year, and soon began to 
waste time upon various partisan resolutions ; and, 
while the two houses were disagreeing upon the 
question of adjourning «';/<? die, the Governor, having 
the authority in such cases, surprised tliem all by 
adjourning them " to the Saturday next [)recediug the 
first Monday in January, 1865 ! " This led to great 
excitement and confusion, and to a reference of the 
Governor's act to t!ie Supreme Court, who decided in 
his favor. Then it was the Court's turn to receive 
abuse for weeks and months afterward. 

During the autumn of 1864 a conspiracy was de- 
lected at Chicago which had for its object the liber- 
ation of the prisoners of war at Camp I)ouglas, the 
burning of the city and the inauguration of rebellion 
in the North. Gen. Sweet, who had charge of the 
camp at the time, firs', had his suspicions of danger 
aroused liy a number of enigmatically worded letters 
which passed through the Camp postoflice. .\ de- 
tective afterward discovered that the rebel Gen. 
Marmaduke was in the city, under an assumed 
name, and he, with other rebel officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan, Cantrell, Buckner Morris, and Charles 
Walsh — was arrested, most of whom were convicted 
by a court-martial at Cincinnati and sentenced to 
imijrisonnient, — Grenfell to be hung. The sentence 
of the latter was afterward commuted to imprison- 
ment for life, and all the others, after nine months' 
imprisonment, were pardoned. 

In March, 1873, Gov. Yates was appointed a Gov- 
ernincnt Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in 
which, office he continued until his decease, at St. 
Louis, Mo., on tlie 27th of November following. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



163 





Ridiard J. Oqles 




-^^. 





-^^ 



JI^ICHARl) J. OGLESBY, Gov- 
P» eriior 1865-8, and re-elected 
'%^ in 1872 and 1884, was born 
July 25, 1824, in Oldham Co., 
Ky., — the State which might 
>v be considered the " mother of 
Illinois Governors." Bereft of 
liis parents at the tender age 
t^ of eight years, his early education 
was neglected. When 12 years of 
age, and after he had worked a year 
and a half at the carpenter's trade, 
he removed with an uncle, Willis 
Oglesby, into whose care he had 
been committed, to Decatur, this 
State, where he continued his ap- 
prenticeship as a mechanic, working six months for 
Hon. E. O. Smith. 

In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring- 
field, with Judge Silas Robbins, and read with him 
one year. He wasiidmitted to the Bar in 1845, and 
commenced the practice of his chosen profession at 
Sullivan, the county seat of Moultrie County. 

The next year the war with Mexico was com- 
menced, and in June, 1846, Mr. Oglesby volunteered, 
was elected First Lieutenant of Co. C, Fourth Illinois 
Regiment of Volunteers, and participated in the bat- 
tles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. 

On his return he sought to perfect his law studies 
by attending a course of lectures at Louisville, but 
on the breaking out of the California "gold fever" in 
1849, he crossed the plains and mountains to the 
new Eldorado, driving a six-mule team, with a com- 



^ 



[)any of eight men, Henry Prather being the leader. 

In 1852 he returned home to Macou County, and 
was placed that year by the Wliig party on the ticket 
of Presidential Electors. In 1856 he visited Europe, 
.\sia and Africa, being absent 20 months. On his 
return home he resu ned the practice of law, as a 
member of the firm of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby. 
In 1S58 he was the Republican no.uinee for the 
Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by the 
Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In i860 he 
was elected to the Illinois State Senate; and on the 
evening the returns of tliis election were coming in, 
Mr. Oglesby had a fisticuff encounter with " Cerro 
Gordo Williams," in wliich he came out victorious, 
and which was regarded as "the first fight of thi 
RebeUion." The following spring, when the war 
had commenced in earnest, his ardent nature 
quickly responded to the demands of patriotism a id 
he enlisted. The extra session of the Legislature 
elected him Colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, 
the second one in the State raised to suppress the 
great Rebellion. 

He was shortly entrusted with imiiortant com- 
mands. For a time he was stationed at Bird's Point 
and Cairo; in April he was promoted Brigadier Gen- 
eral; at Fort Donelson his brigade was in the van, 
being stationed on the right of General Grant's army 
and the first brigade to be attacked. He lost 500 
men before re-inforcements arrived. Many of these 
men were from Macon County. He was engaged ii 
the battle of Corinth, and, in a brave ciiarge at this 
place, was shot in tlie left lung with an ounce ball, 
and was carried from the field in expectation of iu^- 



I 64 



R ICHA RD J. OGL ICSB ) '. 



mediate death. Thai ichol ball he carries to thio 
day. On his partial recovery he was promoted as 
Major General, for gillaiUry, his comaiissiou to rank 
from November, 1862. In the sprinj^ of 1863 he 
was assigned to the command of tlie i6ih Army 
Corps, but, owing to inability from the effects of his 
wound, he relincpiished this command in July, thai 
year. Gen. Grant, however, refused to accept his 
resignation, and he was detailed, in December follow- 
ing, to court-martial and try i\\i Surgeon General of 
the Army at Washington, where he remained until 
May, 1864, when he returned home. 

The Republican, or Union, State Convention of 

1864 was held at Sprin;^rield, May 25, when Mr. 
Oglesby was nominated for the office of Governor, 
while other candidates before the Convention were 
Allen C. Fuller, of lioone, Jesse K. Dubois, of Sanga- 
mon, and John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Wm. 
Bross, of Chicago, was nominated for Lieutenant 
Governor. On the Democratic State ticket were 
James C. Robinson, of ("lark, for Governor, and S. 
Corning Judd, of Fulton, for Lieutenant Governor. 
The general election gav_' Gen. Oglesby a majority 
of about 31,000 votes. The Re[)ublicans had also a 
majority in both thi Legislature and in the repre- 
sentation in Congress. 

Gov. Oglesby was duly inaugurated Jan. 17, 1865. 
The day before the fiist time set for his installation 
death visited his hj ne at Decatur, and took from it 
his only son, an intelligent and sprightly lad of six 
years, a great favorite of the bereaved [larents. This 
caused the inauguration to be postponed a week. 

The political events of the Legislative session of 

1865 were the election of e.K-Gov. Yates to the 
United States Senate, and the ratification of the 13th 
amend. nent to the Constitution of the United States, 
abolishing slavery. This session also signalized 
itself by repealing the notorious " black laws," part 
of which, although a dead letter, had held their place 
upon the statute books since 1819. Also, laws re- 
quiring the registration of voters, and establishing a 
State Board of Equalization, were passed by this Leg- 
islature. But the same body evinced that it was cor- 
ruptly influenced by a mercenary lobby, as it adopted 
some bad legislation, over the Governor's veto, nota- 
bly an amendment to a charter for a Chicago horse 
railway, granted in 1859 for 25 years, and now 
sought to be e.xtended 99 years. As this measure 
was promptly passed over his veto by both branches 
of the Legislature, he deemed it useless further to 
attempt to check their headlong career. At tlris 
session no law of a general useful character or public 
interest was perfected, unless we count such the 
turning over of the canal to Chicago to be dee|)ened. 
The session of 1867 was still more productive of 
privi^^te and special acts. Many omnibus bills were 
nroi:.-sed, and some passed. Tiie contests over the 

;caiion of the Industrial College, the Capital, the 



Southern Penitentiary, ami the canal enlargement 
and Illinois River improvement, dominated every 
thing else. 

During the year 1S72, it became evident that if 
the Republicans could re-elect Mr. Oglesby to ihc 
officx' of Governor, they could also elect him to the 
United States Senate, which they desired to do. 
Accordingly they re-nominated him for the E.\ei u- 
tive chair, and placed upon the ticket witii him for 
Lieutenant Governor, John L. Beveridge, of Cook 
County. On the other side the Democrats put into 
the field Gustavus Koerner for Governor and John 
C. Black for Lieutenant Governor. The election 
gave the Republican ticket majorities ranging from 
3S>334 to 56,174, — the Democratic defection being 
caused mainly by their h.iving an old-time Whig and 
Abolitionist, Horace Greeley, on the national ticket 
for President. According to the general understand- 
ing had beforehand, as soon as the Legislature niet 
it elected Gov. Oglesby to the United States Senate, 
whereupon Mr. Beveridge became Governor. Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's term ex|)ired March 4, 1S79, having 
served his party faithfully and exhibited an order of 
statesmanship beyond criticism. 

During the campaign of 1884 Mr. Oglesby was 
nominated for a "third term" as Executive of the 
State of Illinois, against Carter H. Harrison, Mayor 
of Chicago, nominated by the Democrats. Both 
gentlemen " stumped " the State, and while the peo- 
ple elected a Legislature which was a tie on a jjint 
ballot, as between the two parties, they gave the 
jovial " Dick" Oglesby a majority of 15,018 for Gov- 
ernor, and he was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1885. The 
Legislature did not fully organize until this date, on 
account of its equal division between the two mai:i 
parties and the consequent desperate tactics of e.acli 
party to checkmate the latter in the organization of 
the House. 

Gov. Oglesby is a fine-appearing, affable man, with 
regular, well defined features and rotund face. In 
stature he is a little above medium heiglit, of a large 
frame and somewhat fleshy. His physical appear- 
ance is striking and prepossessing:;, while his straight- 
out, not to say bluff, manner and speech are well 
calculated favorably to im|)ress the average masses. 
Ardent in feeling and strongly committed to the pol- 
icies of his party, he intensifies Reimblicanisiu 
among Republicans, while at the same time his iovial 
and liberal manner prevents those of the opposite 
party from hating him. 

He is quite an effective stump orator. With vehe- 
ment, ])assionate and scornful tone and gestures, 
tremendous physical power, which in speaking he 
exercises to the utmost; with freipient descents to 
the grotesque; and with abundant h.imcly compari- 
sons or frontier figures, expressed in the broadest 
vernacular and enforced with stentorian emphasis, 
ho delights a promiscuous audience beyond measure. 





^_-^^^6ii^ 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



' '7 




^^^^^^^ 




JO'HN M. Palmer 



fe I f ^" ^>^r'^j^R^:m^mmt^u-^:\^':i'i:'^^^i\^^:'>yfi^:^i^ii^^ 






> «^ 





-G- 5t:W^'|:OHN Mc AUI.EY PALMER, Gov- 
ernor 1869-72, was born on 
Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Ky., 
Sept. 13, 1817. During his in- 
•• fancy, his father, who had been 
a soldier in the war of 181 2, re- 
moved to Christian Co., Ky., 
where lands were cheap. Here 
the future Governor of the great 
Prairie State spent his childhood 
and received such meager school- 
ing as tiie new and sparsely set- 
tled country afforded. To this 
he added materially by diligent 
reading, for which he evinced an 
His father, an ardent Jackson man, 
was also noted for his anti-slavery sentiments, which 
he thoroughly impressed upon his children. In 1831 
he emigrated to Illinois, settling in Madison County. 
Here the labor of improving a farm was pursued for 
;'.biut two years, when the death of Mr. Palmer's 
nuiiher broke up the family. About this time Alton 
College was opened, on the "manual labor " system, 
;!nd in the spring of 1834 young Palmer, with his 
elder brother, Elilui, entered this school and remained 
18 months. Next, for over three years, he tried 
variously coopering, peddling and school-teaching. 

Duiing the summer of 1838 he formed the ac- 
quain'.ince of Stephen A. Douglas, then making his 



eaiiy aptitude. 



first canvass for Congress. Young, eloquent and in 
]3olitical accord with Mr. Palmer, he won his confi- 
dence, fired his ambition and fixed his purpose. The 
following winter, while teaching near Canton, he be- 
gan to devote his spare time to a desultory reading 
of la.v, and in the spring entered a law office at Car- 
linville, making his home with his elder brother, 
Elihu. (The latter was a learned clergyman, of con- 
siderable orginality of thought and doctrine.) On 
the next meeting of the Supreme Court he was ad- 
mitted to the Bar, Douglas being one of his examiners. 
He was not immediately successful in his profession, 
and would have located elsewhere than Carlinville 
had he the requisite means. Thus his early poverty 
was a blessing in disguise, for to it he now attributes 
the success of his life. 

From 1839 on, while he • diligently pursued his 
profession, he participated more or less in local 
politics. In 1843 he became Probate Judge. In 
1S47 '-'S ^^^s elected to the State Constitutional Ccn. 
vention, where he took a leading part. In 1852 hi, 
was elected to the State Senate, and at the special 
session of February, 1854, true to the anti-slaver) 
sentiments bred in him, he took a firm stand in op 
position to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, 
and when the Nebraska question becairie a part; 
issue he refused to receive a re-nomination for thi 
Senatorship at the hands of the Democracy, issuin; 
a circular to that effect. A few weeks afterward 



t68 



JOHN MC AULEY PALMER. 



however, hesitating to break with his party, he par- 
ticipated in a Congressional Convention which nojui- 
T. L. Harris against Richard Yates, and which 
unqualifiedly approved the principles of the Kansas- 
Nebraska act. But later in the campaign he made 
the plunge, ran for the Senate as an Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat, and was elected. The following winter 
he put in nomination for the United States Senate 
Mr. Trumbull, and was one of the five steadfast men 
who voted for him until all the Whigs came to tlieir 
support and elected their man. 

In 1856 he was Chairman of the Republican State 
Convention at Bloomington. He ran for Congress in 
1859, but was defeated. In i860 he was Republican 
Presidential Elector for the State at large. In 1861 
he was appointed one of the five Delegates (all Re- 
publicans) sent by Illinois to the peace congress at 
Washington. 

When the civil conflict broke out, he offered his 
services to his country, and was elected Colonel of the 
i4ih 111. Vol. Inf , and participated in the engagements 
at Island No. 10; at Farmington, where he skillfully 
extricated his command from a dangerous position ; 
at Stone River, where his division for several hours, 
Dec. 31, 1862, held the advance and stood like a 
rock, and for his gallantry there he was made Major 
General; at Chickamauga, where his and Van Cleve's 
divisions for two hours maintained their position 
when they were cut off by overpowering numbers 
Under Gen. Sherman, he was assigned to the 14th 
Army Corps and participated in the Atlanta campaign. 
At Peach-Tree Creek his prudence did much to avert 
disaster. In February, 1865, Gen. Palmer was as- 
signed to the military administration of Kentucky, 
which was a delicate post. That State was about 
half rebel and half Union, and those of the latter 
element were daily fretted by the loss of their slaves. 
He, who had been bred to the rules of common law, 
trembled at the contemplation of his extraordinary 
power over the persons and property of his fellow 
men, with which he was vested in his capacity as 
military Governor ; and he exhibited great caution in 
the execution of the duties of his post. 

Gen. Palmer was nominated for Governor of Illi- 
nois by the Republican State Convention which met 
at Peori I May 6, 1868, and his nomination would 
probably liave licen made by arcl.imation had he not 
oersistenily declared that he could not accept a can- 



didature for the othce. The result of the ensuing 
election gave Mr. Palmer a majority of 44,707 over 
John R. Eden, the Democratic nominee. 

0.1 tlie meeting of the Legislature in January, 
1869, the first tiling to arrest public attention was 
th.it portion of the Governor's message which took 
broad State's rights ground. This and some minor 
pjints, whi:h were more in keeping with the Demo- 
cratic sentiment, constituted the e.itering wedge fir 
the criticisms and reproofs he afterward received 
from the Republican party, and itltim.rtely resulted 
in his entire aleniation from the latter element. The 
Legislature just referred to was noted for the intro- 
duction of numerous bills in the interest of private 
parties, which were eiribarrassing to tlie Governor. 
Among the public acts passed was that which limited 
railroad charges for passenger travel to a maximum 
of three cents per mile ; and it was passed over the 
Governor's veto. Also, they passed, over his veto, 
the "tax-grabbing law" to pay r-iilroad subscriptions, 
the Chicago Lake Front bill, etc. The new State 
Constitution of 1870, far superior to the old, was a 
peacefitl " revolution" which took place during Gov. 
Palmer's term of office. The suffering caused by the 
great Chicago Fire of October, 187 r, was greatly 
alleviated by the prompt responses of his excellency. 
Since the expiration of Gov. Palmers 's te^m, he has 
been somewhat prominent in Illinois politics, and 
h.is been talked of by many, especially in the Dem- 
ocratic party, as the best man in the State for a 
United States Senator. His business during life has 
been that of the law. Few e.xcel him in an accurate 
appreciation of the depth and scope of its principles- 
The great number of his able veto messages abun- 
dantly testify not only this but also a rare capacity to 
[loinl them out. He is a logical and cogent reasoner 
and an interesting, forcible and convincing speaker, 
though not fluent or ornate. Without brilliancy, his 
dealings are rather with facts and ideas than with 
appeals to passions and prejudices. He is a patriot 
and a statesman of very high order. Physically he is 
above the medium height, of robust frame, ruddy 
complexion and sanguine-nervous temperament. He 
has a largo cranial development, is vivacious, social 
in disposition, easy of approach, unostentatious in his 
habits of life, democratic in his habits and manners 
and is a true American in his fundamental principle 
of statesmanship. 



GVVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



171 









-B£C^ 




OHN LOWRiE BEVER- 

IDGE, C.overnor 1873-f), was 
^■^ born ill the town of Green- 
wich, Washington Co., N. Y., 
July 6, 1S24. His parents 
were George and Ann Bever- 
■*) idge. His father's parents, An- 
drew and Isabel Beveridge, be- 
fore their marriage emigrated 
from Scotland just before the 
RevoUitionary War, settling in 
Washington County. His father 
: ^ was the eldest of eight brothers, the 
1%) youngest of whom was 60 years of 
age when ffie first one of the num- 
ber died. His mother's parents, 
James and Agnes Hoy, emigrated 
from Scotland at the close of the 
Revolutionary War, settling also in 
Washington Co., N. Y., with their 
first-born, whose " native land " was 
the wild ocean. His parents and 
grandparents lived beyond the time 
allotted to man, their average age 
being over So years. They belonged to the " Asso- 
ciate Church," a seceding Presbyterian body of 



America from the old Scotch school ; and so rigid 
was the training of young Beveridge that he never 
h.Mrd a sermon from any other minister e.xcept that 
of his own denomination until he was in his iglh 
year. Later in life he became a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, which relation he still 
holds. 

Mr. Beveridge received a good common-school ed- 
ucation, but his parents, who could obtain a livelihood 
only by rigid economy and industry, could not send 
him away to college. He was raised ui)on a farm, 
and was in his iSth year when the family removed 
to De Kalb County, this State, when tli.at section was 
very sparsely settled. Chicago had less than 7,000 
inhabitants. In this wild West he continued as a 
farm laborer, teaching school during the winter 
months to supply the means of an education. In the 
fill of r842 he attended one term at the academy at 
Granville, Putnam Co., 111., and subsequently several 
terms at the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, 
Ogle Co., 111., completing the academic course. At 
this time, the fall of 1845, '^'^ parents and brothers 
were anxious to have him go to college, even though 
he had not money sufficient; but, n jt willing to bur- 
den tiie family, he iiacked his trunk and with only 
$40 in money started South to seek his fortune 



JO II AT L. BEVEKIDGE. 



Poor, alunc, without friends and influence, he llius 
entered upon the battle of life. 

First, he taught school in Wilson, Overton and 
Jackson Cos., Tenn., in which ex[)crience he under- 
went considerable mental drill, both in book studies 
and in tlie ways of the world. He read law and was 
admitted to the Bar, in the South, but did not learn 
to love the institution of slavery, although he ad- 
mired many featuies of Southern character. In De- 
cember, 1847, he returned North, and Jan. 20, 184S, 
he married Miss Helen M. Judson, in the old Claik- 
Street M. E. church in Chicago, her father at that 
time being Pastor of the society there. In the spring 
of 1848 he returned with his wife to Tennessee, 
where his two children. Alia May and Philo Judson, 
were born. 

In the fall of 1849, through the mismanagement 
of an associate, he lost what little he had accumu- 
lated and was left in debt. He soon managed to 
earn means to pay his debts, returned to De Kalb 
Co., 111., and entered upon the practice of his pn)- 
fession at Sycamore, the county seat. On arrival 
from the South he had but one-quarter of a dollar in 
money, and scanty clothing and bedding for himself 
and family. He borrowed a little money, practiced 
law, worked in public offices, kept books for some of 
the business men of the town, and some railroad en- 
gineering, till the spring of 1854, when he removed 
to Evanston, 1 2 miles north of Chicago, a jilace then 
but recently laid out, under the supervision of the 
Northwestern University, a Methodist institution. 
Of the latter his father-in-law was then financial 
agent and business manager. Here Mr. Beveridge 
prospered, and the next year (1855) opened a law 
office in Chicago, where he found the battle some- 
what hard; but he persevered with encouragement 
and increasing success. 

Aug. 12, 1861, his law partner. Gen. John F. 
Farnsworth, secured authority to raise a regiment of 
cavalry, and authorized Mr. Beveridge to raise a 
company for it. He succeeded in a few days in rais- 
ing the company, of course enlisting himself along 
with it. The regiment rendezvoused at St. Charles, 
111., was mustered in Sept. 18, and on its organiza- 
tion Mr. B. was elected Second Major. It was at- 
tached, Oct. II, to the Eighth Cavalry and to the 
Army of the Potomar. He served with the regiment 
until November, i86j, partici[)ating in some 40 bat- 



tles and skirmishes : was at Fair Oaks, the seven days' 
fight around Riclimond, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
villa and Gettysburg. He commanded the regiment 
thegreaterpartofthesummerof 1863, and it was while 
lying in camp this year that he originated the policy 
of encouraging recruits as well as the fighting capac- 
ity of the soldiery, by the wholesale furlough system. 
It worked so well that many other officers adopted 
it. In the fall of this year he recruited anothercom- 
pany, against heavy odds, in January, 1864, was 
commissioned Colonel of the 17th 111. Cav., and 
skirmished around in Missouri, concluding with the 
reception of the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smith's 
army in Arkansas. In 1865 he commanded various 
sub-districts in the Southwest. He was mustered 
out Feb. 6, 1866, safe from the casualties of war and 
a stouter man than when he first enlisted. His men 
idolized him. 

He then returned to Chicago, to practice law, with 
no library and no clientage, and no political experi- 
ence except to help others into office. In the fall of 
1866 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, serving 
one term; next, until November, 1870, he practiced 
law and closed up the unfinished business of his 
office. He was then elected State Senator; in No- 
vember, 1871, he was elected Congressman at large; 
in November, 1872, he was elected Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor on the ticket with Gov. Oglesby ; the latter be- 
ing elected to the U. S. Senate, Mr. Beveridge became 
Governor, Jan. 21, 1873. Thus, inside of a few 
weeks, he was Congressman at large. Lieutenant 
Governor and Governor. The principal events oc- 
curring during Gov. Beveridge 's administration were: 
The completion of the revision of the statutes, begun 
in 1869; the partial success of the "farmers' move- 
ment;" " Haines' Legisla.ture " and Illinois' exhibit at 
the Centennial. 

Since the close of his gubernatorial term ex-Gov. 
Beveridge has been a member of the firm of Bever- 
idge & Dewey, bankers and dealers in commercial 
paper at 7 1 Dearborn Street (McCormick Block), 
Cliicago, and since November, 18S1, he has also been 
Assistant United States Treasurer: office in the 
Government Building. His residence is still at Ev- 
anston. 

He has a brother and two sisters yet residing in 
De Kalb County — James H. Beveridge, Mrs. Jennet 
Henry and Mrs. Isabel French. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



>7« 





8BELB Y 31. CULLO'M, 






/ HELBY U. CULLOM, Gover- 
nor 1877-83,18 the sixth child 
of the Lite Richard N. Cullom, 
and was born Nov. 22, 1S29, in 
Wayne Co., Ky., where his fa- 
ther then resided, and whence 
both the Ilhnois and Tennessee 
branches of the family orii^inated. In 
the following year the family emi- 
grated to the vicinity of Washington, 
Tazewell Co., Jil., when that section 
was very s[)arsely settled. They lo- 
cated on Deer Creek, in a grove at 
the time occupied by a party of In- 
dians, attracted there by the suiierior 
hunting and fishing afforded in that 
vicinity. The following winter was 
known as the " hard winter," the snow being very 
deej) and lasting and the weather severely cold; and 
the family had to subsist mainly on boiled corn or 
hominy, and some wild game, for several weeks. In 
the course of time Mr. R. N. Cullom became a prom- 
inent citizen and was several times elected to the 
Legislature, both before and after the removal of the 
cajiital from Vandalia to Springfisld. He died about 

'873- 

Until about ig years of age young Cullom grew up 
to agricultural pursuits, attending school as he had 
opportunity during the winter. Wiiiiin this time, 
nowever, he spent several months teachini-' school. 



and in the following summer he "broke prairie "with 
an ox team for the neighbors. With the money ob- 
tained by these various ventures, he undertook a 
course of study at the Rock River Seminary, a 
Methodist institution at Mt. Morris, Ogle County; 
but the sudden change to the in-door life of a stu- 
dent told severely upon his health, and he was taken 
home, being considered in a hopeless condition. While 
at Mt. Morris lie heard Hon. E. B. Washburne make 
his first speech. 

On recovering health, Mr. Cullom concluded to 
study law, under the instruction of Abraham Lincoln, 
at Springfield, who had by this time attained some 
notoriety as an able lawyer ; but the latter, being ab- 
sent from his office most of the time, advised Mr. 
Cullom to enter the office of Stuart & Edwards. 
After about a year of study there, however, his health 
failed again, and he was obliged to return once more 
to out-door life. Accordingly he bought hogs for 
packing, for A. G. Tyng, in I'eoria, and while he re- 
gained his health he gained in purse, netting $400 in 
a few weeks. Having been admitted to the Bar, he 
went to Springfield, where he was soon elected City 
Attorney, on the .\nti-Nebraska ticket. 

In 1856 he ran on the Fillmore ticket as a Presi- 
dential Elector, and, although failing to be elected as 
such, he was at the same time elected a Representa- 
tive in the Legislature from Sangamon County, by a 
local coalition of the American and Republican par- 
ties. On the organizatio 1 of tlie Ho.ise, he received 
the vote of the Fillmore men for Speaker. Practicing 



176 



SHELBY M. CULLOM. 



law uiuil 1S60, he was again elected to the Legisla- 
ture, as a Republican, while the county went Demo- 
cratic on the Presidential ticket. In January follow- 
ing he was elected Speaker, probalily the youngest 
man who had ever presided over an Illinois Legis- 
lature. After the session of 1861, he was a candidate 
for the State Cjustitutional Convention called fur 
that year, but was defeated, and thus escaped the 
disgrace of being connected with that abortive parly 
scheme t.j revolutionize the State Government. In 
1862 he was a candidate for the State Senate, but 
was defea'ed. The same year, however, he was a.\>- 
pointed by President Lincoln on a Government 
Commission, in company with Gov. Boutwell of 
Massachusetts and Cnarles A. Dana, since of the 
New York Sun, to investigate the affairs of the 
Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments at 
Cairo. He devoted several months to this duty. 

In 1864 he enteied upon a larger political field, 
being nominated as the Republican candidate for 
Congress from tlie Eighth (Springfield) District, in 
opposition to the incumbent, JohnT. Stuart, who had 
been elected in 1862 by about 1,500 majority over 
Leonard Swett, then of Bloomington, now of Chicago. 
The result was the election of Mr. Cullom in Novem- 
ber following by a majority of 1,785. In 1866 he 
was re-elected to Congress, over Dr. E. S. Fowler, by 
the magnificent majority of 4,103 ! In 1868 he was 
again a candidate, defeating the Hon. B. S. Edwards, 
another of his old preceptors, by 2,884 votes. 

During his first term in Congress he served on the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and E.xpenditures in 
the Treasury Department; in his second term, on 
the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Territories ; 
and in his third term he succeeded Mr. Ashley, of 
O'.-.io, to the Chairmanship of the latter. He intro- 
duced a bill in the House, to aid in the execution of 
law in Utah, which caused more consternation among 
the Mormons than any measure had previously, but 
which, though it passed the House, failed to pass the 
Senate. 

The Republican Convention which met May 25, 
18/6, nominated Mr. Cullom for Governor, while the 
other contestant was Gov. Beveridge. For Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they nominated Andrew Shuman, editor 
of the Chicago Journal. For the same offices the 
Democrat?, combining with the Anti-Monopolists, 
olaced in nomination Lewis Steward, a wealthy 



farmer and manufacturer, and A. A. Glenn. The 
result of the election was rather close, Mr. Cullom 
obtaining only 6,Soo majority. He was inaugurated 
Jan. 8, 1877. 

Great depression prevailed in financial circles at 
this time, as a consequence of the heavy failures of 
1873 and afterward, the effect of wlych had seemed 
to gather force from that time to the end of Gov. 
Cullom's first administration. This unspeculative 
period was not calculated to call forth any new 
issues, but the Governor's energies were at one time 
put to task to quell a spirit of insubordination thqjt 
had been begun in Pittsburg, Pa., among the laboring 
classes, and transferred to Illinois at Chicago, East 
St. Louis and Braidwood, at which places laboring 
men for a short time refused to work or allow others 
to work. These disturbances were soon quelled and 
the wheels of industry again set in motion. 

In May, 1S80, Gov. Cullom was re-nominated by 
the Republicans, against Lyman Trumbull, by the 
Democrats; and although the former party was some- 
what handicapped in the campaii^n by a zealous 
faction opposed to Grant for President and to Grant 
men for office generally, Mr. Cullom was re-elected 
by about 314,565, to 277,532 forthe Democratic State 
ticket. The Greenback vote at the same tmie was 
about 27.,ooo. Both Houses of the Legislature again 
became Republican, and no representative of the 
Greenback or Socialist parties were elected. Gov. 
Cullom was inaugurated Jan. 10, 18S1. In his mes- 
sage he announced that the last dollar of the State 
debt had been provided for. 

March 4, 1883, the term of David Davis as United 
States Senator from Illinois expired, and Gov. Cul- 
lom was chosen to succeed him. This promoted . 
Lieutenant-Governor John M. Hamilton to the Gov- 
ernorship. Senator Cullom's term in the United 
States Senate will expire March 4, 1889. 

As a practitioner of law Mr. C. has been a member 
of the firm of Cullom, Scholes & Mather, at Spring- 
field ; and he has also been President of the State 
National Bank. 

He has been married twice, — the first time Dec. 
12, 1S55, to Miss Hannah Fisher, by whom he had 
two daughters; and the second time May 5, 1863, 
to Julia Fisher. Mrs. (" is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, with which religious body Mr, 
C. is also in sympathy. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



'79 






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OUN MARSHALL HAMIL- 
^ TON, Governor 1SS3-5, was 
Y'' born May 28, 1847, in a log 
lOuse upon a farm about two 
1^ miles from Richwood, Union 
/ County, Ohio. His father was 

'^imuel Hamilton, the eldest son 
1 1 Rev. Wni. Hamilton, who, to- 
gether with his brother, the Rev. 
Samuel Hamilton, was among the 
early pioneer Methodist preachers in 
Ohio. The mother of the subject of 
this sketch was, before her marriage, 
Mrs. Nancy McMorris, who was 
born and raised in Fauquier or Lou- 
doun County, Va., and related to the 
two large families of Youngs and Marshalls, well 
known in that commonwealth; and from the latter 
family name was derived the middle name of Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In ALarch, 1854, Mr. Hamilton's father sold out 
his little pioneer forest home in Union County, O., 
and, loading his few household effects and family 
(of six children) into two emigrant covered wagons, 
moved to Roberts Township, Marshall Co., 111., being 
2 1 days on the route. Swamps, unbridged streams 
and innumerable hardships and privations met them 
on their wav. Their new home had been previously 
selected by the father. Here, after many long years 
of toil, they succeeded in payiiig for tiie land and 
making a comfort it^'i^ home. John was, of course, 



brought up to hard manual labor, with no schooling 
except three or four months in the year at a common 
country school. However, he evinced a capacity 
and taste for a high order of self-education, by 
studying or reading what books be could borrow, as 
the family had but very few in liie house. Much of 
his study he prosecuted by the light of a log fire in 
the old-fashioned chimney place. The financial 
panic of 1857 caused the family to come near losing 
their home, to pay debts ; but the father and two 
sons, William and John, "buckled to'' and perse 
vered in hard labor and economy until they redeemed 
their place from the mortgage 

When the tremendous excitement of the political 
campaign of i860 reached the neighborhood of Rob- 
erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been 
brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal- 
ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Makingspcii.il 
efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he 
joined a company of Lincoln Wide-Awakes at Mag- 
nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the 
ensuing election it became evident that trouble 
would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake 
company, like many others throughout the country, 
kept up its organization and transformed itself into a 
military company. During the ensuing summer the\- 
met often for drill and became proficient ; but when 
they offered themselves for the war, young Hamilton 
was rejected on account of his youth, he being then 
but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 he 
attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County. 



rSo' 



JOHN MARSHALL J/AM/LTON. 



and in the following May lie again enlisled, for the 
fourth time, when he was placed in the 141st 111. 
Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, 111., 
for the roo-day service. He took with him 13 oilier 
lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the 
service. This regiment operated in Soulhwestem 
Rentncky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine. 
The following winter, 1864-5, ^''- Ha'i''ilton taught 
school, and during the two college years 1865-7, lie 
went through three years of the curriculum of the 
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. The 
third year he graduated, the fourih in a class of 46, 
in the classical department. Iii due time he receivetl 
the degree of M. A. P"or a few months he was the 
Principal of Marshall " College " at Henry, an acad- 
emy under the auspices of the M E. Church. By 
this time he had commenced the study of law, and 
after earning some money as a temporary Professor 
of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at 
Blooniington, he entered the law office of Weldon, 
Tipton & Benjam'n, of that city. Each member of 
this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge. 
.\dmitted to the Bar i.i .VI ly, 1870, Mr. Hamilton 
was given an interest i.i the same firm, Tipton hav- 
ing bee^i elected Judge. In October following he 
formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time 
Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then 
small, but they increased it to very large proportions, 
practicing in all grades of courts, including even the 
U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued 
unbroken until Feb. 6, 18S3, when Mr. Hamilton 
was sworn in as E.\ecutive of Illinois. On the 4th 
of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con- 
gress. 

In July, 1871, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen 
M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Wni. G Williams, 
Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wejle\ a:i University. 
Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son. 

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- 
publicans for the State Senate, over 01 her and older 
competitors. He took an active part '■ 0.1 the stump" 
in the campaign, for the success of his party, and was 
elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- 
Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on 
the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- 
lany ; and during the contest for the election of a 
U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re- 



elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war (hief on 
every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- 
cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and 
the Democrats and Independents elected Judge 
Divid Davis, .^t this session, also, was passed the 
first Board of Health and Medi( al Practice act, of 
which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, ai';''" ' , . 
much opposition that the bill was seveial limes 
"laid on the table." Also, this session authorized 
llie localicn and establishment of a souihern pc' 
tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the sessio"^ 
of 1879 Ml'. Hamilton was elected Presidi/nt/r;; /(V/». 
of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John 
A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who wa ■. this lime 
elected without any trouble. 

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on 
the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his 
principal competitors before the Convention being 
Hon. Will. A. James, ex-Speaker of the House of 
Rejireseiitatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash 
County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and 
Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged 
actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected 
by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor, 
he presided almost continuously over the Senate in 
the 32d General Assembly and during the early days 
of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship 
When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Culloni 
to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton 
succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the 
oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the 
annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon 
taking up another's administration. The principal 
events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as 
the Chief E.xecntive of the State were, the mine dis- 
aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison 
Counties in May, 1883, the appropriations fur the 
Slate militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license 
liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc. 

The Governor was a Delegate at large to tlie 
National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 

1884, where his first choice for President was John 
A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but 
he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr. 
Blaine, true to his party. 

Mr. Hamilton's term as Governor expired Jan. 30, 

1885, wlien the great favorite " Dick " Oglesby was 
inaugji rated. 






^^^ 



JOSEPH W. FIFER. 



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OSKPII WILSON FIFER. 



This 
was 



off 

'^lij.^: (Hstinguished gentleman 

'i^»ii elected Governor of Illinois 
November 6, 1888. He was 
popularly known during the 
campaign as '-Private Joe." He 
had served with great devotion 
to his country during the Re- 
hellion, in the Thirty-third 
Illinois Infantry. A native of 
Virginia, he was born in 1840. 
His parents, John and Mary 
( Daniels) Fifer, were American 
born, though of German de- 
scent. His father was a brick 
and stone mason, and an old 
Henry Clay Whig in politics. John and jMary 
Fifer had nine cliildrcn, of whom Joseph was the 
sixth, and naturally with so large a family it was 
all the father could do to keep the wolf from the 
door; to saj- nothing of giving his children any- 
thing like good educational .advantages. 

Young Joseph attended school some in Vir- 
ginia, but it wiis not a good school, and when 
his father removed to the West, in 1857, .R)sc]ili had 
not advanced much further than the "First Reader." 



Our subject w.as si.xteen then and suffered a great 
misfortune in the loss of his mother. After the death 
of Mrs. Fifer, which occurred in Missouri, the 
familv returned to Virginia, but remained onl}' a 
short time, as during the same year Mr. Fifer 
came to Illinois. He settled in McLean County .and 
started a brickyard. Here Joseph and his broth- 
ers were pnt to work. The eliler Fifer soon 
bought a farm near Bloomington and began life as 
an agriculturalist. Here Joe worked and attended 
the neighboring school. He alternated farm-work, 
brick-laying, and going to the district school for 
the succeeding few years. It was all work and no 
l)lay for Joe, yet it Ijy no means made a dull hoy 
of him. All the time he was thinking of the great 
world outside, of which he had caught a glimpse 
when coming from Mrginia, yet he did not know 
just how he was going to get out into it. He 
could not feel that the woods around the new 
farm and the log cabin, in which the family lived, 
were to hold him. 

The opiiortunity to get out into the world was 
soon offered to young Joe. He traveled a dozen 
miles barefoot, in company with his brother George, 
and enlisted in Company C, 33d Illinois Infantry; 
he being then twenty years old. In a few day 



184 



JOSEPH W. FIFER. 



the regiment was sent to Camp Butler, and tlien 
over into Missouri, and saw some vigorous service 
tliere. After a second time helping to chase Price 
out of ISIissouri, the ;i3d Kegiment went down 
to MiiiiUen's Bend, and for several weeks '• Private 
Joe " worked on Grant's famous ditch. The regi- 
ment tiien joined the forcoB operating against Port 
Gibson and Vicksburg. Joe was on guard duty in 
the front ditches when the Hag of surrender was 
rnn up on the Itli of July, and stuck the bayonet 
of his gun into the embankment and went into the 
city with the vanguard of Union soldiers. 

The next day, July 5, the 38d joined the force 
after Johnston, who had been threatening Grant's 
i-ear; and finally an assault was made on him at 
Jackson, Miss. In this charge '-Private Joe" fell, ter- 
ribly wounded. He was loading his gun when a 
minie-ball struck him and passed entirely through 
his bod}'. He was regarded as mortally wounded. 
His brother, George, who had been made a Lieu- 
tenant, proved to be the means of saving his life. 
The Surgeon told him unless he had ice his brother 
Joe could not live. It was fifty miles to the nearest 
point where ice could be obtained, and the roads 
were rough. A comrade, a McLean county man, who 
had been wounded, offered to make the trip. An 
ambulance was secured and the brother soldier 
started on the journey. He returned with the ice, 
but the trip, owing to the roughness of the roads, 
was very hard on iiim. After a few months' care- 
ful nursing Mr. Fifer was able to come home. The 
33d came home on a furlough, and when the 
boys were ready to return to the tented field, 
young Fifer was ready to go with them; for he was 
determined to finish his term of three years. He 
was mustered out in Octol)er, 18C4, having been 
in the service three years and two months. 

"Private Joe" came out of the army a tall, 
tanned, and awkward young man of twenty-four. 
About all he possessed was ambition to be some- 
body — and pluck. Though at an age when most 
men liave finished their college course, the young 
soldier saw that if he was to be anybody he must 
have an education. Yet he had no means to ena- 
ble him to enter school as most young men do. 
He was determined to have an education, however, 
and that to him meant success. For the following 



four years he struggled with his books. He entered 
Wesleyan University Jan. 1. 1865. He was not a 
brilliant student, being neither at the head nor the 
foot of his class. He was in great earnest, how- 
ever, studied hard and came forth with a well- 
stored and disciplined mind. 

Immediately after being graduated he entered 
an office at Bloomington as a law student. Ilciiad 
already read law some, and as he continued to work 
iiard, with the spur of ])overty and promptings of 
ambition ever with him, he was re.idy to hang out 
his professional shingle in 1809. Being trust- 
worthy ho soon gathered about him some intlnen- 
tial friends. In 1871 he w.as elected Corporation 
Counsel of Bloomington. In 1872 he was elected 
State's Attorney of McLean County'. This ollice 
he held for eight years, when he took his seat in 
the State Senate. Here he served for four years. 
His ability to perform abundance of hard work 
made him a most valued member of the Legisla- 
ture. 

Mr. Fifer was married in 1870 to Gertie, daugh- 
ter of William J. Lewis, of Bloomington. Mr. 
Fifer is six feet in height and is spare, weighing 
only 1.50 pounds. He has a swarthy complexion, 
keen black eyes, quick movement, and possesses a 
frank and sympatiietic nature, and naturally makes 
friends wherever he goes. During the late Guber- 
natorial campaign his visits throughout the State 
proved a great power in his behalf. His happy 
faculty of winning the confidence and good wishes 
of those with whom he comes in personal contact is a 
source of great popularity, especially during a polit- 
ical battle. As a speaker he is fluent, his language 
is good, voice clear and agreeable, and manner 
forcible. His manifest earnestness in what he says 
as well .as his tact as a public speaker, and his elo- 
quent and forceful language, makes him a most 
valuable campaign orator and a powerful pleader 
at the bar. At the Republican State Convention, 
held in May, 1888, Mr. Fifer was chosen .as its candi- 
date for (Tovernor. He proved a popular nominee, 
and the name of " Private Joe " became familiar 
to everyone throughout the State. He waged a 
vigorous canqiaign, was elected by a good m.ajority, 
and In due time assumed the duties of the Chief 
Executive of Illinois. 



WILL COUNTY, 



ILLINOIS. 



m INTRODUCTORY. »• 



^>^^-m^^^ 




|>^^HE time has arrived when it 
becomes the duty of the 
people of this county to per- 
petuate the names of their 
pioneers, to furnish a record 
of their early settlement, 
and relate the story of their 
progress. The civilization of our 
day, the enlightenment of the age 
and the duty that men of the pres- 
ent time owe to their ancestors, to 
themselves and to their posterity, 
demand that a record of their lives 
and deeds should be made. In bio- 
graphical history is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to 
enliven the mental faculties, and 
to waft down the river of time a 
safe vessel in which the names and actions of the 
people who contributed to raise this country from its 
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly 
the great and aged men, who in their prime entered 
the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- 
maining who can relate the incidents of the first days 
of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- 
vation of events without delay, before all the early 
settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time. 

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind 
from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, 
in spite of their l)est works and the most earnest 
efforts of their friends to perserve tlie memory of 
their lives. Tlie means employed to prevent oblivion 
and to perpetuate their memory has been in propor- 
tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. 
Th"; pyramids of Egypt were built to_perpetuate the 
names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- 
mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from 
buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people 



to perpetnate the memory of their achievements. 
The erection of the great obelisks were for the same 
purpose. Coming down to a later period we find the 
Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- 
ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
great acliievements and carry them down the ages. 
It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling 
up their great mounds of earth, liad but this idea — 
to leave something to show that they had lived. All 
these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 
treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac- 
ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
perpetuate, and scarcely anytiiing of the masses of 
the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; 
the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
bling into dust. 

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- 
gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating 
a full history — immutable in that it is almost un- 
limited in extent and perpetual in its action; and 
this is through the art of printing. 

To the present generation, however, we are in- 
debted for the introduction of the admirable system 
of local biography. By this system every man, though 
he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, 
has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, 
through the coming ages. 

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the 
physical man is left. The monument which his chil- 
dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- 
tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his 
life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, 
which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated 
by a record of this kind. 

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- 
lect the attainable facts of their iiistory. Nor do we 
think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to 
wait until they are dead, or until those who know 
them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to 
pubhsh to the world the history of those wjiose lives 
are unworthy of public record. 




^ <^i=.~^-^^^^;:^l^-,r<^-^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



191 




^^^^^^^AM^^^^^^^ 






>:.'VJ^- 



^■'VoKc^<^ 




r/Gl 






V'-teJ 




-f^^- 




IDGE FRANCIS GOODSPEED. 

&. The name of JiKlge Goodspced 
bII^i was for many years a familiar 
one to the people of Will 
County, among wliom he en- 
tered upon and finished a most 
worthy career. He was born in 
Tioga County, Pa., January 
25, 1821, .and departed this life 
at his home in Joliet, April 10, 
1889. In 1847, he became a 
resident of this city which 
thereafter remained liis home 
and with whose growth and 
[irosperity he w.as intimately 
identified. The subject of this 
notice received the ordinar}' common-school edu- 
cation in his youtii, hut he aspired to something 
belter and before reaching his majority left home 
and entered the famous Genesee Seminary at Lima, 
N. Y., where he spent two years. Then coming 
to tlic West he entered the oflice of the Hon. 
Hugh Henderson, a former Circuit Judge, where 
lie devoted his attention to the study of law and 
in 1818, was admitted to the bar. Shortly after- 
ward he associated liiraself with O. II. Haven, in a 
partnership which continued until tlie hitter's 
death. Subsequently he was in partnership with 



the Hon. .losiali McRoberts, and hater with the 
Hon. Henry Siiapp and Augustus F. Knox, his 
partnership with the two latter gentlemen con- 
tinuing until 1876. The following year upon tiie 
formation of the present judicial circuit he w.as 
first elected to fill the additional seat on the bencii 
created by this act, and in 1878 was re-elected 
for the full term of six years. In June, 1884, on 
account of failing health he resigned his office and 
thereafter battled with the insidious disease which 
finallj' caused his deatii. 

Aside from his regular practice Judge Good- 
speed was prominent in local affairs, serving as 
Mayor of Joliet and occupying other positions of 
trust and responsibility. In 1861 , he was selected as 
delegate to the Constitutional Convention which 
met in the city of Springfield and was an active 
participant in the deliberations of that body. He 
was possessed of strong intellectual powers and was 
entirely devoted to his profession, in which lie la- 
bored to excel. As a lawyer and judge for nearl}- 
forty years he made an enviable record. No man 
stood higher in the esteem and confidence of his 
fellow-citizens. He was a man of strong convic- 
tions and S3anpathctic nature, conscientious and 
truthful ; and while he exacted much iierhiqis from 
his fellow-men, he required from them no more 
than he was desirous of bestowiag in trust and 



192 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



integrity. Apart from the literature of the law he 
was a great student of books generall}', was a clear 
and lucid writer and used his pen in connection 
witli his sword as long as his failing heallii would 
permit. Politicall3', he was in hearty synipalhy 
with the Democratic part}^ until 18G0, when lie be- 
came a Reijublican and ever afterward voted and 
used his influence in behalf of its principles. In all 
political organizations he was prominent and liis ac- 
tive influence was never withheld in behalf of tiiose 
objects or persons he firmly believed to be worthy, 
lie left behind liim when he dieil a character for 
honor, patriotism, generosity and courage which is 
not the least |)rized inlieritance of liis descendants. 

Judge Goodspecd was (irst married in 1841), to 
Miss Esther Weathcrbee, wlio only survived her 
wedding one month. His second wife was Lucre- 
tia Knox, to whom he was wedded in 1 854, and 
who died in I8G4. In 1867, he contracted a third 
marriage witii Miss Frances Henderson, who is still 
living. Mrs. Frances 'Henderson) Goodspeed, 
was born in Steuben County, N. Y., November SO, 
1830, and is the daughter of Dryden and Maria 
(Coe) Henderson, wlio weie natives of Herkimer 
County, N. Y., and wlio spent their last ^ears in 
Steuben County, the same State. Their family 
consisted of tliree ciiildi'eii. Miss Frances 'eceived 
a good education and remained a member of the 
parental housclHjld until lier marriage. 

Charles F. and Frederick, sons of .ludge (!ood- 
speed, are now living in Joliet. His eldest son, 
John C, a young man of mueli promise, fitted iiim- 
self for the medical profession but died in October, 
188.3. During the man}' years in which Judge 
Goodspeed reniiined a resident of Will Count}-, he 
not only witnessed its progress from a compara- 
tively unimportant portion of tlie State to its proud 
position as one of the foremost counties of Hliiiois, 
but he aided in its development and his history is 
closely interwoven witii that of the county. His 
portrait, wiiich is presented in connection witli tiiis 
biographical sketch, represents a man widely known 
and lionored wlierever known. His life was a busy 
one; realizing that, as has been said, "We have a 
whole eternitv to rest in" and that the aim of life 
is not to merely "kill time'" he rightly valued ever}' 
moment given him, and thus gained a reputation 




for promptness in originating [ilsns and dispatch in 
executing them. Of this it might well be said that 
he was one of those 

"Who comprehend their trust and to the same 

Keej) faithful witli a singleness of aim; 

And therefore do not stoop nor lie in wait 

For wealth or honor or for worldly state; 

Whom they must follow, on whose head must fall. 

Like showers of manna, if they come at all." 

HRISTOPH SCIIOENSTEDT, who is one of 
the foremost business men of Monee, lias 
been a conspicuous figure in its upbuilding 
and is prominent in the management of its jnibiic 
affairs. Our subject is of German origin, born 
January 30, 1837, in ihe village of Urbaeli Tliuer- 
ingen, near Erfurt, Germany. His parents, Fred 
and Fredericke (Wilke) Schoenstedt, were natives 
of the same village as himself. The}' had five 
children, namely: Charles or Karl, Henry, Chris- 
to|)li, Frederick and Dorothea. Frederick came to 
the Iniled Stales aliout 18G2 or 18(13, remained 
with our subject two years, and is now a resident 
of Livermore, Cal.; the rest of the family are still 
I'viiig ill Germany. 

The suljject of this sketch came to this country 
in 1854, landing in New York June 28, and the 
following August fouii<I him in Chicago. The 
cholera was then prevalent here, and fearing an 
attack of that dreaded illness, he took himself to 
New ISremen. He had no ca|)ital with which to 
start in l)usiiiess, having, in fact, left New York $13 
in delit, having borrowed that sum of some one to 
pay his jiassage. He, therefore, sought any em- 
ployiiient by wliicli he could make an honest living, 
and for two months he was engaged in mowing, at 
$10 a month. After the haying season was over 
he worked si.x months for ^5 a month. At the ex- 
piration of that time he went to Blue Island to 
learn the trade of a wagon-maker, receiving for 
payment sB50 the first year, $75 the second year, 
and $110 the third year. He had considerable tal- 
ent for music which had been carefully cultivated 
in Germany, and here he was enabled to earn quite 
a sum of money playing on a clarionet. After he 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



193 



had acquired a thorough knowledge of his trade he 
went to woriv on his own account, coming to ISIo- 
nce in March, 1859, and opening a .shop here, en- 
gaged in the manufacture of wagons the ensuing 
fifteen years. He tlien estal)lis>lied himself, in 
A]»ril, in the implement business, wiiich he carried 
on until February 1, 1890, meeting witli more than 
ordinary success, and deriving a handsome income 
from the profits. Coming to this country without 
means, his stalwart, vigorous manhood, clear brain 
and skillful hand being his only capital, he has se- 
cured wealth, and is one of the richest men in this 
part of the county. lie is the owner of four hun- 
dred and sixty-eight acres of land, three business 
buildings and good residence property in this city, 
besides owning valuable realty in Chicago. To the 
lady who presiiles over his attractive home he was 
united in marriage March .5, 1859. Her maiden 
name was Louise Gantz, and she was born in tlie 
Province of Saxony, Germany, May 17, 1839. She 
was a daughter of Lawrence and Sophie Gantz. In 
1 M5.3 they came to the I'nited States and first set- 
ilcd at New Bremen, near Chicago, where he 
bdught a farm, on which they resided the rest of 
their days, his death occurring in 1880, and his 
wife's in 1882. They had four daughters — Mary, 
Louise, Caroline and Rafine, all of whom are mar- 
ried and have families. Our subject and his wife 
have seven clu'ldren, namel}': Fred; Anna, wife of 
Louis Bischmann; Rudolph, who died at the age 
of six months; Leopold ; August; Louise, who died 
at the age of twelve years; and Otto. 

Although not one of the earliest settlers, Mr. 
Schoenstedt may justly be regarded as one of the 
l)ioneers of this county, which owes much to his 
untiring labor. His name will alvva3S be indisso- 
luble' linked with that of Monee, as partly by his 
influence it has attained its present position as one 
of the leading towns in this section of the State; 
he has ever been active in extending its com- 
mercial and business interests, has contriluited 
generously to all schemes that vv-ould enhance its 
material jirosperitj', and he has its educational, re- 
ligions and social interests at heart. A man of 
such vigorous mind, such unerring sagacity and 
keen vision cannot well avoid accepting [lublic 
oflice at the call of his fellow-men, when it seems 



his imperative duty as a loyal citizen to do so, and 
hence, while having the care of an extensive busi- 
ness and a large property, Mr. Schoenstedt has 
found time to take a part in the a<lnrmistration of 
of local affairs, and has served as Village Trustee 
eigiit years. In politics his views coincide with the 
principles promulgated by the Republican party. 
Religiously, our subject and his estimable wife are 
memliers in high standing of the United Presbyte- 
rian Church, activeh' assisting in the good work 
carried on by their pastor and fellow-members. 



'ifJOSEPH E. GOUGAR. This is one of the 
most worthy representatives of the well- 
known Gougar family, who have since the 
' pioneer days been closely identified with 
the interes's of New Lenox Township. The father 
of him of whom we write was the late William 
Gougar, who with others of the family is written 
of on other pages of this volume. They have 
uniformly followed agricultural pursuits, and have 
obtained the re[)utation of being the most thor- 
ough and skillful agriculturists, as well as being 
numbered among the leading business men of 
Will County. 

The subject of this notice was the youngest child 
of his parents, and was born at the old homestead 
in New Lenox Township, March 21, 1834. He 
spent his boyhood and youth at the farm, becom- 
ing familiar with the various employments of 
rural life, and pursuing his earl^' studies in the 
district school. Later he was a student one year 
at Beloit (Wis.) College, and also pursued his 
studies for the same length of time in the .State 
University at INIadison. His education was com- 
pleted in T. J. Sloan's Commercial College at Chi- 
cago, from which he was duly graduated. This 
last-named institution was instituted and conducted 
by Col. T. J. Sloan, who during the Civil War 
commanded the One Hundred and Twentj^-fourth 
Illinois Infantry. 

For eight months after leaving college Mv. Gou- 
gar was emploj'ed as book-keeper for the firm of 
Reynolds & Willis in Chicago. With that excep- 



l'J4 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lion he has spent the most of his life in his native 
township. During; tlie Civil War lie was an active 
Union man, and raised two companies of troops, 
these being assigned to tlio One Hundred and 
Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry. He also visited 
the South, and relieved the wants of many of his 
old friends whom he found in need. 

For three years Mr. Cougar bought grain at llii' 
village of New Lenox, and operated tlie warehouse 
at that point. For nearly one year he taught 
scliool in the township. Afterward he turned his 
attention to farming, in wiiich he has since been 
engaged. He is the owner of one hundred and 
sixty acres of choice land, upon which he lias 
made good improvements, including a fine set of 
buildings, besides planting fruit and shacie trees, 
liuilding substantial fences and gathering together 
all the necessary machinery for the successful pro- 
secution of agriculture. There is an air of thrift 
and prosperity about the place, which invariably 
attracts the eye of the passing traveler, and is in- 
dicative of the progressive s|)irit and industry of 
the proprietor. 

Mr. Gougar remained a bachelor until thirty 
years of age, and on the 24th of November, 18fi4, 
was joined in wedlock with Miss Ilatlie Perkins, 
the ceremony taking place at the briiie's home in 
Minooka, Grundy Countv, this Slate. Mrs. Gou- 
gar is the only daughter of her parents, William 
and Elizabeth (VanDalson) Perkins, and was born 
in (irundy County, Dccenilar 28, ISil. She was 
carefull}' trained anrl educated, and for some time 
prior to her marriage followed the profession of a 
teacher. Her father, the late William Perkins, 
was one of the pioneer settlers of Grundy County, 
and departed this life at his homo .lunc 17, 1887. 
He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, 
lilicral and progressive in his ideas, and when his 
children were of suitable j'eais removed from his 
farm to Joliet for the purpose of giving them the 
education he desired them to have. This accom- 
plished, he returned to the old homestead. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Perkins was born a family of 
three children, two sons and one daughter. The 
eldest son. Van Dalson Perkins, was a non com- 
missioned officer, serving in the late Civil War, 
and met his death on the battlefield of Chicka- 



mauga. The other son, Charles E., is farming in 
Ivendall County, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Gou- 
gar arc the parents of six children, two of whom — 
Ella and Florence — died at the ages respectively 
of three years and_^sixteeii months. The survivors 
arc: Cliarles^P., Hattie M., Harlow W. and Eva A. 
Mr. Gougar since early manhood has taken an 
active part in local politics, and is a stanch sup- 
porter of the Democratic parly. For the past 4 
eighteen years he has been connected with the " 
School Board of his district, has held the office of 
Township Assessor four years, and Collector one 
year. Both he and his estimable wife are promi- 
nently connected with the E[)iscopal Church, at- 
tending services at New Lenox. They have one 
of the most pleasant homes in the county, and 
occupy a high position in the social circles of 
their communitj'. 

L'^^^RIIEMAN A. MASON. No visitor to Joliet 
would long 1)0 in ignorance of the name 
and estate of the gentleman above named, 
as his home is that of an ideal farmer. The splen- 
did place is situated on the Boulevard and is sup- 
plied with all the modern conveniences in the resi- 
dence and outer i>reniises. Mr. Mason spends his 
time in looking after his Hocks and herds, taking 
great delight in the line sheep and cattle that graze 
upon his fertile fields. After an active business 
career of j-ears during which he gained a fine reii- 
utation for honorable dealing, enterprise and zeal, 
he has become the possessor of means which enable 
him to indulge his tastes and take the ease he 
desires. 

A histoiy of the lives of Daniel and Hannah 
Mason, parents of the subject of this sketch, is in- 
corporated in this volume. The son was born in 
New Hartford, N. Y., March 14, 1846, and at- 
tended the schools in Utica, completing his educa- 
tion begun in the public schools by studying at 
Whitestown Seminar}' in the same city. His years 
until 1866, were spent in the East, and leaving 
his native place at that date, he came to Chicago, 
111. Entering the euiploy of the Chicago & Alton 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 



195 



railroad, he worked for that road a few months 
relurninc? to the Empire State in the fall of 1807, 
and engaged in the wholesale [laper and stationery 
bnsiness. 

In 1869, Mr. Mason disposed of the bnsiness and 
began dealing in lumber, sash, doors and blinds, 
doing both a wholesale and retail trade in eoin- 
[lany with F. AV. Plant nnder the stylo and title 
(if Mason & Plant. In 1881, Mr. Mason dis- 
[losed of liis interest and again coming west em- 
baikt'd ill the same business at the Michigan Cen- 
tral cut-off in .Toliet, continning in the trade until 
May, 1889, when he sold out lo Wilcox Brothers. 
Mr. Mason also owns a lumber business in Plain- 
lield of which Albert R. Caton is manager. 

In 1872 the rites of wedlock were celebrated 
between Mr. Mason and Miss Hannah E. Caton 
whose family' is represented elsewhere in this vol- 
ume. Under the efficient care of Mrs. Mason, the 
dwelling to which friends are so cordially wel- 
comed presents the appearance of order and refine- 
ment so attractive to family and guests, and all 
who enter are charmed by the gracious manners of 
the hostess. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Mason 
bas been blessed by the birth of the following 
named children: Cornelia, who was born in i873; 
William Caton, in 1875: Marie, in 1878, and who 
died in 1880; Bessie, born iu 1880, died in 1881; 
True Caton.born in 1887, died March 26, 1888. Mr. 
Mason's family belongs to the Presbyterian C'luuxli 
at Joliet. 



^ DWY C. OGDEN, M. D. The medical pro- 
fession of this county includes the names 
of many skillful and successful practioners 
among whom may be properly mentioned he with 
whose name we introduce this biographical reconl. 
lie located in Joliet in 1879, and in a short time 
fully established himself in the confidence and es- 
teem of the people, both as a pli3sician and sur- 
geon and as a member of the community. He is 
essentially a Western man with western interests, 
his native place being Fond du Lac. Wis. and the 
date of his birth May 25, 1859. 



The subject of this sketch is the son cif iJr. M. 
B. Ogden, an eminent physician and a native of 
Cooksville, Province of Ontario, Canada,who there 
grew to man's estate and with his brother, Dr. 
Edwy J. Ogden, read medicine and took his first 
course of lectures at V'ictoria (,'ollege, Toronto. For 
some years he followed the methods of the regular 
school and then removing to Fond du Lac, Wis., 
adopted the Ilomeopathie system to which he ad- 
hered subsequently. In 186 1-65, he attended lec- 
tures at Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, 
then in August, 18()6, removed to Joliet, where he 
resumed his practice which he continued up to the 
time of his death. This event occurred September 
6, 1884. He was cut down in the prime of life 
having been born iu 1838. He was one of the ear- 
liest Homeopaths in this section of the country 
and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. Dr. 
Ogden has two uncles in Chicago and a large num- 
ber of cousins, members of the medical profession. 
As he remarks, this seems to be "a family' failing." 
The father was a member in good standing of 
the Episcopal Church, and in politics, voted the 
Republican ticket. His wife had preceded him to 
the silent land, her death taking place March 8, 
1879. 

Dr. E. C. Ogden was the only child of his par- 
ents and spent his boyhood and youth in Jol- 
iet where he pursued his first studies in the 
city schools. He finished his literarj' education 
at the Chicago L^niversity and l)eg3n the reading 
of medicine with his father, who proved a most 
thorough and safe instructor. He first attended 
lectures during the winter of 1877-78 in Hahne- 
mann Medical College and February 27, 1879, he 
graduated and practiced with his father until the 
latter's death. He then continued the practice 
and has thus formed an extended acquaintance 
tliroughout the county, receiving the patronage of 
its best people. He has been a close student and 
an extensive reader and keeps himself thoroughly 
posted upon moflcrn methods of treatment. He 
belongs to the State Medical Association an<l is 
President of the Patriotic Order Sons of America. 
The marriage of Dr. Ogden and Miss Hettie A. 
White of Joliet was celebrated at the bride's home 
September 28, 1882. Mrs. Ogden was born in 



196 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Spartansburg. Pa. and is the daughter of Edward 
D. and Margaret E. Wliile who came to tin's 
county in 1875. Her father is now living in 
Joliet, her mother is deceased. Of this union there 
has been Ijorn one child, a son Arthur W., Decem- 
ber 13, 1884. Tlie Doctor and his estimable lady 
stand liigh in social ciicles and their pleasant home 
is the frequent resort of the cultured people of this 
city. Politically, the Doctor is a Republican. 




LONZCj H. brooks. This veteran of 
eiglity-one years and his estimable partner 
are familiarly linown to a large portion of 
the residents of Homer Township, where 
they have sojourned many years, and by their 
sterling wortli have drawn around them many 
friends. They are passing their declining days 
quietly and comfortably at their snug liomestead 
on section 10, with tlie satisfaction of having per- 
formed life's duties well as far as in tliem lay, 
molving for tliemselves a good record and one of 
wliich their cliildren will never be ashamed. Mr. 
Brool<s has for sometime beenalHicted with failing- 
eyesight, but bears the dispensation of Providence 
in a philosophical manner, and still is enabled to 
find much that is good in life. 

The subject of this notice was born February' 14, 
1809, in Otego Township, Otsego County, N. Y., 
and went with his parents to Delaware County. 
that State, when a lad of about six years. He 
lived there with his parents until 1826, and then 
the family removed to Hamburg, Erie County, 
where the parents lived until 1836, when they 
came to Illinois. 

In due time Mr. Broolcs returned to Delaware 
Countj', and was married to Miss Alice, daughter 
of Joseph and Sarah Edmonds. They settled 
in Hamlnirg, Erie County, wliere tlicy resided 
until the following spring, then Mr. Brooks return- 
ing to Otsego County, occiii'ied himself as a mill- 
wright. Afterward he removed to Erie County, 
of which he was a resident until 1837. In June of 
that year he came to this State. He was then joined 
hy liis wife, who was only permitted to remain 



with him a short time tiiereafter, her death taking 
place October 14, 1837, in Lockport Township. 
Of tliis union there was born one child, a son, 
Josepii E., who is now a resident of Lockport. 

Mr. Brooks contracted a second marriage in 
August, 1838, in Homer Townsiiip, to Miss Jane 
Weaver. This lady was born in Washington 
Count}', N. Y., January 21, 1807. After marriage 
Mr. Brooks remained in Lockport for a short time, 
then in the spring of 1839 settled on his present 
farm. This comprises eighty acres of good land, 
which under his careful management is in a highly 
productive condition, and is the source of a com- 
fortable income. Of this marriage of our subject 
tliere have been born five children, only one of 
whom is living, a son, Sterling A. The latter was 
married in Northport, Mich., to Miss Emily Cor- 
nell, and is living with our subject. 

The father of our subject was Benjamin Brooks, 
who died about 1865, at the home of his son, 
Alonzo B., witii whom he had lived for eleven 
3ears. The mother, who bore the maiden name of 
Anna Warner, died in Crete Township about 1838. 
Our subject lias held the oflice of Assessor and 
Justice of the Peace for man^' years. He officiated 
as Highway Commissioner several terms, and in 
politics is a firm supporter of Republican princi- 
ples. He and his estimable wife are consistent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as 
was also the first Mrs. Brooks. 



<S^ HARLES HEUTZOG. The life of tiiis 
gentleman presents a record of arduous 

"<JfJ labor which is perhaps not exceeded in that 
of any other resident of the county. He has now 
retire<l from active work, feeling tlie weight of 
seventy-five years and the toil which he endured. 
A twenty-acre tract of land with a pretty cottage 
upon it is the home of himself anil wife, and his 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, 
Kankakee County, is rented to his son. He also 
owns forty acres of land on section 22, in this 
township, a part of which he uses for pasture, the 
rest being rented out. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



197 



Grandfatber Ilertzog came from Alsace to 
America many \ears ago, being sold for liis pas- 
sage. He settled in Pennsylvania, where his son, 
George, the father of onr snliject, was born. The 
latter married Catherine loh, a native of the same 
State, whose fatlier had served during the entire 
Revolutionary struggle, spent the memorable win- 
ter with Washington at Valley Forge, and walked 
barefooted on the snow and ice, leaving tracks of 
blood to mark his way. He hated a Hessian sol- 
dier with all the strength of his being. 

Charles Hertzog, of this notice, was born in the 
Keystone State September 5, 1815, and had such 
limited educational privileges that his schooling 
was not more that a year all told. When sixteen 
years old he was bound out to learn the shoemaker's 
trade, at which he serTed four years and eight 
months, receiving only his board and clothes, 
alth ingli during haying and harvesting he worked 
for farmers and his master took the pay. The 
vouth h.ad very hard treatment during the jears of 
his apprenticeship. 

After learning his trade young Hertzog went tu 
Pottsville, where for a short time he was engaged 
in journey work, after which he became a laborer 
in the coal mines for several years. In the inter- 
vals of mining he worked at other occupations, 
some of his labor in Pennsylvania bringing him 
the wages of fifty cents per day, from which he 
was oliliged to board himself. He labored in saw- 
mills and also followed the river a while. 

On September 11, 183G, Mr. Hertzog was united 
in marriage with Miss Abigail Fiddler, a native of 
the Keystone State, in which they continued to 
reside until 1850. They then came to Illinois, 
making their home in Napierville, a few m(;nths 
after which they removed to Kankakee County, 
then a part of Will Count}'. Mr. Hertzog bought 
one hundred acres of prairie land, twenty acres of 
which had been broken, and opened up a good 
farm. He was almost empty-handeil when he lo- 
locuted upon the place and he had a hard time to 
get along, but stubl)Orn perseverance finally con- 
quered. He remained upon the farm until his 
home was burned out, when he spent a short time 
in Kankakee, returning to his farm, from which 
he removed to Will County several years since. 



The first vote of Mr. Hertzog was east for Mar- 
tin \anI5uren. Since then he has been a Whig 
antl a Kepul>lican of conservative views. While in 
Kankakee Township he served as Director of the 
School Board and as Overseer of Highways. Dur- 
ing his residence in Pennsylvania he was a member 
of the Sons of Temperance. He is the father of 
eleven children, of whom the following survive: 
Charles W^'sley, .Mrs. Henrietta Nicolai, Mrs. Ellen 
Fisher, Henry II., James N., and Mrs. Martha 
Fleming. He lost one son during the Civil War, 
at which time Charles Wesley and William F. be- 
longed to the Thirty-ninth Illinois, Vates Phalanx. 
The first-mentioned returned to his home at the 
close of the war, but William was killed June 18, 
1864. 



^^ HARLES W. SOLLITT. The Sollitt home- 
l( stead, now occupied by this gentleman, 

^^^ comprises one hundred and sixty acres on 
section 30, Washington Township, which is well 
adapted for general farming and the feeding of 
stock. For the past nine years Mr. Sollitt has 
been much interested in the Hereford breed of 
cattle and has made a specialty of raising them. 
At present he has a herd of thirty, at the head of 
which is the noble animal. Justice, whose registered 
number is 1G240. 

For some thirteen 3-ears Mr. Sollitt has had the 
personal control of the homestead, on which he has 
lived since 18G1, at which time the parents came 
here on .account of the failing health of the wife 
and mother. He was born in Chicago, Jul}- 18, 
1854, but grew to manhood in the township he 
now calls home. His education was finished at the 
llniversity of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., 
and he chose as his vocation in life the peaceful 
pursuit of a farmer. In this work he has been 
fairly successful, and b}- hard work and earnest 
zeal for his pursuit has attained a good rank 
among the agriculturists of the vicinity. 

The father of our subject is an old resident of 
Chicago, where he has manj' friends, and is held 
in excellent reinite as a former builder, of integrit}' 
and reliability-. He has become well-to-do, owning 



198 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



iriuch real estate in the city, and now lives :i re- 
tired life at No. 519, Jackson Boulevard. lie was 
born in Yorkshire, iiugland, and is the eon of a 
mechanic, who died there in the prime of life. 
The ancestors for several generations had been 
born in the mother country, but the remote pro- 
i^enitors were natives of France, whence they 
went to England during the Huguenot troubles 
prior to the date of the American Revolution. 

John Sollitt was taught the trade of a whfel- 
wright. and follovveil the same in the land of his 
birth until about 1836. lie had married Miss 
Mary Truitt, of his own shire, and to them had 
been born two children prior to their removal to 
America. They settled in Kingston, Canada, 
where Mr. Sollitt engaged as a builder, leaving 
that city for the United States after a sojourn of 
two years. He located in what was then a small 
village, but has now grown to be the second city 
iu tiie United States and a power in commercial 
circles. 

It is worthy of note that Mr. Sollitt was a poor 
man with a wife and three children to support and 
but ^r> he could call his own when he reached Chi- 
cago. The first work he obtained was the con- 
struction of a stage curtain roller for the first 
theatre built in the cit3', and this job, allhough a 
small and simple one, secured him further work 
by its good execution. After he had gotten a 
start as a builder, Mr. Sollitt became a partner of 
Peck tfe Updike, and ere long was prominently re- 
cognized in his business. He built the first court- 
house in Cook County. 

The wife of Mr. Sollitt died of the cholera, July 
18, 1850, in the prime of life, leaving a family of 
small children without a mother's care. The hus- 
band contracted a second matrimonial alliance in 
Racine, Wis., choosing Mrs. Annie Wilson, lice 
Rountree, as his comi)anion. This lady was born 
in County Durham, England, and was there mar- 
ried to Samuel Wilson, an Englishman. They 
cam.e to the United States, locating in Buffalo, 
where Mr. Wilson died of the cholera, llis widow 
afterward came West to Wisconsin, and after her 
marriage to Mr. Sollitt resided in Chicago until 
her health failed and they bought property for a 
country home in Will County. Tills farm, now 



owned and operated by our subject, was the par- 
ental home until the death of the mother in 1871, 
when she jWas about fifty years old. She had 
borne her last husband two children — our subject 
and a sister, Blanche, now Jlrs. Board, who resides 
in Oak Park, a part of Chicago. 

John Sollitt was again married, the ceremonj' 
taking place in Racine County, Wis. The bride 
was Miss Ann Blackburn, also a native of England. 
She had come to this country when a young lady, 
and since her marriage, with the exception of the 
first two j'ears, has lived in Chicago. Mr. Sollitt 
is a member of the Old Settlers' Society of that 
city. 

Charles W. Sollitt won as his companion in life 
Miss Cl.ara Marsh, an educated and refined woman 
who was born in Crete, January 13, 1858. She 
was reared and educated in this and Cook Coun- 
ties, and was engaged in teaciiiug for some time 
prior to her marriage. The wedding rites were 
celebrated at the bride's home iu Matteson, Cook 
County, March 23, J 877. Her parents, Edwin and 
Mary (Frank) Marsh, are now living in Chicago 
ratlier retired, although they still own an interest 
in a ranch in Russell County, Kan. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sollitt, of this notice, have had 
three children — Anna died at the age of three 
years; Leslie and John still live to gladden their 
parents hearts by their intelligence and affection. 
Mr. Sollitt is a Republican, and stanch in the faith. 
He and his good wife attend the Congn^gational 
Church at Beecher. They are respected and es- 
teemed by their fellow-citizens as their merits de- 
mand. 



cOo~ 



"(li OIIN BEDFORD, deceased, was a worthy 
member of the farming community of 
Plainfleld Township, and during his busy 
career he was active in advancing its ma- 
terial interests, and we are pleased to be able to 
pl.ace this brief outline of his life on the pages of 
this volume. A native of Lincolnshire, England, 
he was born September 28, 1828, his father, bear- 
ing the same name, also being a native of England, 
and was there bred to farming pursuits and spent 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lOf) 



Lis entire life on liis native soil. Our subject was 
reared to an agricultural life, and resided in the 
land of liis birth until 1852. Tlieu in the prime 
of a vigorous, self-reliant manliood, lie set out for 
the New World, trying to see what life lield for 
him in this land of promise, embarlving at Liver- 
pool in the month of March on the sailing-vessel 
"Lady Ash burton." He landed in New York and 
came directlj- to Illinois, whe'-e he thought he 
would be most likely to prosper as a farmer. He 
found emploj'ment on a farm in AVill County, and 
was engaged there for some time. In 1855 he re- 
turned to his old home, and in the same year was 
married to Miss Ann Foulston, a native of Lin- 
colnshire, England. Her father, John Foulston, 
was born in Nottinghamshire, his father, of the 
same name, being a native of the same shire, where 
he carried on farming until his death. Mrs. Bed- 
ford's father was reared on a farm and followed 
agricultural pursuits, spending his entire life in 
the laud of his birth. The maiden name of his 
wife was Elizabeth Nicholson. They were the 
parents of eleven children, four of whom came to 
America — George, now deceased, resided in Illi- 
nois some years; James lived in Canada some 
years, spending the latter part of his life in Mani- 
toba; Francis came to Illinois and has since died; 
Charles lives in this county. 

In March, 1856, our subject again set sail for 
America, embarking on the vessel "Neptune," 
accompanied by his young bride, whom he was 
bringing with him to assist in the upbuilding of a 
home in his adopted country. Six weeks later 
they landed in New York, and came to Illinois 
and located at Lockport. Our subject was there 
engaged as an engineer, running a stationary en- 
gine for a few years. He then resumed the occu- 
pation to which he had been bred. In 1876 he 
bought the farm where his family now resides. 
This contains ninet3'-two acres of finel3'-cultivated 
land, provided with substantial buildings and 
every necessary improvement. It is very fertile, 
and is finely located four miles from riainfield 
and eight miles from Joliet. 

Ere he had attained to old age, and while it 
seemed as Lhough he had many years of usefulness 
before him, his iionorablc career was cut short by 



his untimely death, March 28, 1880. A man of 
sterling integrity, whose every day life bore testi- 
mony to the iulierent uprightness of his character, 
by his demise the townsliip lost one of its most 
respected and trustworthy citizens; his family a 
good husl)an(l and faithful father, who was always 
kind and considerate, and his neighbors, one who 
was always helpful in his relations with them. 
He deserved the prosperity that followed his work, 
as he labored conscientiously and perseveringly, 
and exercised sound judgment and due discretion 
in all his dealings. In his wife, who survives him, 
he always found a faithful and ready assistant, 
one to whose aid he was greatly indebted for the 
coziness and comfort of a good home. To them 
were born four children — Albert F., who lives 
with his mother; "Walter S., who resides in Joliet; 
Lizzie J., who is in St. Louis; and Sarah J. at 
home. The family occupies a good social position, 
and all are attendants at the Episcopal Church. 



"JOSEPH F. LEISING, dealer in grain, lum- 
ber and live stock, established himself in 
business at Goodenow in 1877, and has con- 
ducted an extensive and successful business. 
He was formerly a book-keeper with the Crete 
Manufacturing Company, and possessing business 
talents of a high oi'der, has naturally made steady 
progress until he is now numbered among the most 
reliable men of his town. He was born in the 
Province of Wcstphalen, Germany, December 4, 
1845, and lived tiicre until a young man of twenty- 
four years, coming in 1869 to America. During 
his residence of twenty years in his adopted coun- 
try, he has become thoroughl}' adapted to her in- 
stitutions wliieh find in liim one of their warmest 
defenders. 

The father of our subject was Henry Leising, 
also a native of Westphalen, who spent his entire 
life in his native land, engaged in farming pursuits. 
He had served his country as a soldier and was a 
reliable and substantial citizen, and one who en- 
joyed in a marked degree the esteem of all who 
knew him. He was (iftj'-six years old at the 



200 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



time of his death; he was married in early man- 
hood to a maiden of ills own province, Miss 
Elizabi'tii (Senger, who survived licr iiusbnnd a 
nuiiit)er of years, living to be quite aged. Both 
were members of the German Calliolic Cliurcii. 
'J'liere liad been born to tliem two sons and tiirec 
daughters of whom Joscpli V. of tliis sketch was 
the eldest, and lie was the only one who came to 
tlie United States. His two sisters are still residents 
of Wcstphalen f)ne of them being married. 

Mr. Leising in accordance with tlie laws and 
custonis of liis native country was placed in school 
at an early age and received a thorough educa- 
tion, becoming familiar with the French and Latin 
liinguages. He commenced his business career as 
a clerk and was thus occupied for nine years in 
his native province. Not being satisGed however, 
with his condition or his i)rospects, he decided 
upon seeking the New World and in the summer 
nf 1869 repaired to the port of Bremerhaveu and 
look [i.nssage on a steamer bound for New York 
fity. Arriving safel}' at his destination be at 
(in( e set out for Chicago, but not long afterward 
came to Crete Township, where he soon found 
employment as a clerk and book-keeper and by 
his faithfulness and attention to his duties gained 
the goodwill of his employers and the esteem of 
all who knew him. 

Mr. Leising was married at Crete to Miss Eliza, 
daughter of Andrew Schwendemann. The latter 
was a native of Bavaria and was married in the 
Grand Duchy of Mechlenburg to Miss Elizabeth 
Miller. Later the}' emigrated to the United States, 
settling in Buffalo, N. Y., where the father con- 
ducted a hardware store for a number of years 
and died at the age of fifly-thrce. The mother 
and daughter then came to Illinois, locating in 
Crete Township where they lived until the mar- 
riage of the latter. The mother then returned to 
Buffalo where she is now living with one of her 
daughters. Although sixlj- ^ears of age she is 
bright and active. 

l\Iis. Leising was born in Buffalo, N. Y., August 
31, 18')G, and was one of a family eomijrising two 
sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. 
She was subjected to careful parental training and 
after her father's death remained with her mothei' 




until her marriage, obtaining her education in the 
common schools. Of her union with our subject 
there have been born five children, viz: Henrietta 
M. died aged eleven months; those living are: 
Ida S., Ella C, Leo A. H. and Augusta. Mr. 
Leising, i)olitically, is decidedly in favor of the 
Democratic party and has served as Township 
Clerk, besides holding other minor offices. He is 
|)rompt to meet his obligations, a square man in 
his business trans.actions and looked upon in all 
respects as a representative citizen. 



V.Ml'EL G. NELSON, Supervisor and 
.lustice of the Peace of Milton Township, 
is a native of Randolph County, Ind., and 
a son of John and Elizabeth (Gra}') Nel- 
son. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
was reared in Huntingdon County, Pa., he later 
removing to Kentucky and from there to Ohio. 
His next removal was to Randolph County, Ind., 
whence he went to Montgomery County, making 
his home on a farm four miles west of Crawfords- 
ville. He represented his count}' in the India!;a 
Legislature and at one time made a strong race 
for the Stale Senate from that district, but was 
defeated. In 1848 he came to Will County, III., 
where he died in 1851 at the residence of our sub- 
ject. His life work was that of farming, and his 
labors were successful. During the War of 1812 
he served in the American army. In politics he 
was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the 
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He 
was an own uncle of Senator .Toseiih E. McDonald, 
of the Iloosier Slate. His wife was born near 
Wheeling, W.Va., and died in this county in 
1 852. 

The parental family consisted of the following- 
named children: McDonald, I]slher, William T., 
Elizabeth, Sarah, Nancy, Samuel G., Mary and 
Daniel M. The only survivors of this household 
band are: William T., Samuel G. and Daniel M. 
He of whom we write was born May 8, 1827, and 
passed his early life on the farm in Montgomery 
County, Ind., receiving his education in the com- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



201 



raon schools, under the instruction of Joseph E. 
McDonalcl, later one of Indiana's prominent legis- 
lators. When about of age young Nelson came 
to Illinois, settling on the farm where he yet lives. 
He owns one hundred acres of land on section 3, 
ills residence being in the village of Wallingford. 
Every dollar that he possesses has been made by 
his own exertions and in farming, which has been 
his life work. 

In 1SG2 Mr. Nelson joined the Union Army as 
a private in Company H, One Hundredth Illinois 
Infantry, but was soon elected First-Lieutenant of 
his company. In November, 1863, he w.as pro- 
moted to the Capitanc}', and subsequently to the 
rank of Major, in which he finished his service. 
AftiM' the close of the war he was mustered out, 
.lune 12, 18G5. at Huntsville, Ala., and at Chicago, 
III., w.as discharged Jidj' 1. During his campaign 
life Maj. Nelson bore a part in the famous battles 
of Stone River, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and 
other conrticls of less prominence yet no less dan- 
gerous to those who participated. Among these 
were tlie engagements at Nashville, Franklin, au<l 
the minor affrays of the Georgia campaign as far 
SDuth as Jouesville. At Mission Ridge he was 
wounded in the left hip b}' a miuie ball. 

The first marriage of Mr. Nelson w.as celebrated 
at the home of the bride in Wilton Township. 
Mrs. Abigail (Meachani) Nelson was born in 
Oneida County, N. Y., in 1830, and died August 
29, 1855. She left one daughter, Elizabeth H., 
born September 24, 1854. On December 12, 1878, 
this daugiiter became the wife of Alexander Price, 
who died November 1, 1879. They had one son, 
Herbert A., who with his widowed mother now 
lives with our subject. 

Mr. Nelson contracted a second matrimonial 
alliance Ma}' 1, 185G, choosing for his companion 
Miss Sarah A. Thomas, of Cook County. This 
lady was born in Florence Township, Oneida 
County, N.Y., in 1837, and died April 19,1877. 
This marriage was blessed by the birth of six chil- 
dren, whose record is as follows: Celia J., who 
was born July 1, 1857, married W'illiam II. War- 
ren, a farmer of Wilton Township, and has four 
children— Minnie, Celia, Ella and Walter; Will- 
iam T. was born May 21, 1859, and was killed by 



the kick of a horse August 24, 1873; Sarah E. 
was born October 28, J 861, and died August 30, 
1881; Mary M., born October 8, 1866, is the wife 
of Anthony F. Dennis, a farmer in Peotone Town- 
ship, and has one daughter. Elsie M. James M. 
w.as born January 1, 1872, and Laura B., Novem- 
ber 29, 1875. 

For eighteen years Mr. Nelson has held the 
official station of Justice of the Peace, and is serv- 
ing his sixteenth year as Township Supervisor. 
He takes daily and weekly papers in sufficient 
numbers to keep himself thoroughly informed in 
the progress of mankind and the news of the d.ay, 
and is much better read and more intelligent than 
most men. His home is one in which both friends 
and strangers are sure of a cordial welcome and 
the best of entertainment he can give; while to 
enterprises of genuine worth he is a liberal con- 
tributor. Although not connected with an}' relig- 
ious organization, he believes in and supports 
them. He has always been a Democrat and taken 
an active interest in party affairs. He belongs to 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 



-l-^f=^<^^-f-4- 



I^^AVID S. STEPHEN. This gentleman occu- , 
pies a prominent position among the busi- 
ness men of Frankfort Station, being 
proprietor of the Frankfort machine shop, a dealer 
in engines, machines, pumps, [lipes, etc., and also 
occupying the offlci.al station of Justice of the 
Peace. He is a son of Joseph and Jane (Garden) 
Stephen, both of whom were born in Aberdeen- 
shire, Scotland. Joseph Stephen studied for the 
ministry, and during his college life was a class- 
mate of the famous Lord Byron. He began his 
ministerial labors in his native shire, as pastor of a 
Baptist Church, abandoning his field of labor there 
in 1843, when he crossed the Atlantic and located 
in Canada. There he engaged as clerk for a Mr. 
Barnet, a contractor on the Welland Canal. 

After sojourning in the Dominion a 3-ear, Mr. 
Stephen came to the United States, accompanying 
his employer to Lock|)ort, this county, where he 
died not long after. The disease which caused his 
death was bilious fever, ai\d he was then sixtj'- 



202 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



thi-ee years old. Ho was :in ardent Abolitionist, 
preaching the doctrine from the pulpit and writing 
upon the question of slavery for the public press. 
During his boyhood he had become proficient as 
a mechanic, having inherited a taste for handicraft 
from his father, William Stephen, a native of Wales, 
and a piaclical mechanic, who had served for a 
time in the English army. 

After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Jane 
Stephen became the wife of James Logan, and 
they are living at Frankfort Station. B3' her 
first union she became tlie mother of five children, 
viz.: Jane, Mrs. Bruce, who died in Loclqiort 
Township; David S., our subject; Pj. C, who is 
running a planing, saw and feed mill, and nianu- 
factujing general wood work in Frankfort; Jo- 
seph S., a machinist in Chicago; George W., who 
died when eleven years old. Joseph S. served in 
the Twentieth Illinois Infantry three months, and 
re-enlisted in another regiment, serving until dis- 
charged on account of physical disabilitj'. When 
sufliciently recovered he enlisted again, continuing 
to act in defense of his country until honorably 
discharged at the close of the war. The second 
union of the mother of our subject was blest by 
the birth of one child, William H. Logan, now con- 
stable in Frankfort. 

The birthplace of the gentleman whose name 
stands at the head of this sketch was St. Fergus, 
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and his natal day March 
14, 1836. Until he was five years old he was 
reared in his native village, and he then went to 
live with his grandfather at Almouth, where he re- 
mained until his parents removed to America, 
wlien he accompanied them hither. He traveled 
by steam to Edinburg, thence by rail to Glasgow, 
where the family embarked on the "Naverina." 
After a tedious voyage of ten weeks, landing was 
made in New York City, whence they went to St. 
Catharines, Canada, and then to Thorwald, seven 
miles from Niagara Falls, whose roar they could 
distinctly hear. 

The removal to Illinois was made by a steamer 
to Chicago, which was then but a village, and by 
team to Lockport. A home was made on the Bar- 
net farm, in the township of Homer, and the lad 
bes-an his attendance at the common schools. 



Previous to this time he had been instructed en- 
tirely by his parents, and he was able to begin his 
school life in the Third Reader class. The In- 
dians had left this region not long before and the 
country was an almost unbroken prairie, neigh- 
bors were few and far between, and all the sur- 
roundings were of a primitive nature. Some four 
or five years later he of whom we write, and his 
brother, E. C, walked to Frankfort Township, 
where their stepfather bought a farm, on which 
our subject lived until his eighteenth birthday. 

During his early years David Stephen was occu- 
pied in farm pursuits, but when eighteen he began 
working as a millwright and carpenter finding em- 
ployment in .Joliet and Lockport. He also en- 
gaged somewhat in jobbing and repairing, all 
handicraft coming naturally to him as an inherit- 
ance from his mechanical ancestors. Not only had 
his father and grandfather Stephen been excellent 
mechanics, but his grandfather Garden was also a 
fine workman as a millwright and plowwright, and 
the eilicient proprietor of a general implement shop 
in Aberdeenshire. Young Stephen drilled during 
the late war and volunteered, but was rejected by 
the examining physician. 

In 1863 our subject and his brother, E. C, 
ojiened a machine and repair siiop in Frankfort, 
the connection continuing three years, after which 
the older brother retired, and spent tlu'ee years la 
Kalamazoo County, Mich. In lS7t the partner- 
sliip was resumed, and the firm of D. S. <fe E. C. 
Stephen built a machine shop, feed mill, sawmill 
and other edilices, continuing in partnership until 
1889, when the connection was again dissolved. 
Since that time our subject has been carrying on 
his present business, having a fine sot of machinery 
for working iron, and doing a large trade in re- 
pairing engines and other machines, and manufac- 
turing a double-force pump of the Stephen Bros', 
invention. Ho has manifested an unusual degree 
of enterprise, and has a reputation for mechanical 
skill which is unexcelled. 

At the home of the bride in Frankfort, in Novem- 
ber, 1867, the rites of wedlock were celebrated be- 
tween Mr. Stephen and Addie C. Bathrick. The 
bride was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, was 
educated in Buffalo, N. Y., and was for a time en- 




xi^^C?*^ /^iS^^*-^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



•205 



gaged in teaching, a profession for wliieli her cult- 
lue, tact and fine chcaracter well filled her. She is 
a daughlcr of the Rev. Slephen Bathrick, a Free 
Will Bai)tist minister and also a practicing homeo- 
pathic physician. He labored in various States — 
New York, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, etc. — 
alily advancing the cause of Christianity for years, 
lie entered into rest in Frankfort, this county, 
in 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephen two children 
have been born, named respectively Marian F. 
and Edwin L. 

Mr. Stephen is now serving his third term as 
.lustice of the Peace, and his second term as a 
member of the Board of Village Trustees. A man 
of ripe intelligence, good judgment and firm 
principles, he proves an efficient worker for the 
prosperity and order of the town. He belongs to 
Joliet Lodge. No. 42, F. & A. M. He is a stanch 
Republican, politically', and has frequently been 
sent as a delegate to county conventions. 




R. CHARLES RICHARDS. The medical 
profession of Will County received a wor- 
thy addition in 1868, by the advent of 

Dr. Richards, who thereafter prosecuted a 
successful practice until his death, which occurred 
Februarys, 1890. He was born in Newport, Her- 
kimer Count3-, N. Y., July 26, 1832, and was the 
son of Richard and Mary Agnes (Newton) Rich- 
ards, who spent their last years in Ohio. 

When Charles was a lad of ten years, his parents 
removed to New Haven, Ohio, where he completed 
the rudiments of an English education, and, when 
of suitable years, began the study of medicine in 
the odicc of Dr. V. G. Armstrong. Later he at- 
tended lectures at the Albany IMedical College, 
from which he was graduated in 1855. He con- 
liiuied his residence at New Haven, and followed 
his |)rofession until coming to Illinois. 

During his citizenship in .loliet. Dr. Richards 
won the respect and esteem of all by iiis sterling 
(pmlilies of heart and mind. Not only was he 
skilled in dispensing medicines, but he possessed 
that .sympathetic and geninl nature which at once 



inspired confidence among his patients, and which 
was often of more assistance to them in their re- 
covery than anything which could be obtained 
from the pharmacist. Dr. Richards built up a 
large and profitable practice, and in social as well 
as business circles was a universal favorite. From 
1870 to 1874 he held the office of County Coroner, 
and for some time he was Secretary of the Will 
County Medical Society. His religious belief coin- 
cided with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which he was a leading light in Joliet, 
and of which his widow is also a member. Polit- 
icallj'. Dr. Richards was a stanch Republican, and 
was inrtuential in his party in this portion of the 
State. 

The marriage of Dr. Charles Richards and Miss 
Harriet, daughter of Thomas T. and Phebe (Stew- 
art) Mulford, was celebrated at the bride's home, in 
New Haven, Ohio, March 25, 1858. Mrs. Richards 
was born March 19, 1835, in New Haven, Ohio, 
and was one of a family of six children born to her 
parents. The latter were natives respectively of 
Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and are now de- 
ceased. Mrs. Richards, who survives her husband, 
is a lad}' of excellent character, and highly re- 
spected in the community. She occupies a beauti- 
ful home on Richards Avenue, and enjoys the 
friendship and a,ssociation of the best people in the 
city. To her active co-operation may be attrib- 
uted not a little of the Doctor's success, for she 
was a true helpmate to him in every sense of the 
word . 

In connection with this sketch we present a lith- 
ographic portrait of Dr. Richards. He is remem- 
bered affectionately by a very large circle of 
acquaintances, to whom his worthy traits of ciiar- 
acter endeared him. He was distinguished not 
less for his kindness of heart than for his superior 
talents of mind, and. .as became a true Christian, 
his word was alwaj-s as good as his bond. 



UILLIAM. C. TROWBRIDGE, junior mem- 
ber of liio firm of Tillotson (t Trowbridge, 
^)f^ is familiarly known as one of the editors 
and publishers of the Crete Journal and its aux- 



■206 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



iliaries, which includes the local interests of Bloom, 
Monee, Beecher, Maltesou and (ioodonow. 'I'lii' 
combination of papers was established by Mr. W. 
H. Gardner, in March, 1888, and in May ft)Uowing 
he was succeeded by the present firm. They have 
nboiui fide issue of five iiiindred copies weekly, and 
publish a paper which is heartily welcomed by the 
pe()|)le of this region, being full of local news, and 
treating concisely all the important topics of the 
day. 

Mr. Trowbridge is a practical printer, with an 
experience of eight years as foreman of the Brccd- 
ers's Journal, a stock paperjformerly published at 
Beecher, 111. He served a full apprenticeship at 
the "art preservative" in Lewistown, Pa., and 
Grand Rapids, Mich., and subsequently was em- 
ployed five years in the State Printing Office at 
Lansing. His native place was Altoona, Pa., and 
the date of his birth April 14, 1856. His father, 
William S. Trowbridge, was' born in Granville, 
Washington County, N. Y., August 24, 1825, and 
died October 5, 1889, at Grand Rapids, Mich. The 
latter was of stanch New England stock, and on 
account of the death of his father when he was but 
a boy, was thrown upon his own resources at an 
early age. He learned the trade of an iron 
moulder at Poultney, Vt., and later emigrated to 
Harrisburg, Pa., where he followed his trade and was 
married to Miss Henrietta Kuhn. Mrs. Trowbridge 
was born and reared in Harrisburg, and was the 
daughter of Jacob and Susan Kuhn, who died there. 

After their marriage the elder Trowbridge and 
his wife remained for some years residents of Har- 
risburg and then removed to Altoona, Pa., where 
the father operated some time as a foundryman. 
He then removed to Juniata C'ount3\ and later to 
Lewistown, where he became the employe of a 
firm engaged in the manufacture of agricultural 
implements. He was thus occupied until the fall of 
18G3, and then, the Civil War being in progress, 
enlisted in the Two Hundred and First Pennsyl- 
vania Infantry, in which he served until the close 
of the war, when he received his honorable dis- 
charge. 

Returning now to his home and family in Lew- 
istown, Pa., the father of our subject not long 
afterward took charge of the smelting department 



of the Freedom Steel Works, one of the largest 
manufacturing enterprises of the kind in Pennsyl- 
vania, and he there remained until 1870. We next 
find him making his way to Grand Kai)ids, Mich., 
where he was joined by his family in 1871, and 
where he spent the remainder of his life. In Grand 
Kapids he was man.ager of Chubb's Agricultural 
Implement Works. He was a skilled workman, and 
was of that genial and conii)anionable disi)Osition 
which drew around him hosts of friends. His re- 
ligious views coincided with the doctrines of the 
Episcopal Church. 

The mother of our subject died at her home in 
Grand Rapids, Mich., in March, 1875, aged about 
sixty years. She, like her husband, was a member 
of the' Episcopal Church. There were born to them 
ten children, seven of whom, five daughters and 
two sons, are j'et living. These with one exception 
are all married. William C. is next to the eldest, and 
like them obtained his education principally in his 
native county. He accompanied the familj' in the 
removal to Grand Rapids, Mich., and was there 
married, March 10, 187G, to Miss Lelia M. Wil- 
kins. This lady was born in Grand Rapids, Au- 
gust 31, 1856, and was carefully reared and edu- 
cated. She grew up an accomplished and intelligent 
woman, and by her union with our subject has 
become the mother of three children, viz. : F. 
Winona, William Roy and Myron. Mr. and Mrs. 
Trowbridge are members of the Congregational 
Church at Crete, and Mr. Trowbridge, politically, 
is a sound Republican. 



— ^ 



♦^■■ A . 



^ 



Vl^OHN DAY. No member of the farming 
communit3^ of this county is more wortli\- 
of representation in this BioGKArniCAL 
Ai.nuM than this gentleman, who has been 
identified with the agricultural interests of this 
part of the State for many j-ears, and now owns 
and occui)ies a choice place of ten acres in Plain- 
field Township, and also one hundred and eight}-- 
two acres in I)u Page Township. 

Mr. Day is of P^nglish birth, born in Lincoln- 
shire, April 2, 1836. His father, bearing the same 



PORTRAIT AND BIUURAJ'HILAL A1>1JLA1. 



207 



nnme iis liimself, was a native of the same shire, 
and Lis graiirlfatlier was a lifc-l<)iis>: resiflent tliere. 
The father of our siihjict wa* reared on a farm in 
his native county, and was tiiere employed in 
aoricultural i)ursuits until 1856, wiien he came to 
America and settled in Illinois, buying a home 
with our subject in Dul'age Township, and living 
there until his useful life was closed by deatli. The 
maiden name of the mother of our svibject was 
Heb'K'ca Brickies, and she was also a native of 
England. Siie spent her last years at the home of 
our subject at Plainfield. She and her husband 
wcie the parents of four children, namely: Mary, 
William, John and .Sopiiia. The latter died at the 
age of four years, and the others came to Amer- 
ica. Mar}' married William Pepper. They lo- 
cated in this county, and she is now deceased. 
William located in Manhattan, but is now residing 
in .Tolict. 

John, of wlioni we write, was reared in the land 
(if his birth until he was eighteen years of age. 
lie had heard of America, and being an ambitious, 
self-reliant, adventurous youth, he longed to try 
his fortunes here, but was restrained by his par- 
ents from coming to this countr}^ until the age 
mentioned. Having finally obtained their per- 
mission, he set sail from Liverpool April 2, 1854, 
and after a tedious vojage of seven weeks landed 
in New York. He started thence at once to Illi- 
nois to join friends at Plainfield. He immediately 
sought eni()loyment here, as he needed the money, 
and soon found work on a farm at *iI6 a month. 
He was thus engaged for about three years, and 
then rented land on shares until 18G(), when he 
bought ninety-one acres of land on section 30, 
DuPage Township, and about eight yeai-s later 
bought ninety -one acres adjoining on the same 
section. He resided there until 1884, then rented 
the farm ami came to town, antl bought the pleas- 
ant residence in which he has since lived retired, 
he having aciiuired a handsome coni})etencc by 
untiring and well-directed labors. 

To the wife who makes this home cozy and at- 
tractive, Mr. Daj- was united in marriage in Octo- 
ber, 1851). Mrs. Day's maiden name was Cath- 
erine Stratton, and she was born in Wayne 
County, Ohio, December G, 1840. Her father, 




William Stratton, was a native of New Jersey, 
and moving fi-om there U) ()hio. located among 
the pioneers ot Wa\ nc ■ onnlw and luie spi-nt 
the remainder of his life. The maiden name of 
his wife was Barbara Hicks. She was born, it is 
thought, in Pennsylvania, and was of Dutch des- 
cent. She spent her last years in Ohio. Mr. and 
Mrs. Day have three children living — Sophia A., 
Lizzie J. and Carrie C). 

Our subject is in every sense of the word a 
self-made man, as all that he is and has he owes 
to his own exertions. He is a man of self-re- 
specting character, is well dowered with firmness, 
activity and sound business qualilicalions, and is 
classed among our best citizens. 

LBERT L. DAVIS. The subject of this 
notice, who is a familiar figure among the 
111 mercantile interests of Joliet, was born 
October 7, 1845, in Dublin, Wa^-ne County, 
Ind. His parents were Norton and Ellen (Cham- 
berlin) Davis, who were natives of New York. 
Norton Davis spent his early years in his native 
county of Monroe, and after reaching man's estate 
occu|)ied himself at various employments, and was 
successful financially. For many years he'oi)erated 
a machine-shop, and was engaged in the manufac- 
ture of farming implements at Dublin, Ind. He 
died there on the 4tli of December, 188;5. He 
was a man of fine business abilities, the architect 
of his own fortune, commencing life without 
means at the age of sixteen j'ears, and gained for 
himself a good position sociall}' and financially. 

The mother of our subject survived her husband 
seven years, dying Feliruary 9, 1890, at the old 
homestead in Dublin, Ind. The parental house- 
hold consisted of six children, onlj' two of whom 
are living — Albert L. and Walter C, the latter 
living in ('aml)ridge City, Ind., where he follows 
the occupation of a jcwe!er. 

Albert L. attained his early educati(jn in the com- 
mon schools, and later he entered Miami Com- 
mercial College, from which he was graduated in 
1861. He commenced his business career as a 



■208 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



book-keeper for the firm of Davis, Lawrence & 
Co., which subsequently was known as the Wayne 
Agricultural Company, and Mr. Davis held his 
position with the firm for a period of twelve 
years. In 1880, in company with S. S. Chamber- 
lin, he engaged in the furniture and undertaking 
business at Lockport, and the firm holds a lead- 
ing position among the business interests of the 
place. In July, 1888, he entered into partnership 
witii the firm now known as S. S. Chaniberlin & 
Co. 

Mr. Davis was married January 21, 1869, at 
the bride's home in Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Clara S. 
Odell. This lady was born August 18, 1849, in that 
city and is the daughter of Thomas W. and Caroline 
L. Odell, who were natives respectively of Canada 
and Ohio. This union resulted in the birth of 
four children, viz.: Nelle C, Arthur R., Clarence 
O. and Ada N. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity in Jolict, l)eing a Knight Templar. He 
has one of the most valuable collections of ancient 
and Roman coins in this country, some of them 
dating back as far as three and four hundred years 
before Christ. lie and his wife are both active 
members of the I'niversalist Church, and hold 
membership in the First Universalist Church in 
Dublin, Ind. 



' • ' ^_ 



z^ » •' 



iHOMAS TUCKER. The agricultural ele- 
ment that has been so largely instrumental 
>^^' in tlie upbuilding of Will County is well 
represented by tliis gentleman, who is one of the 
foremost farmers and stock-breeders of Monee 
Township, where he owns a 'large and valuable 
farm. 

Mr. Tucker was born September 27, 1835, near 
Siiasberr>% Dorcliester, England, a son of Luke and 
.Sarah Tucker, who were natives of the same place 
as their son. Ilis father was a farmer during his 
early life but for many years he was engaged as a 
collector of tithes for the church. He and his wife 
had a family of eight children: Elizabeth Rose, of 
England; Ann, who l)ec.ame the wife of George 
Hitchcock and died in England, leaving a son and 



daughter; Israel is a resident of Chicago; INIary, 
wife of Abraham Scrivons, of Will Township; 
Sarah married Thomas Randerson, and has since 
died; Thomas; Stei^lien ; John, tiie eldest, died in 
England. The mother of our subject died in 
England about 1842, and his father witii five chil- 
dren came to tiie United States two years later, 
landing after a voyage of eight weeks, arriving in 
Syracuse on the Fourth of July, in season to cele- 
brate our great National holiday. Mr. Tucker was 
a resident of that city about thirteen years, and 
subsequently going to Chicago died tiiere in Sep- 
tember, 1876, aged eighty-three years and five 
months. 

A lad of only nine years when he came to this 
country, our subject has been reared under its in- 
stitutions and was educated in its public schools, 
and no native-born citizen is more loyal than he. 
He followed farming in Syracuse until 1858, when 
he came to Chicago with his brother Stephen and 
was engaged in the butchering business there for 
some years. In the spring of 18G3 lie took a most 
important step in life, as he then came to this county 
to resume his early occupation as an agriculturist 
and located on the farm where he now resides. 
Tills comprises two hundred and forty acres, sup- 
plied with all substantial improvements and he 
has besides much other land. He lias two hundred 
and fort}' acres adjoining in Monee, one hundred 
and sixty acres in Will Township, and has eighty 
acres of the two hundred and forty acres which he 
and his brothers owned joint!}' at one time. Mr. 
Tucker began life without a dollar and has acquired j 
all this valuable property by the exercise of keen 
judgment, incessant industry and the wise economy 
that knows when to spend as well as when to spare ^ 
money, and is numbered among our moneyed men 
who are using their influence to advance the town 
and county in every direction. Mr. Tucker takes 
a leading place in the township as a stock-breeder, 
and for the last six years has made a specialty of 
rearing Hereford cattle, importing a part of his 
herd directly from England. He is also interested 
in raising horses, the Hamliletonian stock being his 
favorite, of which he has some fine specimens. 

May 3, 1860, Mr. Tucker and Miss Ann Shevlin 
were uniteil in marriage. She was born in Count}' 



PORTRAIT BIOGUAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



209 



Donegal, Ireland, a daugliter of Charles and Ann 
(Goliahar) Slievlin, who were also natives of lliat 
county, where the father carried on farming. Mrs. 
Tucker was one of a family of four children, the 
others being James, of Chicago; IMary, of New 
.Jersey ; and Edward, of Chicago. The latter, the 
ehlest, was the first to come to the United States, 
he coming in 1857 and Mrs. Tucker in 1859. 'i'his 
marriage of our subject has lieen blessed to iiim 
and his wife by the birth of nine children, namely: 
Ann; Saiah Mar}', wife of James O'Shea, of Chi- 
cago; Thomas, Emma, Rose, Charles; Stephen, 
who died at the age of twelve; Anna, and Israel. 
During an honorable career as a sagacious, en- 
terprising agriculturist. Mi. Tucker has displayed in 
a good degree those solid traits of cliaracter that 
are needful to the attainment of good fortune in 
any calling, and in his dealings with all, either in 
a l)usiness or social way, he has ever shown himself 
to be a man of honor and truthfulness. He is a 
consistent member of the Baptist Church, and his 
wife is a devoted communicant of the Roman 
Catholic Church. Politically, our subject is a 
sound Republican. 



^^mm^ 




HARLES SCHIRRA. This gentleman is 
numbered among the practical and and suc- 
cessful farmers of Crete Township, in which 
he has resided since 1865. lie now owns two hun- 
dred and thirty-five acres of land on section 7, it 
being well improved, well stocked, and well culti- 
vated. Farming has been the life work of Mr. 
Schirra and in its pursuit he has brought to bear 
a marked degree of determination, intelligence, 
.and keenness of observation. As u reliable citizen, 
an affectionate husband and parent, and an indi- 
vidual interested in the world's progress, he re- 
ceives the respect of those about him and fills a 
worthy place in the list of foreign-born citizens. 

The parents of our subject were Nicholas and 
Mary (Loufe) Schirra, botii of whom were natives 
of Prussia, the former being of French ancestrj' 
and the latter of German blood. Both lived to a 
good old age, spending their entire lives in their 



native land. Mr. Schirra was usually employed at 
farm labor. He and his wife belonged to the Ger- 
man Catholic Church. They were the parents of 
seven sons and three daughters, the subject of this 
sketch being the third child. 

In one of the Rhine Provinces, Charles Schirra 
was born April 17, 1817. He obtained a good 
German education and becoming a farmer worked 
as a tiller of tlie soil in his native land until thirty 
years old. He then, in the spring of 1847, started 
to America, taking passage at Antwerp on a sail- 
ing vessel and spending forty-two days on the At- 
lantic. He was followed to this country in later 
years by two brothers and a sister, all of whom 
are yet living. He landed in New York City 
without means to continue his journe}', and he 
therefore worked his waj' to Chicago, which he 
reached sometime in the fall. He worked in var- 
ious parts of Cook County luitil 1853, when he 
purch.ased one hundred and fifteen acres of land 
in Bloom Township, upon which he remained un- 
til he became a resident of Will County. His first 
purchase here was of two hundred acres, to which 
he afterward added. 

In Rich Township. Cook Count}', he of whom wo 
write was united in marriage with jMiss Mary E. 
Ladoux, with whom he lived happilj' until June 14, 
1876, when she was called hence by the angel of 
death. She was then forty-eight j'ears of age, 
having been born in S^yitzerland, December 25, 
1827. Her parents Joseph and Lizzie Ladoux were 
natives of Switzerland, who upon coming to 
the United States in 1845, settled at once in Rich 
Township, Cook County, where they began to im- 
prove a farm. After some j'ears the mother died 
at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Goodseid, 
being then in her seventy-second year. The father 
afterward came to Crete Township, Will County, 
and died at the home of his son, Joseph, he also 
being seventj'-two j'ears old. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Ladoux belonged to the Catholic Church. 

To Mr. Schirra aud'his good wife, fourteen chil- 
dren were born. John and Charles died young 
and they also lost an infant. Of the living chil- 
dren we note the following: Eliza married Peter 
Wehren, a furniture dealer who lives in INIadison, 
Cook County ; Matilda is the wife of Peter 



210 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Scliiiiult, their lionio being in Oliicago; Carrie be- 
came the wife of Sebastain J. Lux. who is now 
deceased and siie lives on her father's farm; 
.losepli is operaling a farm in this township; 
I'liillip C. lives in Rlonee Townshii): Ida M. is the 
wife of Metz Miller, a carpenter in Chicago; 
Charles C. and Anna A. are at home; George is now 
associated with his l)rother, Joseph, in oi)erating a 
farm; Walter P. and Jacob O. are at home. All 
the children were educated in both German and 
English and arc intelligent, well informed, and 
manifesting energy and thrift. Mr. Schirra is a 
sound Democrat. 



'^OllN T. CLYNi: is one of the bright and 
enterprising young business men of Will 
County, being closely identified with its 
I stock interests. He is connected with S. W. 
Simmons in the breeding and handling of trotting 
slock and they are the proprietors of the Stone City 
Stables in Joliet, where they have a fine stud of 
horses. They issue the Will County //o;-se»«a/i, of 
which our suliject is Die business manager. Ihey 
are making a great success of this paper published 
in the interests of the turfmen, as it already has a 
good circulation. It is a' four-column, eight page 
quarto, having l)een enlarged from a four-page 
sheet. Our subject comes of sterling New York 
ancestrv and is a native of that State, born in Co- 
hoes, Albaii}- County, December 8. 1857, to James 
and Catherine Clyne. His mother w.as the daughter 
of John and Mary (Juinn, of Washington Count}', 
N. Y., who were of Irisii descent. The father of 
our subject was the son of Thomas and Margaiet 
(McCormick) Clyne, the latter a native of Oneida 
Count}', and the old liomestead on which she was 
born is still in possession of the family. Iler an- 
cestrj' came to America in Colonial times. Thomas 
Clyne was born in Couuty Longford, Ireland, his 
father having gone there from Germany during the 
exodus from that countiy. 

Our subject was reared in llie city of his birlli 
until he attained the age of nine years and there 



laid the foundation of his education. At that age 
he commenced working in the knitting factories and 
was thus employed until 1875, when at the age of 
seventeen, on a certain Sunday evening, he and his 
" chuni" started out to make their fortune in the 
West. His friend, Martin Mahon, is now a wealthy 
man in San Francisco, Cal. When our subject thus 
ventured out into the world he liati luit a few dol- 
lars in Ids pocket, and after traveling some days he 
secured a job in a sash and blind shop at ninety 
cents per day. He worked there two weeks and 
then left to learn ihe trade of a bricklayer, but the 
contractor skipped the county and left him in the 
lurch. Fortunately he had a friend who could aiul 
did lend him ^i'), and he made his way to Lockport, 
where he obtained work in the harvest field and 
was there employed nine days, which was his lirst 
experience of farm life, and for the next three 
years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, the 
last two working for Jiulge Simmons, the father of 
his partner. Feeling the need of a better education 
he entered a good school at X'alparaiso, Ind., and 
was closely engaged in study there for a year. He- 
then returned toPlainfield and worked for the same 
man for a time and then resumed his scholastic 
pursuits and was in school for a }'ear, paying his 
own way in the meantime. When he had com- 
pleted his education he again went back to Plain- 
field and there took part in a ceremony wiiich has 
had an important bearing on his afterlife as he was 
at that time married to Miss Anna L., daughter of 
John and Hannah McClosky. She is an earnest 
Christian and a consistent member of the Methodist 
Cliurch. Of her happy union with our subject 
three sons have been born — Jlcad, Wade, and Vard. 
After marriage our subject utilized his education 
by teaching school in DuPage. He subsequently 
took charge of the business of J. W. Fnnk, who 
was a great horse shipper and contractor. After 
that .Mr. Clyne was appointed to take charge of the 
County Poor House, under Judge Simmons, and was 
kee|)er for three years, an<l then was made Superin- 
tendent of the Poor, and continued in that [losition 
fioni 1885 until the present time. He is now as- 
sociated with S. AV. Simmons, as before mentioned, 
riu'v have a valuable stud of horses of which we 
m.iy nientiiMi Dictator, .Ir., son of Dictator and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



211 



Delwood a member of the Nutwood family; AH 
Busliaw, son of Greens Busliaw; T. B. Mount, re- 
presentative of old Almont, No. 33; Harry and 
Leo McGregor, descendants of the famous Robert 
Gregor of time 2:17^, .and many others of consid- 
erable note. 

Mr. Clyne is a member of the A. F. & A. M., 
Madison Lodge, No. 175; Chapter of Joliet, No. 
27, and also belongs to the Joliet Commandery 
of Knight Templars, No. 4. As ti public-spirited 
citizen fully alive to the best interests of his county 
and township, he is a thoroughbred Republican 
and takes a great interest in politics and has l)een 
instrumental in getting manygood measures through 
the State Legislature, notably, the opening of the 
boulevard at Joliet. A man of ambitious, forceful 
character, well-trained intellect, and excellent hab- 
its, our subject is an intluenee for good in the 
community and exerts himself to promote its 
advancement. 

\TOHN GOUGAR. This aged veteran, who 
has passed the eightieth year of his age, has 
,1 been a resident of New Lenox Township 
^^/z since IH'30. He has seen much of pioneer 
life, contributed his full quota to the development 
of the agricultural resources of this section, and is 
now in the enjoyment of a competence, being able 
to look back upon a well spent life, and feeling that 
his labors have not been in vain. Duringhis long 
residence in AVill County he has gathered around 
him hosts of friends, who have long recognized his 
sterling qualities, and whose confidence and esteem 
he enjoys in a marked degree. The biographer 
linds him pleasantly situated in a beautiful home, 
amidst all tiie comforts and many of the luxuries 
of life. 

The immediate progenitors of ftlr. (;lougar were 
\\'illiam and Catherine (Abel) Gougar, natives of 
Pennsylvania, and the father born in Berks Count}-. 
They were reared and married in the Keystone 
State, but in 1818 removed to Ohio, and lived 
eight years in Pickaway Countj'. Thence they re- 
moved to Vermillion County, Ind., and from there. 



in June, 1831, to Illinois, settling on section 18, in 
what is now New Lenox Township. .The father tilled 
the soil successfully, and constructed a good home- 
stead from a Ir.-^ct of wild land, where he spent the 
remainder of his life, dying March 31, 18G1. The 
mother died Januaiy 6, 1854. 

To the parents of our subject there was born a 
family of eleven children, nine sons and two daugh- 
ters, eight of whom are living. John, our subject, 
was the eldest of the family, and was born in 
Northumberland County, Pa., March 20, 1810; be 
accompanied the family in their removals to Ohio 
and Indiana, and attained to manhood on a farm 
in Vermillion County, wiiere he sojourned until 
the fall of 1830. He then came to what was then 
Cook, but is now AVill County, 111, and settled on 
section 18, New Lenox Township, of which be has 
since been a resident. He thus bears the distinction 
of being one of the oldest living settlers of this 
county. 

Mr. Gougar remained a bachelor until a man of 
thirty-nine years, and then he met his fate in the 
person of Miss Mary Ann Miller, to whom he was 
married in Joliet, January 2, 1849. Mrs. Gougar 
was born May 21 , 1813, ne.ar Shippensburg, Pa., 
and was the daughter of Jacob and IMary (Boots), 
Miller, likewise natives of the Keystone State, in 
the eastern part of which they spent the closing 
years of their lives. They were the parents of 
nine children, two of whom arc living. 

Our subject and his wife commenced their wed- 
ded life together at the home which thej' now own 
and oecupj'. Of their union tliere has been born 
one child only, a son, Lewis F., November 15, 
1852. He has spent his entire life at the old farm, 
and for many years past h.is had the chief man- 
agement of it, relieving his |)arents from many 
cares. He was given a good education in the 
schools of New Lenox Townsliip and at Englewood, 
111. For several years he has been a School Di- 
rector in his district, and also served as Overseer 
of Highways. Both jiarents and son are regular 
attendants of the Episcopal Church. 

John Gougar cast his first Presidential vote for 
V^an Buren, and from that day to this has contin- 
ued a stanch supporter of the Democr.atic party. 
He served in the Black Hawk War, being a member 



212 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of a company of niounted volunteers, under the 
coniinand of Capt. Holden Scission, and had three 
hroLhiTS — Williams, Nicholas and Daniel — who 
served in the sanic company, all being mustered 
into service in Augiist, 1832. During the early 
days the post-office was at the house of Mr. Gougar, 
Cornelius Van Horn acting as Postmaster, and con- 
stituted one of the stations between Danville and 
Chicago. Mr. Gougar served on the petit jury in 
Chicago, walking the entire distance. In 1830 he 
went to mill with an ox-team to a (ilace near Ot- 
tawa, lie hauled his giain and other produce to 
Chicago, also drove his live-stock there to market. 
Upon one occasion, during the Black Hawk War, 
he in company with David Magnet, sought safety 
in a cave north of Joliet, where they remained un- 
disturled until the danger was past. 

Near the residence of Mr. Gougar is an old In- 
dian burying ground. During the early days the 
pioneers endured untokl hardship, and but few sur- 
vived to tell the tale. The subject of this notice 
is looked upon as one of the old landmarks, whose 
career has been one of more than ordinary interest. 
He traces his ancestry to Germany, and the family 
was first represented in America jjrobably during 
the Colonial days. Mr. Gougar has in his possess- 
ion a German Bible, which was printed about 1600, 
and which is carefully i)reserved as an invaluable 
relic. He has made for himself a good record, 
and his name will be held in kindly remembrance 
long after he has been gathered to his fathers. 
Two of his brothers, who have also been men of 
note in their community, are represented elsewhere 
in this volume. 



•— »T^ 



'i^m- 



'i|/OHN CANN stands among the leaders of the 
stock-raising and farming interests of Will 
Township, where he owns a farm which in 
point of cultivation and general improve- 
ment is scarcely surpassed by any in the neighbor- 
hood. Mr. Cann was born and bred in England, 
Tavistock Parish, Devonshire, being his native 
place, and April 30, 1851, the date of his birth. 
His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (White) Cann, 



were also natives of that place. During some 
period of his life his father moved to Plymouth, 
England, where he had a position on the police 
force. He was a farmer and butcher by occupa- 
tion. He was the father of six children, of whom 
four grew to maturity, naraelj': Salina, now de- 
ceased; -lohn; George (living in England), and 
Samuel 11. The mother, who died in her native 
land, was a devoted Christian, and a member of 
the Church of England. The father came to the 
United States in September, 1875, and made his 
home with his children. He was one of a family 
of three sons and three daughters, of whom he was 
the only one who ever came to the laiited States. 
The names of his brothers and sisters were Jose|)h, 
,lohn, Elizabeth, Julianna, and Mary. Our sub- 
ject's mother was a daughter of John White, who 
had three sons and three daughters: John, who 
lives in Iowa, and Mar3', wife of James Joslyn, of 
Kansas, being the only members of the family to 
come to this country. 

John Cann, of this sketch, passed his boyhoo<l 
and youth in his English home, receiving his edu- 
cation in the local schools. In the month of April, 
1860, in the dawning of a vigorous, manly man- 
hood, he embarked for America to begin life anew 
on tills soil, accompanying thither his cousin,George 
Berry. For awhile after landing on these shores he 
lived near Niagara Falls. In April, 1871, he re- 
moved to Peotone, and worked on a faru) there, 
and was also employed at one time in Chicago, till 
1876. In that year he located on his present farm, 
and two years later he began his independent ex- 
istence as proprietor and manager of a farm of his 
own, buying this of its former owner and from its 
rich harvest fields he reaps a good income. It is 
pleasantly located on section 8, and its one hundred 
and sixty acres are in a fine state of cultivation. 
He does a good general farming business and for 
the past six years he has been paying particular at- 
tention to raising Short-horn cattle. . 

To the wife who has materially assisted him in 
making their COS3' home and looks so carefully to 
the comfort of the household, ;Mr. Cann was united 
in marriage August 21, 1872. Mrs. Cann's maiden 
name was Amelia Ahlborn, and she was born in 
New York City, Jul}' 31, 1856, to William and 




^^^H.6/{^ «X^,^ 




d,^^^^^^,^^^ .<^W^^s<^, ^7^/<^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



215 



Amelia (Epson) Ahlborn, wliocame from Germany 
lo Monee in 1855, anil located on a farm, wliere 
the father subsequently died. His widow now re- 
sides in I'eotone. Of tiie tliree eliildren born lo 
lier, two are livinof, Amelia and Henry. Shu lias 
married a second time, taking as her husband Hcniy 
Uapiiof, by whom she has one child, (jeorge. The 
wedded life of our subject an<l liis estimable wife 
has been blessed by the eight children born to them: 
George, William, Herbert, Clarence, Thomas and 
Richard. Two of their (thildren died, one in in- 
fancy and one at ten years. 

The years that have passed away since our sub- 
ject landed in this country have been fraught with 
much care and labor, but every obstacle has been 
steadily conquered by a quiet determination to turn 
everything to his advantage as far as practicable, 
and by wise economy and thrifty management he 
has placed himself in an honorable position among 
his fellow-townsmen, he having increased the small 
ca[)ital of $5 with which he landed in this 
country, to a comfortable competence. He is al- 
ways interested in the welfare of his adopted town- 
ship, and has aided in its material and moral 
elevation. At one time he served as Road Com- 
missioner, working faithfully to improve the local 
highwai'S. His wife belongs to the Presbyterian 
Church and identifies herself with all its good work. 






« IVILLIAM DOUGALL, M. 1). On the op- 



W 



f/ posite page appears a lithographic portrait 
of Dr. Dougall, whose long residence in 
Will County, together with his active participation 
ill all worthy measures for the development of the 
resources of the community, has made him promi- 
nent both socially and in llie ranks of the profession. 
His life lias been such as to shed an added lustre 
on a gooil old name, and ho inherits those substan- 
tial trails of character which have rendered the 
Scotch famous amid a galaxy of nations. It has 
been said that there arc two kinds of education, 
one which is received al school, and the other, more 



important, which we give ourselves. Dr. Dougall 
was fortunate in gaining each kind of training, and 
as a result his character has been rounded out and 
developed, while he has acquired those habits of 
perseverance and energy, which are so essential to 
success in any [irofession. 

Our subject, who was the fifth son of J(jhn and 
Margaret (Iloustoun) Dougall, was born at Ihider- 
wood. Paisley, Scotland, IMarcli 1, 1842. His father, 
who was a leading cotton spinner in the west of 
Scotland, came with his family to this country in 
18.'>8, .ind purchased a farm near New Haven, Ind. 
On this homestead he died December 28, 1874, hav- 
ing reached the ripe age of seventy five years. His 
life was characterized by sincere piety, uncompro- 
mising rectitude, and by social qualities which se- 
cured for him the love and esteem of his neighbors. 
The mother of Dr. Dougall w.as born January 1, 
1801, in the village and [)arish of Houstoun, Ren- 
frewshire, Scotland, and was descended from a 
French-Huguenot family who left France .at the 
time of the massacre of St. Bartholomew. She 
survived her husband several years, dying June 1 7, 
1888. The family included twelve children, eight 
of whom survive. Tliese are Mrs. David McGre- 
gor, of Manchester, England; Mrs. .John Hadden, 
of Milwaukee, Wis.; James, of the Ro3al Botanic 
Gardens in Glasgow, Scotland; Allan 11., of Ft. 
Wayne, Ind. ; David, of Georgetown, British Guiana, 
South America; Mrs. Dr. M. F. Williamson, and 
our subject of Joliet, 111.; and Mrs. J. F. Beuret, 
(.)f Antwerp, Ohio. 

The family are truly cosmoitolitan. Of the four 
wlio are deceased, one is buried in Scotland, one in 
England, one in America .and one in China. The 
widow of the eldest son lives in London, England; 
some of the grandchildren live in Lisbon, Portugal; 
and in China are to be found a son-in-law, grand- 
daughter, and three great-grandchildren. These 
are the family of a lieloved daughter, Isalielle F. 
Williamson, who after thirty years spent in the mis- 
sion field of China, died, and was buried in August, 
1886, in the field which she had selected for her 
life work. Her memory- survives her, perpetuated 
as it is liy numerous translations and a widely' 
known and celebrated work entitled "Old High- 
ways in China," Such is the family to which the 



216 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



subject of this sketch belongs and he is a worthy 
representative of a good old sto<;k. 

William Dougall was tHliu-ated at lliu High School 
at (ilasgow, au institution founded in the twelfth 
century. Here he finished his preparations for the 
study of medicine, upon which he was about to 
enter, when the change of circumstance and loca- 
tion by reason of his father's emigration to America, 
compelled him to relinquish for a time his pro- 
jected career. Upon the breaking out of the Civil 
War he quickly responded to the call for troops, 
and on June 1, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Fif- 
teenth Indiana Infantry, at Ft. Wayne. He served 
with his command in every engagement, sustaining 
severe wounds at the battle of Stone River, Tenn. 
On October 1, 1863, having passed the "regular" 
examination he was commissioned Captain in the 
Thirteenth United States Colored Infantry, in which 
caiiacity he acted, often with an independent com- 
maiid, until the close of the war, when he resigned. 
His brother, iVUan Ilousioun Dougall, was also a 
Captain and Adjutant of the Eighty-eighth Indiana 
Infantry. 

On his return from the field William Dougall 
took up his medical studies, subsequently taking 
the regular medical course in the University of 
Michigan at Ann Arbor, and remaining there dur- 
ing 18G6-'G7. On March 1, 1808, he received the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Chicago 
Medical College, and on the first of the following 
month began the practice of his profession at Le- 
mont. Cook Count}-, 111. He was married t.tclober 
1, 1872, to Miss Cassie W^alker, daughter of Edwin 
W alker, of Lemon t, and then removed to .loliet, 
where he now resides. Here he has followed his 
profession with great success and has especially dis- 
tinguished himself by his skill in surgical cases. 
He takes a laudable interest in the advancement of 
his profession, in which he has secured a leading 
position. 

Dr. Dougall is now President of the Board of 
Examining Surgeons for pensions at Joliet, and also 
President of the Will County Jledical Society. In 
1875, being an ardent Republican he was Chairman 
of the County Central Committee. As an organizer 
he possesses elements of success and is capable of 
abl}' assisting in the party work. In 1879 he was 



ajjpointed Postmaster at Joliet, a position which he 
111 Id until 1883. At present he is Commander of 
liartleson Post, No. 6, O. A. R. He is a gentleman 
of scholarly tastes and ripe culture, and is active 
in the promotion of all efforts for the material and 
social advancement of the ct)ramunity in which he 
lives. 

l/OHN O. PIEPENBRINK. Among the pros- 
perous farmers of Crete Townshi|) he with 
whose name we introduce tiiis sketch, holds 
no unimportant position. He has been suc- 
cessful as a tiller of the soil and has made a specialty 
of stock-raising, for which purpose he has one of 
the finest bodies of land within the township, this 
being locrated near the town limits and comprising 
seventy-three acres on section IG, and thirty-two 
acres on section 2, adjoining. The land is very 
fertile and improved with good buildings and has 
been occu|'ied by Mr. Piepenbrink since the fall of 
1878. 

With the exception of eighteen months whicli 
he spent in the city of Joliet, Mr. Piepenbrink has 
been a resident of Crete Township since a child 
tiiree years of age. He was born in Hesse-Cassel, 
Germany, January 5, 1847, and when three years 
old accompanied his parents, John and Sophia 
(Willie) Pie[ienbrink to the United States, they set- 
tling in Crete Township, where they are still living. 
The father purchased land, where vvitii the aid of 
his estimable wife, they built up a good homestead 
which they still own and occupy. John O. was 
reared to habits of industiy, becoming fully fami- 
liar with the various pursuits of farm life and re- 
maining with his parents until setting about the 
establishment of a home of his own. 

With the above-mentioned object in view, Mr. 
Piepenbrink was married April .5, 1875, at the 
bride's home in Crete Township to Miss Dora Or- 
kenberg. This lady is a native of the same prov- 
ince in Germany as her husband and was born 
January 8, 1850. She likewise was a child of three 
years win n her parents came to America, and the}' 
settled in Crete Township, where the father im- 
proved a farm and where both parents si)ent the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



217 



remainder of their days. Both were past seventy- 
four years of age, the mother surviving her husband 
but a short timo. Tliey were most excellent and 
worthy people and members in good standing of 
the Lutheran Church. 

To our subject and his estimable wife there have 
been born four children, viz.: William O., Eda D., 
Albert F. and Martin J. Mr. and Mrs. Piepcnbrink 
belong to the Lutheran Church at Crete and hold 
no secondary position among the leading people of 
their tovvnship. Mr. Piepenbrink, politically, affil- 
iates with the Republican party and has held the 
various local ollices. Ho is one of the Directors 
of the Crete Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, 
a member of the Finance Committee and has been 
no unimportant factor in contributing to its 
success. 



-I- 



^^-- 




-RED SENIIOLTZ. A well-improved 
ji farm of one hundred acres located on sec- 
tion 3, Washington Township, has been the 
life-long home of the gentleman above named, who 
nr)w owns this part of the parental estate. He was 
liorn June I'J, 18G2, and was educated in the com- 
mon schools of the neighborhood. He is well in- 
formed on general topics as well as in the work to 
wliich he has given his attention as a life labor. He 
is successfully conducting the vocation of a general 
farmer, keeping up the improvements on the home- 
stead, and displaying many of the cpiaiities which 
Ic'il his father to success in the same field of labor. 

The chosen comi)anion of Mr. Senholtz was known 
ill her maidenhood as Miss Minnie AVehrniann. She 
uas horn in the same township as her husband, .laii- 
iiary li), 18G8, and reared and educated here under 
the oversight of worthy parents who had removed 
hence from tiernmny at an earl}' day. They im- 
proved a farm which they still make their home. 
The happy union of Mr. and l\Irs. Senholtz has been 
blest liy the birth of one cliild, Amel. IMr. .Senholtz 
is a Kepublican and both he and his wife have 
good standing in the Lutheran Church. 

The fatlier of him of whom we write was Fred 
Senhollz, Sr., who was born in Germany and there 
reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1848, when 



abofit of age, he came to the United States and 
journeying from the coast to Chicago found em- 
jiloyment in that vicinity for some time. In Cook 
County he was married to ]Miss Augusta Trube, 
who was born in the Fatherland and when a young 
wom.in crossed the Atlantic, living in Chicago until 
her marriage. The young couple soon came to 
Will County and securing one hundred and sixty 
acres of wild land in Washington Township, ma<le 
that their home during the balance of their lives. 

The estate was increased to two hundred and 
eighty acres and placed under excellent improve- 
ment and cultivation. There three sons and three 
daughters were born to the worthy couple, the sub- 
ject of this union being the second son and child. 
But one of the fraternal band has been called from 
time to eternit}'. The mother breathed her last in 
1875, when past fifty years of age. She was a life- 
long member of the Lutheran Church, had been an 
efficient companion and a devoted mother. The 
father lived to the age of sixty-four years, dying 
June 28, 1886. He left the reputation of a good 
citizen, a hardworking man and a consistent mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church. In politics he was a 
Kepublican. 



-^-^-^ ^ 




,/RANCISL. KERCHEVAL. This gentlc- 
ii man is one of the leading young men of 
New Lenox Township, a position to which 
his intelligence, business energy and good charac- 
ter fairly entitle him. His father was the late 
.lames C. Kereheval, who was born in Preble 
County. Ohio, August 10,1810. His mother was 
Anna Koiindtiee, who was born in North Carolina, 
January 5, 1820. The Houndtree family removed 
from Nortji Carolina to Indiana about the _\ear 
182o, settling near Crawfordsville, Montgomerj- 
County, at which place the parents of our subject 
were married in the year 1841. 

At that time James C. Kereheval was a resident 
of New Lenox Tovvnship, having come to Will 
County in the fall of 1830. He was, therefore, one 
of the very earliest settlers in the county, and as 
such deserves grateful remembrance for his assist- 



•218 



PORTllAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ance in the early work of development to wlfieh 
the resiilents of llu; county ;ue iiulcbted for their 
beautiful estates ami the many comforts and con- 
veniences which surround lliem. lie brought his 
bride to tills tovvnsiii[i, maiiing a home on Maple 
Street, wliere years of happy wedded life were 
spent and a useful career pursued by both luisban<l 
and wile. Mr. Kercheval lircathed his last Fcb- 
uary 6, 1873, after having secured the esteem of 
those about him. His widow survived until Feb 
uary 7, 1888, when she too entered into rest, leav- 
ing behind iier a record of good deeds and kind 
wolds which affords a pleasing remembrance to 
ail who lovel her. 

The family of Mr. and Jlrs. .1. C. Kercheval in- 
cluded tttelve children, two of whom died in in- 
fancy. The record of those who lived to grow up 
is as follows; Mar3' J. became tlie wife of Francis 
Granger and died in New Lenox Townshii), in Oc- 
tober, 1882; Charles E. resides near the city of 
Joliet; Sarah E. is the wife of H. C. Larsh, of 
Crawfordsville, Ind.; Martha 1. is the wife of Dr. 
James McCann, of Normal, tiiis State; Annie E. is 
the widow of Elvis D. Lynk, who died in the vil- 
lage of New Lenox, in July, 1879; Margaret died 
when twelve j'ears <Jd; Winfield S. lives in Joliet 
Township; Francis L., of whom we write, and 
Frances F. are twins; Albert R. lives in Joliet 
Township. 

The subject of this sketch was born in New 
Lenox Township, November 17, 1859, and with 
the exception of one year that township has been 
his home during his entire life. He was educated 
in the township schools and in the city of Joliet, 
becoming well-versed in practical knowledge and 
laying the foundation for his present fund of infor- 
mation. He was engaged in mercantile business 
In the village of New Lenox for two and a half 
years and was also employed as a clerk there for 
about two years. AVith this exception he has fol- 
lowed farming. The estate on which he lives con- 
sists of one hundred acres on section 5, which was 
the old homestead of his father. The buildings 
which stand upon it are well built and adequiite, 
the dwelling being especially noticeable for its 
substantial and comfortable a])i)earance and the 
taste which is manifested in its surroundings. Va- 



rious other improvements have been made upon 
the farm which is conducted according to the most 
improved methods, Mr. Kercheval showing lilm- 
self an able agrlcidturist. 

The many sterling qualities of Miss Emma F. 
Lynk won the regard of Mr. Kercheval, who was 
prosiiered in his wooing, winning that lady's con- 
sent to be his wife. Their marriage rites were 
celebran^d in Joliet, May, 26, 1880, and happiness 
has followed their union. Mrs. Kercheval is the 
3'ounger of two children born to Tunis and Lydia 
A. (Hartshorn) Lynk, the other chlkl liaving died 
in infancy. Mr. Tunis Lynk was a native of New 
York, and his wife, formerly Lydia A. Hartshorn, 
was born in the State of Vermont. Her mother 
died in New Lenox Township, January 15, 1877, 
and her father is now living in Lawte}', Bradford 
County, Fla. Mrs. Kercheval was born May 18, 
18G1, in tiie township which is still her home. She 
is the mother of two sons — Frank C. and .lames F. 

Mr. Kercheval is a member of the Republican 
party. His townsmen have shown their confidence 
in his worth of character and good judgment by 
electing him to the office of Township Assessor, 
which i)osition he has now held for five years. Mrs. 
Kercheval is a member of the Episcopal Church, 
which her husband also attends. Both are popu- 
lar members of society and well-spoken of on .all 
sides. 



j^'REDERICK C. WILCOX. Although but 
t^&j little more than thirty' years of age, the 
1\ above-named gentleman holds a prominent 

place among the business men of Joliet, and among 
her most public-spirited and enterp'ising citizens. 
He is the manager of the immense business of the 
Wilcox Bros'. Lumber Yards, and of the Carriage 
Repository wliicli has been added to the former 
business, and has [ilace in social orders and i)ublic 
responsibilities. Probably no man of his years in 
the city that contains so many fine business men, 
can boast of an ecpial record in worldly affairs and 
popular esteem. 

The natal day of Frederick Wilcox was ISIarch 
29, 1858, and his birthplace the city in which he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



219 



yet makes his home. His father, Edmund Wilcox, 
is an old settler and well-known resident here, be- 
ing one of three or four who have lived here fifty- 
two years. His biography- will appear on another 
page of this volume. The lad was educated here, 
and after completing his stndies was engaged as a 
clerk in the hardware store of Brooks & Co., from 
the age of eighteen until his majority, when he 
went to Russell County, Kan. There he remained 
some two and a half years, returning to Joliet in 
August, 1881. 

At that time our subject, with his brother Will- 
iam G. Wilcox, bought the entire lumber business 
of the firm of Mason & Plants. Ere long the 
brother, who was teller in the First National Bank, 
was elected cashier to take the place made vacant 
bj' the death of the former incumbent, and our 
subject became sole manager of the lumber Imsi 
ness. He has carried it on successfully, and now 
has the largest j^ard and trade iu the city. In May, 
1889, he purchased the wholesale yards of T. A. 
Mason, at the Michigan Central Yards, and has 
carried on both departments of the business since. 

In 1887 Mr. Wilcox erected a carriage reposi- 
itory, and undertook the control of that enterprise 
also. He has recently been elected Secretary and 
Treasurer of the Swan Carriage Company, a cor- 
porate body that was organized not long since and 
located in this city, the object being to do a whole- 
sale jobbing business. Of this company he was 
one of the organizers. The enter|)rises in which 
he is eng.aged call for much wisdom and tact in 
controlling and guiding the men employed, but the 
manager seems to be at no loss to do this, and to 
push forward both so as to insure their increase. 
Nor do these affairs prevent him from taking part 
in other enterprises of a less personal charactei-. 

Mr. Wilcox has held various olficial stations in 
societies and civic bodies. lie w.as Worshipful 
Master of Matteson Lodge, No. 175, A. F. S:. A. M., 
in 1878-79; and is novv Eminent Commander of 
Joliet Commanderj- No. 4, Knights Templar. He 
was Master of the Blue lyodge at the time of the 
conclave in Washington, and took with him to that 
city his entire corps of officers. His lodge was 
honored with an invitation to confer and exem- 
plify the third degree at Alexandria, Va., in which 



lodge Gen. Washington belonged, and over which 
he presided eight successive years. Mr. Wilcox 
therefore occupied the same chair, conferring the 
degree in the presence of three hundred of the most 
distinguished Masons of the United States. He is 
one of the originators of the Joliet Masonic Asso- 
ciation, an institution gotten up for the purpose 
of building a Masonic Temple in the cit\'. Its 
present capital is 160,000, and Mr. Wilcox is Treas- 
urer and Director, as well .as a member of the 
building committee. The intention is to erect a 
building on the North side of Jefferson Street, east 
of the Chicago & Alton tracks, which will be the 
largest and finest edifice in the city. 

Mr. Wilcox is also now a member of the Board 
of Education, and President of the Union Club, a 
large and fine organization, numbering in its mem- 
bership the best elements of Joliet socictj-. He is 
likewise President of the Joliet Improvement Com- 
pany, a .syndicate of property owners, organized in 
1888, he being one of the originators. He votes 
with the Democratic party. As can be seen b}' the 
brief mention above, Mr. Wilcox is a busy man, 
manifesting his capability in a highly successful 
business career, in the aid of his fellow-men in their 
efforts to upbuild the city and improve its society 
.and material appearance, and filling a leading place 
in the community. He is educated in a broad and 
liber.al sense, and possesses upright principles of 
life. 



ON. URI OSGOOD. Among the settlers 
ij) of Juno, 183(>, came the subject of this 
!'\^ notice who located in Joliet and began 
j^ the practice of law, being among the 
first attorne3's of the embryo cit}- — his competitors 
being Messrs. Newkirk, Henderson, Boardnian 
and Wilson. Mr. Osgood in addition to his law 
l)ractice in due time eng.aged in private banking 
at which he continued until 18(52. 

In the meantime, having lieen recognized as a 
valued addition to the community, Mr. Osgood 
was elected to various offices and finally to the 
Legislature, being elected to the State .Senate in 
which he served from 1854 to 1860. He w.as then 



220 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



nomiiiatefl by the Democracy ns a member of 
Congress f;om this (Hslrict Init was defeated by 
Owen Los'ejoy. Subsc')iuuitly lie lived the life of 
a private citizen, atlendiiig to bis law practice un- 
til his death whirli occurred Februar}- 8, 1871. 
From the Lime of locatinjif in .loliet his home had 
been at the corner of .lofferson and Eastern Aven- 
ues, where he liveil comfortably and surrounded 
himself and his family with many of the luxuries 
of life. He left live children at the time of his 
death all of whom are liviiiir: havirg had eight chil- 
dren in all. Julia became the wife of Charles Scott 
of Cincinnati and died of cholera in St. Louis, 
Mo. in 1867, at the early .age of twenty-two years; 
Aliiha M. died when six years old; Occar died 
aged about six months. The surviving sons are 
Augustus A., Algernon S. and Henry R., all resi- 
dents of Chicago. Virginia A. is the wife of 
George S. House, a prominent attorney of Joliet; 
Emma Aldrich married Charles Seymour of Ba- 
tavia, N. Y., and they are living in Oakland, Cal. 

On January 1, 1839, the subject of this notice 
was united in marriage with Miss Caroline V., 
daughter of Fonner and Emoline (Wade) Aldrich. 
Mr. Aldi'ich was born in Mas.sachusett& in 1803, 
and was a son of one of the earliest families of 
the B.ay State. The [laternal grandfather, David 
Aldrich, married Miss Mary Capron, and removed 
to Pennsylvania whore he took up a large tract of 
land in tlie vicinity of Harper, Susquehanna 
County. There he and his good wife spent the 
remainder of their day.s. His children later re- 
moved to Northern [llinois, but one son, Levi, 
went in 1852, to California. The mother of Mrs. 
Osgood bore the maiden name of Emoline Wade; 
she was born in Connecticut and was the daughter 
of Sylvanus and Mary (Chace) W.ade, the for- 
mer of whom served .as a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary War. 

Fenner Aldrich came to Illinois in October, 
1834, settling in Will County, when it was a part 
<if Cook County and of which Mr. Aldrich became 
D('liuty Sheriff before the division. He was also 
projirietor of two hotels, the Juliet House and 
Exchange H(>use. In 1836, he was elected the 
Sheriff of Will County, and re-elected in 1839. 
He enjoyed a wide acquaintance throughout the 



county and was universally liked on account of 
his genial disposition. For a time he resided in 
Springfield and cond'icted the St. Nicholas House, 
during which time Governor Matteson was one of 
his guests. 

Mr. Aldrich preferring Joliet as a place of res- 
idence, returned to the city and conducted the 
E.xchange Hotel duiing the remainder of his active 
business life. He departed hence August .'), 1881. 
He was a Democrat politically. The mother |)a.ssed 
awaj' several years prior to the decease of her hus- 
band, her death taking i)lace February 16, 1872. 
Mr. Aldrich was a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity- and in religion w.as a Universalist. 

]\Irs. Osgood was born October 3, 1824, in Har- 
ford, Susquehanna County, Pa. and came to Jol- 
iet with her' parents when quite young. She ob- 
tained her education in the city schools and when 
reaching womanhood was married January 1, 1839, 
to the subject of this notice. Mr. Osgood was 
born December 22, 1809, in Preston, Chenango 
County,' N. Y. where he lived until 183G, coming 
then to Joliet. The politics of Mr. Osgood was a 
stanch Democrat. Many years ago Mr. and Mrs. 
Osgood joined the Universalist Church and in 186 I 
tlici' transferred. their membership to the Episco- 
iinl Church. 



(^ li.ATSON F. TWINING. Of honorable an- 
\rj// L-estr}', from whom he inherited sterling 
^'^ qualities of mind and character, which 
have been developed under the care and training 
of worthy parents, this young gentleman is bear- 
ing his jiart in the battles of life in a manner 
which wins the regard of those about him and 
causes him to be numbered among the most enter- 
prising of the 3founger farmers of Green Garden 
Township. He, with his brother Dana, owns and oc- 
cupies an excellent farm, comprising two hundred 
and fortj' acres on section 17, the same being the 
estate which his father secured in 1851, and which 
father and son developed from the raw prairies into 
cultivated fields, which produced abundantly. 
The original owner of this fine farm was Hiram 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBDM. 



221 



'r^vming, who was born in Townsciul Township, 
Essex County, Mass., in IS 19. Ih' was reared 
princi|mlly in New Ilanipsliirc and Vermont, and 
followed farming- and dairying in the latter State 
durinir his early manhood. There he was married 
to Miss Betsey Needhani, a native of Rutland 
County and daughter of Isaac Neeilham, a farmer 
and dairyman. 

In 1851 Iliram Twining and his family, which 
at that time comprise<l his wife and two children, 
located on one hundred and sixty acres whicli he 
had secured with a Government land warrant. He 
first put up a board shant}-, hauling the material 
from Joliet. The breaking of his ground was done 
wilii a Lockport steel plow made bj' "Jim" Lane, 
the motive power being oxen. IVIr. Twining began 
the dairy business, but it did not prove a success, 
as he had the misfortune to lose his hay and meet 
with other catastrophies. lie, therefore, turned 
his attention to general farming, and this venture 
proved a successful one. He added one hundred 
and sixty acres of land to that which he al- 
ready possessed, forming two farms, on each of 
which he had a good set of buildings. He imi)roved 
his herd of cattle, those of a high grade or full- 
blood taking the place of the animals he had. 

Mr. Twining was an Abolitionist and Repub- 
lican. He belonged to the Christian Church, but when 
the congregation in the neighborhood was disorgan- 
ized he united with the F'rcc-Will Baptists. He 
served as Justice of the Peace one term. His 
death, which was caused by heart disease, took 
place December 14, 1889. His widow is still liv- 
ing, making her borne with her son, our subject. 
She is now three-score and ten 3-e.irs old and in 
somewhat delicate health. In addition to our sub- 
ject, her family includes Dana E., Leonora L. and 
Irena E., who also live on the homestead, and Jas- 
per E., who occupies a farm of eighty acres south 
of his old home. 

The Rev. Jonathan Twining, grandfather of our 
subject, was born in the village of Orleans, on 
Cape Cod, and was the son of a Revolutionary- sol- 
dier. In early life he vvent with his parents to 
Essex County, Mass., where he married Eliza Fes- 
enden, of the old Bay State. His trade was that 
of a cooper and be owned a shop in Essex County. 



After a time he removed to New Hampshire, 
where he sojourne<l but a short period ere going 
into Vermont. In Rutland County he worked at 
his trade and at teaming until his death. He was 
an active member of the Christian Church and for 
some years labored as a minister. Flis widow came 
to Illinois and died at the home of her son, Hiram, 
at the age of sevent^'-li ve 3'ears. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this sketch first opened his eyes to tiie light in 
Shrewsbury Township, Rutland County, Vt., April 
8, 1848. He was only a babe when his parents re- 
moved to this State, which is the scene of his 
earliest recollections. The broad prairie over which 
herds of deer roamed at will, wolves and other 
wild animals were frequently to be seen and the 
appearances of civilization were but rare, is that 
to which he looks back. He was carefully reared 
by his parents, who gave him every advantage of 
which their surroundings would admit. He attended 
the first schoolhouse which was built in the neigh- 
borhood, it being District No. 1. In study he 
spent his -time during the summer until he w.as 
fourteen years old, and from that time until he was 
eighteen enjoyed similar privileges in the winter. 
In the meantime he had been assisting, as his 
strength would permit, in the home duties, having 
begun to drive a team when nine years old. 

Young Twining assisted his father until ho had 
reached man's estate, after which he began a more 
personal career, although he continued to reside on 
the homestead, in the pa3nnent for which he bore a 
part. He carried on the farm for his father until 
the death of the latter, and then he took entire 
charge of it. The land is all fenced and is well 
supplied with substantial buililings of various 
kinds, among tliem being a commodious barn, 40x80 
feet, which was built in 1878, a corncrib, granary, 
windmill and tank, creamery, etc. Orchards and 
groves adorn the land, which is fertilizeil by Mud 
Creek, at the head of which it is located. 

General farming is the work to which Mr. Twin- 
ing gives his attention, and he secures "excellent 
crops of good grain by an intelligent use of fertil- 
izing agents and modern means of cultivation. He 
raises high-grade Short-born cattle, graded Po- 
land-China hogs, and good draft horses, seven hea<l 



222 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of the latter being kept and three teams constantly 
used upon the farm. 

Mr. Twining vvas Townsliii) .Supervisor in 1886, 
and succeeded H. 11. Stassen, the present County 
Clerk. Ills f.alhor jicted as School IJirector, .School 
'J'rnstee, and delegato to county conventions, and 
the son is followiiii; in his father's footsteps as a 
useful public servant. He is a Republican of the 
stancliest kind and has served his p.irty as a mem- 
ber of tiic Central Conimitlec. During two terras 
of court he has sat upon liie [letit jury. His re- 
ligious belief is that expressed in the creed of the 
Baptist C'hurch. He and the other members of the 
family circle are numbered among the best citizens 
of the section, having an unusual degree of intelli- 
gence, good breeding and honorable piinciple. 



kind. 



\Y. OHN .J. WALZ. Tiie life of this gentleman 
shows in a striking manner what can be ac- 
complished by persistency and diligence, 
backed by honorable conduct toward m.an- 
Frora the jiosilion of a jioor boy he has 
risen to that of a man of means, rtie owner of a 
large amount of real estate, including three hun- 
dred and twenty acres in New Lenox Township, 
and thirteen hundred and sixty acres in Ellsworth 
Countj', Kan. The farm lands of Ellsworth, Kan. 
belonging to our subject are quite valuable, eighty 
acres of them being laid out in town lots in the 
beautiful city of Ellsworth, which is the county 
seat of Ellsworth County, besides being under- 
laid with a vein of salt one hundred and fiftj'-four 
feet thick and it being 97 per cent. pure. AVhile yet 
a youth he landed in New York, "a stranger in a 
strange land," with ten francs in monej' (less than 
two dollars) and tlie lirst money he earned in 
America w.as sent to his father to rep.ay the indebt- 
edness for his p.assage money. Under circum- 
stances which would have discouraged many, 
young Walz began the course of i)ersevering in- 
dustrj' which has resulted in securing to him the 
fine estate already mentioned. 

The gentleman of whom we write is the eldest 
of three sons born to Daniel and Margaretta (Kalm- 



bach) Walz, his brothers bearing the names of Dan- 
iel and George C. His father was born in Wal- 
dorf, and his mother in Spieldberg, both towns in 
the kingdom of Wurtemburg. which forms a part 
of the Germanic confederation. Both parents died 
in their native land. In Waldorf, he of whom we 
w'rite was born Februar}' 5, 1836. He acquired a 
good fundamental education and learned the Ir.adc 
of a book-binder prior to leaving his native land, 
which he did in April, 1854, embarking in a sail- 
ing vessel which reached New York tlie last of 
June. In the metropolis j'oung Walz remained 
nine months, after which he went to Torrington, 
Litchfield County, Conn., where he worke<l on a 
farm for ¥8 a month. 

In December, 18.56, Mr. Walz left Connecticut 
to become a resident of Will County, 111. Here 
he took a contract with another raaii to cut two 
hundred cords of wood and in the spring l)egan 
working b^' the month for different farmers in New 
Lenox Township. He continued to work in this 
way for several years, even after he had purchased 
eighty acres of land, which he was able to do in 
the spring of 1861. This he rented until 1866. 
In the spring of 1863, he went to California, re- 
maining on the Pacific coast three years and wliile 
there engaging iii different occu|>alions. On his 
return to the Prairie State he purchased an adcli- 
lional eighty acres of land and turned his atten- 
tion to the cultivation of his own farm. He has 
increased the acreage still more and erected thereon 
an excellent set of buildings, including a pleasant 
dwelling, commodious barns, granaries and other 
outbuildings. 

At the home of the ))ride's parents in New ].,enox 
Township, April 6, 1868, ttie rites of wedlock were 
celebrated between Mr. Walz and IMiss Henrietta 
A. Stricher. This l.ady was born in Mecklenburg, 
Germany, November 20, 1846, being the fifth in 
a family of si.x children. Her brother and sisters 
are named Sophia, Louis, Louisa, Carolina and 
Fredericka. Her parents, Frederick and '"»ophia 
(FreierX Strieher.were born in the Duchy of Meck- 
len1)urg and lived there until the latter port of the 
'50s when they emigrated to America. They came 
to this county and located in Green Garden Town- 
ship, whence they afterward removed to New 



/^/^ T^z^^i-e-e.^-^ 




PORTRAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



225 



Lenox Township where Mr. Stuichcr died in 1880. 
Mrs. Strifher is still living .and makes her home 
with our suljject. Mrs. Walz was well educated 
and from her honored parents received good in- 
struction in tiie principles of right living and the 
useful lialiits in which the German women excel, 
while her manners are marked wilh'the friendliness 
and courtesy which everywhere win regard. Her 
liap|>y union has resulted in the birth of seven 
children — Addie !>., George A., Frank IL, Arthur 
L., Sadie A.. Florence E. and Estella 11. Of these, 
Frank, Artliur and Sadie are dead. 

Mr. Walz has been Ilighway Commissioner and 
School Director, in these public stations as in his 
personal affairs exhibiting zeal and good judgment. 
In politics, he is a Uepublican, firmly believing 
that by that party the best interest of the Nation 
will be advanced. The family attends the Ger- 
man Lutheran Church, supporting it l)y means and 
iiitluence. It is needless to state that Mr. Walz is 
highly respected, not simpl}^ because he is a man 
I f means, but because his character is an honor- 
able one. The younger members of his family are 
worthy descendants of parents whom they regard 
with loving reverence. 

IMOTHY L. MILLER. No visitor to this 
county would long be unfamiliar with the 
name and personality of the gentleman above 
named, who is widely known to stockmen and 
others as one to whom the advancement of the 
cattle interests in this section is largely due. He 
has undoubtedly done more to introduce fine H'ere- 
foiil cattle than CMy other man in this vicinity, 
an<l ranks as one of the leaders in stock-raising in 
the entire Slate. Not less than $100,000 has been 
spent by him in this direction, and at all the 
prominent expositions he carries off his share of 
laurels on the stock exhibited. He became promi- 
nent as the owner of the famous bull. Success, 
which has a wonderful record for his fine descend- 
ants, and went far to popularize the noble breed. 
Mr. Miller began the introduction of Herefords 
In the spring of 1872, wlu'n he introduced JSir 



Charles, No. .543, from the Province of Ontario, 
Canada. He subsequently became the owner of 
Success, whom he imported from Herefordshire, 
England, hy the side of his dam when he was three 
months old. This animal was regarded as the great- 
est of his breed in the world, Lord Wilton of Eng- 
land not excepted. Mr. Miller refused *25,000 
for him, and kept him until his death in the fall of 
1886. 

Mr. Miller claims that eighty per cent, of his 
herd are daughters and granddaughters of this 
famous animal. The present head of tlie herd is 
Conqueror, the son of Success from Leonora III., 
the dam being the sister of Mrs. Edwards Leonora, 
which was regarded as the best cow of England. 
Foremost among the other animals are Dictator 
and Grove Turner, the latter being the grandson 
of Lord AVilton on tJfe sire's side and of Grove 
III. on the dam's side. The entire herd consists 
of about two hundred fine animals, three-fourths 
of which are cows and heifers, and represent some 
of the finest strains in this country. 

Mr. Miller was born in Middletown, Conn., April 
7, 1817, and is a representative of fine old New 
England families of English arid German descent. 
He grew to manhood in his native place, receiving 
as good an education as New England afforded in 
her common schools. He removed to Summit 
County, Ohio, in 1842, purchasing his first land 
two years later, and living upon it until 1856. He 
then came to Illinois, immedlatelj^ after the com- 
pletion of the Illinois Central Railroad, securing 
Government land in this county. His first pur- 
chase was two hundred and fort3' acres, which was 
subsequently increased until his estate amounted 
to over six hundred acres, all of which is highly 
improved and about half drained by tiling. All 
of the outbuildings are first-class, the immense 
stock barn being one hundred and eighty feet 
square, and so arranged as to shelter three hun- 
dred head of cattle and feed to supply the whole. 
The residence is one of the largest in the State, 
being two hundred and four feet long; it is built 
in sections, the main building on the west, office in 
the center, contains twenty-five sleeping rooms, 
and is well designed for the pleasure and accommo- 
dation of the household and the numerous visitors 



226 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



who enjoy its hospitality. A cellar is built under 
the entire edifice. 

The father of our subject w.is Timothy B. Miller, 
a native of Middletown, Conn., and the son of 
Peter Miller, who was born in Prussia and there 
educated for the ininistry. He did not follow the 
ministerial profession, but coming to America 
when a young man, settled in Connecticut and de- 
voted himself to business. He married a Miss 
Jo3'ce, who came of English parentage, and both 
died in New England at an advanced age. The}' 
were members of tlie Episcopal Clmrcli. Timothj' 
I>. Miller early in life learned the business of a 
shoe manufacturer, which he followed for some 
years, later becoming a trader in meats, continu- 
ing in this business during the remainder of his 
active life. He removed to Ohio in 1846, dying- 
there a few years later. % 

In Middletown, Conn., the fatlier of our subject 
was married to Miss Mary Hughes Pierce, a native 
of that city and the daughter of an P^nglish couple 
who has resided in Boston during the Kevolution- 
ary War. The}' subsequently removed to Middle- 
town, where Mr. Pierce for man}' years had the 
Hianagement of a brewer}'. Rlrs. Timothy B. 
Miller after the death of her husband came to Illi- 
nois, and lived with her children in tliis State 
until 188G, when she was called hence at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-six years. Her demise took 
pl.ace at the home of Jier daughter, Mrs. Edward 
Mize, of Chicago. She and lier husband were 
Mci.ive members of the Episeojial Church. They 
were the [jarentsof si.\ children, two of whom died 
young and one iu mature years. The survivors 
are: our subject, who was the first-born; Charles 
P., a business man of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; and the 
diuighter before named. 

The first marriage of the gentleman witli whose 
name this sketch is introduced took place at the 
lifide's home in Mi Idletown, Conn. His chosen 
companion was Miss Abigail S. Elliott, who was 
born in that place, was carefully reared b}' excel- 
lent parents, and well educated. Her parents were 
Clark and Almira (Gillett) Elliott, who belonged 
to prominent New England families and were also 
natives of Connecticut. Mi-. Elliott was a carriage- 
maker in his earl}' life, but in later years devoted 



bis attention to general merchandising. He died 
in his native State when about three-score-and-ten 
years old. Mrs. Elliott survived him some years, 
dying in 1888 at the ripe old age of ninety-five. 
Both were members of the Congregational Church. 

Their daughter, Mrs. Miller, shared her hus- 
band's joys and sorrows until ISaS, when in the 
prime of life she was called from time to eternity. 
She was the mother of five children, dying at the 
birth of the last, who was christened Henry, and 
who died when three years of age. The surviving 
offspring of this marriage are: Kate E., wife of 
George B. Woodward, who has charge of the 
branch house of the Fairbanks Scale Company in 
St. Paul, Minn.; Abbie A., the wife of Frank 
Gould, a wholesale merchant of Chicago, whose 
residence is in Evanston; Mary 1'., wife of Albert C. 
Reed, who resides in Crete, this county, and does 
business as a broker in Chicago; and Timothy E., 
a farmer of Washington Township. 

The lady who now presides over Mr. Miller's 
home became his wife in Rockford, prior to which 
time she had borne the name of Anna E. Hodges. 
She was born in Clarendon. Vt., July 22, 1828, 
being a daughter of Silas W. and Polly (Gillett) 
Hodges. Her parents were natives of Vermont 
and Connecticut resi)ectively, and of New Eng- 
land parentage. The father was a son of Dr. Silas 
Hodges, a prominent physician who died in Clar- 
endon in 1804, at the .age of sixty-one years. The 
mother belonged to a family of seafaring people. 
The old stock in both lines were Congregationalists 
in religion. The parents of Mrs. Miller were mar- 
ried in Rutland County, Vt., and there the mother 
died at the age of fifty. two years, and the father at 
the age of seventy-two. He had been a farmer, 
merchant and owner of a marble quarry. 

Mrs. Anna Miller was educated in Holyoke, 
Mass., and there acquired an excellent mental 
training and development, together with a knowl- 
edge of the high principles which should animate 
womanhood. She came to Rockford, 111., after 
reaching maturity. She is the mother of one child, 
a daughter, Abbie, who died in infancy. She and 
her husband have been members of the Congrega- 
tional Church for many years. Mr. Miller is a 
genial man who takes great pleasure in showing 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



227 



visitors over his fine estate, and his stock is by no 
means overlooked. The good cheer of tiie mansion 
is dispensed with grace by his wife, whose culture 
and refinement fit her for any circle of society. 
JMr. Miller was formerly a Democrat, and was 
President of the Hickory Club in Middletown, 
Conn., in 1840, but since the organization of the 
Republican party he has taken his place in its 
ranks. 

Elsewhere in this voliinie appears a lithographic 
portrait of Mr. Miller. 




ILLIAM H. HUNTER, coal dealer in Jol- 
f.jll let, is a native of this city, in which he 
W^j was born August 1, 1854. He is a sou of 
Thomas K. and Lucinda (Smith) Hunter, the for- 
mer of whom was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., 
l'V'l)iunry 2, 1818, and came to Will Count}', 111., 
in 1837. En route to this place he stopped at 
Oiand Haven, Mich., for a time, and after arriving 
in .lolict opened a smithy, he being a blacksmith. 
Ill 1849 he was attacked by the gold fever, and 
wont to California, where he was very successful 
dm ing the one short year he remained there. On 
his return, in 1850, he built a residence on the 
coriier of Oneida and Broadway Streets. In 1854, 
ho began the propagation of fruit, opening a nur- 
sery in the southwestern part of the city, which he 
CDUtiiiucd until 1882. He enjo^-ed the respect 
and cunfidence of his fellow-citizens, and was twice 
elected by them to a place in the city council, 
lie died April 22, 1888. His wife, the mother of 
William H., died March 25, 1882. 

The above-named Thomas R. Huntei- was mar- 
ried .III!}- 23, 1845, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of 
H.irtini and Fatlia Smith, both of whom were 
early settlers of this county, to which they had 
come from Indiana, in 1835. For many years Mr. 
Smith was a Justice of the Peace. Originally a 
Tcnnesseean, in politics he was a pronounced Dem- 
ocrat, and during the war. when ho believed that 
slavery was doomed, he said he hoped he would not 
be spared to see the bl.-ielis liberated. Altliou<;li the 
Emancipation Proilamntion was issued prior to his 



death he did not witness much of its effect, and 
may almost be said to have realized his wish as he 
died September 22, 1863. The union of Thomas 
R. Hunter and Lucinda Smith was blessed by the 
birth of two children: Fatha E., wife of J. Q. A. 
King, of Kansas City, Mo.; and William H., of 
whom we write. The devoted mother preceded 
husband to her long home, dying March 15, 1882. 
She also was a native of Tennessee. The ancestry 
of the Hunter family is traced back to Scotland on 
the one hand and through the Davenports to Col- 
onists who came to America in the good ship "May- 
flower." 

The boyhood of our subject was passed in Jol- 
iet in acquiring a common-school education, and 
laying the foundation for the habits which mark 
his.life. The coal trade possessed a great attraction 
for him, and his first business venture was to pur- 
chase an interest with Ferdinand Munch. A short 
time afterward we find him in partnership with 
Frey & Hawkins, and after a year of this associa- 
tion, he bought out the interest of Mr. Frey, and at 
the end of the second year that of Mr. Hawkins. 
From a comparatively small beginning, he built 
up the coal trade to large diraemsions and was 
compelled through Increase of business to greatly 
enlarge his facilities for handling "black dia- 
monds." 

From the smallest, the business of Mr. Hunter 
has become the largest in the county. In 1881 he 
associated Mr. O. W. Curtis with himself, but a 
year ago again assumed entire control of the 
trade. Step by step, through singleness of pur- 
pose and the practice of strict integrity, Mr. Hunter 
has climbed, round by round, the ladder of success. 
He attends strictly to business, taking but little 
part in politics, although an ardent Republican. 
Socially he stands high in popular esteem. 

He was married, November 13, 1878, to Miss 
MoUie P. Tuiiier, of Loekport, this county. Two 
children have been born to them: Carrie L., Au- 
gust 17, 1879; and Robert Samuel, October 17, 
1884. 

S. S. Turner, the father of Mrs. Hunter, was a 
native of Berwick, Pa., whence he came to Illi- 
nois, in 1851. He was a moulder and pattern 
maker, but finding little to do in this line, in the 



228 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



comparatively new "West to which he liad come, he 
euipluyed himself in boat builfling and carpenter- 
ing. At that time tiie heavy business done by 
canal, made boat building a most desirable indus- 
try, lie died M.ay 25, 188:^, that being his six- 
tieth birthday. Ilis first wife, the mother of Mrs. 
Hunter, Mrs. Caroline Turner, had breathed her 
last December 24, 18C0. 



^ 




ijr=>r*)HOMAS LARKIN. Among the well-regu- 
lated homes of .loliet Township none have 
about tlieni an air of greater comfort and 
content tlian that which has been buill u\^ by the 
joint efforts of Mr. Larliin and his estimable wife. 
They make no pretensions to elegance in their 
style of living, but have plenty to eat, drink and 
wear and something laid by for a rainy day. It is 
possible that in their modest Iiome there is vastly 
more genuine liap|iiness than is to be found in a 
palace. 

A native of County Galway, Ireland, Mr. Lar- 
kin was born in the year 1838, and is the son of 
Edwin and Mary (Kelley) Larkin, who were also 
natives of the Emerald Isle and who spent their 
entire lives there. Thomas lived with his parents 
until a young man of twenty years and then re- 
solved to seek his fortunes in America. Repair- 
ing to lielfast, he embarked on a sailing vessel 
which, after a journey of four weeks, landed him 
safely in New York City. Soon leaving the great 
metroi^olis, he turned his steps toward the far 
West, coming to this county and for two years 
was in the employ of the Rock Island Railroad 
Company. After tliis he engaged in farming, 
working by the month for about three years. At 
the expir.atioTi of this time he had saved a litile 
money and taking unto himself a wife and help- 
male, rented a farm in Lockport Township, which 
he operated successfully for several years. Next 
he purchased the farm on which he now lives, se- 
curing at first eigiity acres and later added to his 
Landed possessions, so that besides tliis farm which 
now embraces one hundred and liiirly acres, he 
has eight}' acres in Troy Townshij). The whole 



is in R good state of cultivation and the home 
farm is supplied with neat and substantial build- 
ings. 

The marriage of Thomas Larkin and Miss Ellen 
Goss was celebrated at the bride's home in Joliet 
in the year 18;VJ. Mrs. I^arkin was Ijorn in 
County (Queens, Ireland, .about 1840, and is the 
daughter of Anthony and Catherine (Downy) 
Goss wiio were likewise natives of that county, \\ 
where they si)ent their entire lives. The father 
was a farmer by occupation and the parental fam- 
ily comprised six children. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Larkin there have been born 
five children, all living and named respectively, 
Edward, Mary, Thoinas, Bernard and Agnes. Marj' 
is tlie wife of Frank McManus and they live in 
Lockport Township. Mr. Larkin, politically is a 
pronounced Democrat, well informed, progressive 
in his ideas and possessing more tliaii ordinary in- 
telligence. He has served as School Director in 
his district and Overseer of Highways. Both he 
and his estimable wife belong to the Catholic 
Church. Mr. Larkin before making permanent 
settlement crossed the Mississi|)pi into Missouri, 
but not liking the country returned and he thinks 
there is no section which in all respects is equ.al 
to the Prairie State. 




NDREW J. LINEBARGER. Probably 
no section of country has advanced more 
rapidl}' than that of Northern Illinois and 
this has been wholl}' owing to the character 
of the men who first made settlement here. They 
encountered m.any didiculties during the first years 
of their sojourn in the Prairie State, but they came 
equipped, not so much with worldly goods as the 
spirit of resolution and perseverance which admitted 
no such word as "fail." They battled with the 
elements of a new soil, the inconvenience of rude 
farming implements and imperfect transportation 
of their produce, and have lived to see prosperity 
smiling upon their labors. 

He with whose name we introduce this sketch 
deserves more than a passing mention in noting 



PORTRAIT AND BI0GRAP1II<:3AL ALBUM. 



229 



the early settlers of Will County. He is the son of 
one of its most worthy pioneers and was born at 
Ills father's old homestead in .Jackson Township, 
January 7, 1834. His father, Henry Linebargcr, 
was a native of North Carolina wliile his mother 
who bore the maiden name of Nanc^' Ilougham, 
Was a native of Ohio. Henrj- Linebarger came to 
Illinois in the fall of 1832, accorai)anied by his 
brother George, then went back to Indiima, and in 
the spring of 1833, returned to Will County, 
wiiere he spent the following summer and in the 
fall of the year went back to Park County, Iiid., 
for his family. They settled on section 21,. Jack- 
son Township, in the month of November, at a 
time when the country was very tiiinly settled and 
tliere they continued to live until called from their 
earthly labors. Tiie father died September 8, 
1842, when comparatively a young man. The 
mother survived her husband foi' the long period 
of thirty-five years, remaining a widow, and de- 
parted tills life April 22, 1877. 

To tile i)arents of our suliject there was boni a 
family of seven children, of whom Andrevv J., 
was the tliinl. He lias been a life long resident of 
.lacksiin rownshi|) and obtained his education 
mostly ill the log scliooUiouso in the neighbor- 
hood of liis father's farm. .After tlie hitter's 
death he remained with his mother until his mar- 
riage. This interesting and important event 
occurred April 30, 18.50, at Joliet, 111., the bride 
being Mi.ss Elizabeth, daiigiiter of Josejih and 
Frances ( Ilildebrand) Piiilliiis. Soon after their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Linebarger settled upon 
tlie land which they now own and occupy, and 
which comprises four hundred and thirty' five broad 
acres on section 20. Here they liavc since made 
their home. The household circle was completed 
liy the birth of three children, the eldest of whom, 
a son, Lewis II., is a Iianker in Peotoiie, this Slate; 
Laura is unmarried and remains with her parents; 
ICmma J., is the wife of J. R. McCleer\', of O.xford, 
Iowa. 

The parents of Mrs. Linebarger were natives of 
Germany, where they were roareil and married. 
Upon emigrating to America they settled in Mad- 
ison County, N. Y., where the mother died in April 
1881, and the father in October, 1888. Their 



family consisted of eight children, of whom Mrs. 
Linebarger was the next to the eldest. She like- 
wise is a native of the Fatherland and was born 
January 1, 1831. She was a child of twelve 
years when coming to America with her par- 
ents and was reared to womanhood in Madison 
County, N. Y. She has been the true helpm.ate of 
her hut-band in all -his worthy undertakings and 
has assisted him materially in the accumulation of 
their property. 

The Linebarger farm is one of the most valuable 
in Will County, being improved with good build- 
ings, fruit and shade trees and all the other appur- 
tenances required by the progressive and indus- 
trious agriculturist. Mr. Linebarger keeps himself 
posted upon modern methods of agriculture and 
avails himself of the most approved machinery in 
the cultivation of his land. It is devoted largely 
to grain raising, while Mr. Linebarger gives due 
attention to the breeding of good grades of live 
stock. He is conservative in politics, usually giv- 
ing his support to the Democratic party. He has 
never been an ofiice-seeker, preferring to give his 
time and attention to his farm and his family and 
is looked upon as a peaceable and law-abiding citi- 
zen who has contributed his full quota to the gen- 
eral welfare of the community. Our subject was 
the first white child born in Jackson Township. 



JC^LEXANDER V. PATTERSON. Among 
l@/4il the leading enterprises of Joliet may be 
Is mentioned the liver}' business of Mr. Pat- 
terson, whicli is carried on in that sys- 
tematic manner which indicates in a marked 
degree his adaptation to this calling. Prompt and 
courteous in the treatment of his customers and a 
straightforward man in all the relations of life, he 
occupies an enviable position, both in business and 
social circles. 

The subject of this notice traces his ancestry to 
one of the best nationalities on the face of the 
globe — the ^cotch-Irish, from which have emanated 
qualities that on both continents have constituted 
a large portion of their bone and sinew. Andrew 



■230 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Patterson, tlie father of oiir subject, was liorn in 
County Tyrone, Ireland, l)ut was of Seoteli ances- 
try. Tlie mother bore the niaiilen name of Kliza 
Vainer. She was also a native of County Tyrone 
and of ancestry similar to that of her iiusbaiid. 
Tlicy spent their ehihlood and youth near the 
place of their birth, where they were married .and 
where they still live, the father engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. 

To the parents of our subject there was born a 
family of ten children, nine of whom are living and 
making their homes, five in the United States and 
four in Europe. Alexander V., the fourth in order 
of birth, is a native of the same place as his [lar- 
ents, and born in Count}' Tyrone, October 1(5, 
1862. He remained with them until approaching 
the twentieth year of his age, and then, believing 
that he could better himself in the United States, 
left the old roof-tree April 26, 1882, embarking 
for the promised land. Landing in New York City 
on the 2d of May following, he came directly to 
Illinois, locating in Joliet, tind for six months 
thereafter was in the employ of his uncle, T. II. 
Patterson. At the expiration of this time he en- 
o-atred as a fireman with the Michigan Central 
Railroad Company, remaining thus occupied about 
three years. The Joliet Steel Company next 
claimed his services, and he remained with this 
company until October, 1888. 

Having now the wherewithal to embark in busi- 
ness on his own account, Mr. Patterson secured a 
goodly numlier of horses and vehicles, establishing 
himself on Ottawa Street, occupying Nos. 208 and 
210. His stables are equipped with modern con- 
veniences and patronized liberally by the best 
people of Joliet and viciuit}-. About the time of 
starting his business, Mr. Patterson also formed 
matrimonial and domestic ties, being wedded, Oc- 
tober 2, 1888, to Miss Minnie M., daughter of the 
late John and Melinde (Hareth) Stock. The young 
couple established themselves in a snug home on 
Oneida Street, and are now the proud parents of a 
little daughter, Linda L., who w.as born October 
12, 1889. 

Mrs. Patterson was born in August, 1868, in 
Joliet, of parents who were both natives of Oer- 
raany. They emigrated to America in 1854 and 



settled in Troy Township, where the father en- 
gaged in fanning. Mr. Stock died in March, 1881, 
in .loliet. I'he mother had passed away ten j'ears 
l)rior to the decease of her husband, her death 
taking jilace at .loliet. May n, 1871. There was 
born to them a family of four children, of wliom_ 
Mrs. Patterson was next to the youngest. 

The paternal giandfather of our subject was 
James I'attersou, who was born in Scotland and 
who spent his last d.ays in Ir"land. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Jane Ilawley. She also was 
(_)f Scotch birtii and ancestry. They were married 
in Scotland, whence they removed to Ireland, 
where (irandfather Patterson eng.aged in farming. 
On the maternal side of the house Grandfather 
Alexander A'erner was a man of note in his day 
and a Colonel in the British army. He married 
Susan Rankin. Both were natives of Scotland, 
whence they removed to Ireland and died in Count}' 
Tyrone. 

Upon becoming a voting citizen, Mr. Patterson 
identified himself with the Republican party, of 
whose principles he is a warm supporter. Both he 
and his estimable wife are members in good stand- 
ing of the Central Presbyterian Church, of .Joliet. 
They have started out in the journey of life under 
favorable auspices and with the good wishes of 
hosts of friends. 



OUIS METTERHAUSEN, publisher of Das 
Volksblatt, is conducting the only German 
paper in Will County. It is a journal 
largely patronized by the German residents of 
Will County, being well edited and devoted to 
local interests while expounding in a clear and 
decided manner the principles of the best interests 
of the people, independent of any political party. 
The subject of this notice was born January 21, 
1840, in the town of Gilten, Hanover, and lived 
there until a young man of twent}"-five 3'ears, ac- 
quiring a good education, and following the profes- 
sion of a teacher. In October, 1865, he emigrated 
to the United States and first located in Naperville, 
III. Subsequently he was in Detroit, Mich., Cleve- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



231 



land, Oliio, Cliicago and Beeclier, 111. prior to lo- 
catinf"' in .loliet wliere he settled in Octolier, 1889, 
at which time he moved Dan Volksblalt from 
Boeeher where it had been est'il)lished in May, 
1882. At Beeclier, he was a prominent man, hold- 
ing the offices of I'ostm.aster and School Treasurer 
and Trustee. When first locating at Beeclier in 
18G9, he established himself as a general merchant 
and conducted the store in conneftiun with otiicr 
business until his removal. 

Mr. Metterhausen was married May G, 1871, to 
Miss Minnie Klusnicyer at Beeclier, 111., and they 
are now the parents of three bright children — 
Carl, born April 6, 1872; Charlotte, February 9, 
187G, and p:mil, March .31, 1881. Mr.«. Metter- 
hausen is likewise a native of (Tcrmany and born 
in Ihe I'rovince of Hanover, November C, 1853. 
She came to America with her parents when a 
young girl of fourteen years. They settled in 
Washington Township, this county; the father is 
deceased and the mother resides in Cliicago. 






iOBIAS FAILS. Through the efforts of such 
men as Tobias Fahs, the prairie lands of 
Peotone Township, that once were covered 
with the rank growth of coarse grasses and brilliant 
wild llowers, have become the fertile fields, fruitful 
orchards and velvety lawns of an advanced civili- 
zation. The farm which is the home of our sub- 
ject lies on section 14. antl is furnished with all 
needful buildings and the other improvements 
which indicate to the passer-by that it is under the 
control of a man of industry, good judgment and 
taste. 

The Fahs family is of Swiss stock, an<l has been 
represented in America for several generations. In 
Maryland, Al)i'ah.'>.in Fahs, the father of our subject, 
was born and made his home during his entire life, 
lie was a whitesmith by trade. He married Elizabeth 
Siess, a native of the same State, daughter of 
George Siess, a blacksniilh, who in later life became 
.1 largo farmer and the owner of several farms. 
Abraham Fahs died in 1813, and the widow subse- 




quently married Conrad Willhide. She died in 
1832, and Mr. Willhide in 1839. The fruit of her 
(irst marriage was four children, all now deceased 
except our subject. Her second marriage was also 
blessed bj' the birth of four children, of wliom one 
is deceased. 

The subject of this biographical review was born 
September 2, 181 1, in Frederick County, Md. He 
attended a subscription school about two months 
in the winter season, and even in boyhood had to 
work very hard on his stepfather's farm. His ex- 
periences were the ordinary ones of a farmer's bo3', 
and his time and labor were given to his stepfather 
until he was nineteen years of age. He then bought 
some mountain land, and worked in the timber, 
getting out bark, posts and cooper's stuff for five 
or six years. In 1841 he removed to Perry County, 
Pa., where his brother had a large tanuery, working 
there eight years as a finisher of leather, and dur- 
ing the last two years teiuiing a store of his 
brother. 

Tlie health of Mr. Fahs became somewiiat im- 
paired, and he was obliged to return to farm labor, 
as better suited to his constitution. He operated a 
farm in Pennsylvania until IS.'jCthen came to Illi- 
nois, settling in Knox County, but sojourned there 
but a year. lie then came into Will County, pur- 
chased a farm on section 14, and began his labors 
as one of the pioneer farmers of the township. 
The section was i)ut thinl3' settled, and although 
the country is level, he could see but two houses 
from his home. His farm was all raw land, which 
he placed in good condition, retaining it in his pos- 
session until some three years since. Since that 
time he has made his home with his son, Corne- 
lius L. 

Mr. Fahs was fortunate in his choice of a life 
companion, securing for his wife Miss Arauiinta 
Willyard, oldest child of Peter and Elizabeth 
(Miller) Willyard, n.atives of Maryland. Miss 
Aramiuta w.as born in Frederick County, Septem- 
ber 22, 1812, receiving a common-school education 
and a training in useful accomplishments and good 
principles from her worthy parents. Of the seven 
brothers and sisters who once composed the familj' 
circle, she and two others are all that now survive. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Fahs was celebrated 



232 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



April 3, 1833, and ton children have conu; to bless 
their happ}' home. Those who h:ivc been reared 
to m.alure years are Harriet S., wife of Christ. 
Scliryer, their liome being one mile south of Peo- 
tone, and their family inoluding five children; 
James A., who married Ruth E. Winslow, has one 
child, and lives at Hinckley; Elizabeth, widow of 
August Chase, has one child; Julia, wife of John 
Gloss, and motlier of seven children, their home 
being in Carbondale, Kan.; Maria, wife of the Rev. 
Joseph J. Tobias, of Chicago, and mother of two 
children; the Rev. David W., wlio married Jennie 
Kerr, lives at LeM;u's, Iowa, and has three cliildren; 
Cornelius and Amelia, wiio are still single and at 
home. 

Cornelius Fahs disi)lays marked talent as an 
artist, doing beautiful work in free-hand drawing, 
without instruction, and also painting in oil and 
water c()lc>rs exceedingly well. He has taken two 
painting lessons from the artist Higelow, of Chicago. 
IMan^- specimens of his work adorn the walls of 
the home, and afford pleasure to his parents and 
many friends. All of the brothers and sisters liave 
received a good common school education and take 
advantage of the means afforded by the [iress to 
add to their store of knowledge and keep pace with 
the world. 

Mr. an<l Mrs. Fahs, their children and their sons- 
in-law and daughters in-law lielong to the Presby- 
terian Chureli. The only exception is the Rev. J. 
J. Tobias, who is identified with the Methodist 
Episcopal denomination. All are actively interested 
in the Sunday-school, in which tlic father has been 
a teacher. lie is an Elder in the church. He lias 
been School Director and School Trustee for many 
years, manifesting the interest in the cause of edu- 
cation which would naturally be expected of a 
gentleman as intelligent as he. The first school 
in this localit}' was on his farm, the first teacher 
being Ruth E. Winslow, now Mrs. J. A. Fahs. 
The Rev. J. J. Tolnas was also a teacher in the 
same school. 

Mr. Fahs was elected Township Supervisor, serv- 
ing in that oftice two terms. He has alw.ays been 
strongly on the side of temperance, and has be- 
longed to a temperance society.- In politics he has 
been a Whig, a Know-Nothing and a Republican. 



During the Civil War he was a warm advocate of 
the Union cause, supporting it very liberally with 
money as well as with his personal influence. He 
helped to organize the first church in this neighbor- 
hood, and was one of Llie charter members. His 
religion is not put on as a Sunday garment, but is 
a clothing for every-day life; his tastes are refined, 
his mind aglow with intelligence, and take him all 
in all, he is one who may well be taken as a model 
citizen and man. 



rjS^ DWARD J ARM AN is managing his farming 
JW] interests in DuPage Township with satis- 
factory results. He is a native of Wales, 



born August 24, 1846, and on his father's side 
coming of a well-knoivn old family of exclusively 
Welsh origin. His parents, Edward and Martha 
Jarman were likewise natives of that country. He 
was but a year old when his father died. His 
mother survived her husband several j'cars; her 
death occurring after our subject had been in 
America for a long time. He was the youngest of 
four children and wnt» reared in his native land by 
his mother's brothers, making his home with them, 
more or less until he came to this country. His 
father was a farmer and he was bred to that pur- 
suit. 

Starting out in life with no capital excepting his 
physic.'d and mental endowments, in 18G7, thinking 
that he could better his condition in this great 
Republic, he took passage for this country at Liv- 
erpool and, after a voyage of thirteen and one-half 
da^'s, first set foot on these shores in the great me- 
tropolis of the country. Rightly believing that his 
best chances for carrying on his calling as a farmer 
were in Illinois, he came directly to this State. He 
began his life here b}' working out for others and 
was thus engaged for seven years. For more 
than two years he was in the employ of Reuben 
Smith, and afterward worked for Jonathan Royce 
about four years, and for nearly three years farmed 
that gentleman's place on shares. After that for 
five years he farmed on shares in Wheatland 
Township, and in 1882 came to this township to 





^i<? 



a. r. 



l^ ^^V^21^ 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



235 



l;ike np his icsulciict'. He located first on section 
7, made liis aboile tliere two years and then settled 
on his present farm on section 19. He lias more 
tli.'iii one hundred and ninety-three acres of land, of 
whicii one liinidred and three acres comprise the 
home farm. 'J'his is already under excellent culti- 
vation an(1 yields, in repayment for his hard labors, 
line harvests. It su|)plied with suital)le buildings 
;ind Mr. .larman has good niacliinery to curry on 
his farm work. 

By his marriage, November 15, 187."?, witli Miss 
Mary A. Campbell, a native of Ireland, our subject 
secured the co-operation of a cheerful hel|)er and 
active worker. Three children, (iertie, Mary and 
Lulu, have blessed their marriage to them. 

As we have seen, Mr. .larman has had his own 
way to make in the world, and that lie has done 
well so far is evinced by the condition of his es- 
Itita. lie i)ossesscs a fair share of energy, acumen 
and thrift, and a knack of working to the best ad- 
vantage, and these, with other attributes, have 
contiibuted to his prosperity. He is a man of 
inlelligence, is well posted in general affairs, and 
manifests proiier public spirit. lie has done good 
service as School Du'cctor. lie interests himself 
sufficiently in the politics of his adopted country 
to take sides with the l{ei)ubliean party. 



Vf^DMUNI) WILCOX. For a period of thir- 
^ teen years 'Squire Wilcox has officiated as 
i]^^ Justice of the I'eace in Joliet, being elected 
to this office in the spring of 1877, and serving 
continuously by re-elections since that time. He 
was elected each time bj' an almost niianinK>us 
vote, and at the last election received all but fifty 
of the ballots cast. One year he received twenty- 
three hundred out of about twenty-four hundred 
votes cast. Although a pronounced Democrat, 
his name w.as on all the tickets of all parties and 
these facts ini'icate his popularity among the peo- 
ple of this county. He keeps one of the neatest 
dockets ever opened, there being scarcely a blot on 
all tlie pages on which he has entered records for 
the last thirteen years. Socially and in business 



circles he is a universal favorite, being of genial 
and obliging disposition, and making friends where 
ever he goes. 

The subject of this notice was born September 
18, 1816, in Onondaga County, N. Y., and is thus 
ap|)roacliing the seventy-fourth year of his age. He 
is the offspring of an excellent family, being the 
son of Loanimi and H:innah (Paddock) Wilcox, 
who were natives respectively of Connecticut and 
Washington County, N. Y. The father was a 
farmer by occupation and met an accidental death 
in Onondaga County in 183G, at the age of fifty 
years. The parental household consisted of four 
children, of whom Edmund was the second born. 
His younger brother, Harvey, of Los Gatos, Cal., 
is now deceased ; Cordelia W., Mrs. Clement, re- 
sides in Joliet; Caroline, the wife of Dr. Wilson, 
died \n her native county ; Loammi Wilcox was a 
carpenter by trade, which he followed, however, 
but a few years, finally engaging in the more con- 
genial occupations of farm life. The Wilcox fam- 
ily was an old and prominent one in New England. 
The district school afforded Mr. Wilcox his early 
education and later he entered Hamilton College 
at Clinton, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 
1835. The following year he came to Joliet, and 
for thirty years thereafter was engaged in the dry- 
goods business, being part of the time associated in 
partership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Clement. 
He h.as alw.aj's signalized himself as a progressive 
and public-spirited citizen and for ten years was 
President of the Gas Company, superintending the 
construction of their building and being otherwise 
prominent in its management, and for a number of 
years was a prominent member of the City Council. 
In making the journey hither from New York State 
he traveled overland by team, sometimes in a 
wagon and sometimes on a sled, it being in winter, 
and accompanied by three other young men. He 
thus had a full experience of pioneer life and h.as 
been the interested witness of the transformation 
of this section of the country from a wilderness 
into the abode of a civilized and prosperous people. 
After becoming a resident of Joliet Mr. Wilcox 
was married March 26, 1845, to Miss Sarah M.. 
daughter of Joseph and Electa (Chauncey) Green. 
The parents of Mrs. Wilcox came to this State 



236 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



from Washington County, N. Y., settling in Mc- 
Henry County. During liis younger years Mr. 
Green engageil in merchandising, but after coming 
to Illinois, turned his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits. Mr. ;ind I\Irs. Green spent their last years in 
Blue Island, Cook County. Mrs. Wilcox was born 
July 23, 182.5, in Washington County, N. Y., and 
remained a member of her fatlicr's household until 
her marriage. Of her union with our subject there 
was born a family of seven children, three of whom 
died in infancy: Alvin C. who died May 11, 1873, 
leaving one child, now the wife of H. E. Porter, of 
.loliet; William O., is Cashier of the First National 
Hank; Frederick C. is engaged as a lumber dealer, 
manager and partner of the firm of Wilcox Bros.; 
diaries C. is <he City (.'lerk of .loliet. Mrs. Sarah 
M. Wilcox de])arted this life at her home in Joliet, 
March 12, 1890. at the age of sixty-four years. 

The long period during which Mr. Wilcox has 
resided in Will County has raaile him well known 
to the citizens, who will therefore welcome his por- 
trait as a valued addition to the Ai,i;iiii. 



=1^:- 




,!^ALTER PADDOCK, a pioneer of fifty-two 
years standing, established himself as a 
W^J resident of Homer Township, this county, 
in February, 1838, and he has since resided within 
its limits. The country was then in wide contrast 
to its present condition and no man has looked 
with warmer interest upon its progress and develop- 
ment than he with whose name we introduce this 
sketch. He has had a full experience of life in the 
early days and by his industry and his good quali- 
ties as a citizen, has contributed his full quota to 
the growth and progress of his adopted township. 
No man in the township has made for himself a 
better record and none are held in higher esteem. 
The subject of this notice was the fifth in a fam- 
ily of fourteen children, the oflfspring of Jonathan 
and Mercy (Weaver) Paddock, and was born in 
Camillus, Onondaga County, N. Y., August 19, 
1817. He remained a resident of his native county 
until a youth of eighteen j'ears and afterward lived 
in Cayuga County two years. Then, in February, 



1838, he emigrated to Illinois and has since been a 
resident of Homer Tovvnslii|), this county. 

The early years of Mr. Paddock were spent in n 
comparatively uneventful manner, in attendance at 
the district school and learning the various arts 
pertaining to farm life. He was content to adopt 
this as his life vocation aud has been uniformly 
successful as a tiller of the soil, securing a home 
and a competence for his declining years. When 
nearly- thirty years of .age he was married in Homer 
Township l-'cbruary 2;"), 1817, to Miss Jane S. 
daughter of the late T. 'J', and Mnry (llolleMliacU) 
Roberts, who were natives of Wn-mont. 

After marriage the newl}- wedded pair settled 
ou a farm on section 21, Homer Township, whence 
in 1849, they removed to that which they now 
own and occupy. The household circle was com- 
pleted by the birth of live children, the ekiest of 
whom, a son, (ieorge A., died Sei)tember 9, 1887, 
at the age of thirty nine years. Jerome is farming 
in Homer Township; Florence died when three 
3ears old; Elmer E. and Merton F., are farming 
in Homer Township. Politicall3-, iMr. Paddock is 
in accord with the )irincii)les of the Kepulilican 
party. He has represented Homer Township in the 
County Board of Supervisors for a period of six 
years and has also officiated as Assessor several 
terms. The cause of education has ever found in 
him a firm friend. He has officiated as a School 
Trustee, also as Highway Commissioner and Town- 
ship Collector, and to whatever position he has 
been called, he has fulfilled its duties in a manner 
creditable to himself and satisfactory to all con- 
cerned. Mrs. Paddock belongs to the Congrega- 
tional Church in Homer Township. 

The father of our subject was Jonathan Paddock, 
a native of Washington County, N. Y., who mar- 
ried Miss iNIercy Weaver, who was also born in the 
Empire State. The parents were married in Wash- 
ington County and settled in Onondaga Country, 
whence they removed later to the town of Aurelius, 
in Cayuga County, where they both died at the age 
of sixty-six years. NJne of their children lived to 
become men and women; seven are now living and 
residents mostly of Michigan, New York and Illi 
nois. 

Mrs. Paddock was born March 1 1, 1825, in Men- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



237 



(Ion, iMoiiroeC'oiinly, N. V., and was tlie third in a 
f;iniily of eight children. Slie came willi her parents 
to Illinois about 1815. The latter were natives of 
Vermont and after their removal to New York 
State with their res[)ective parents were residents of 
Monroe and Niagara Counties. Mrs. Koherts de- 
parted tliis life at Lemont, 111., a few years ago. 
Mr. Roberts died in Monienco about 1851. They 
were most worthy and estimable pef)ple, enjoying 
the respeck of all who knew them. 



'' ' ^^ - 



z^ 



((« 



ACOB KARCII. One of the most enterpris- 
ing and (niblic-spirited farmers of Frankfort 
Townshij) is the gentleman above named, 
whose pleasant home is located on section 
25. Ilis estate comprises one hundred and sixty 
broad and fertile acres, which under his careful and 
intelligent control produce abundantly and make 
llieir cultivation both pleasant and profitable. , A 
fidl line of farm buiklings is oonvenientlj- dis- 
pensed, and a tine orchard supplies an abundance of 
fruit as well as adorning the farm with its i)leasing 
shade and waving boughs. Mr. Karoh raises grain 
and cattle and a good grade of draft horses, of 
which he keeps about fifteen he.ad. 

Tliis gentleman is of German ancestry, his father, 
Henry J. Karcb, having been born near Frank- 
fort on the Rhine. He was a baker there but after- 
ward engaged in hotel-keei)ing until 1838, when lie 
came to America and located in Herkimer County, 
N. Y. There he continued tlie occupation of an 
hotel keeper and also conducted a farm finally 
operating one hundred acres. In 1850 he changed 
his location to Will Count}', 111., buying two hun- 
dred and fortj' acres on section 3G, Frankfort 
Township. Here he broke the soil and made all the 
imiirovements, carrying his produce to Chicago by 
teams and consuming three days in the trip. He 
was a ver3' successful farmer and eventually be- 
came the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of 
land which is divided into three improved farms. 
He held township offices at various times, built the 
first school-house and church in his vicinity and 
manifested a high degree of public spirit, lie be- 



came well-known as a straightforward business 
man. In politics he was a strong Hepublican and 
in religion a member of the German Methodist 
E[>iscopal Church in which'be was Class-Leader and 
otherwise pioniinent. He died on his homestead in 
1888, at the .advanced age of eighty 3'ears. 

The wife of Henry Karch was Catherine I>cter, 
who was born in Bayren, (lermany, and who died 
on the home farm four weeks after her liusb.and. 
She had borne eight children named respectively, 
Catherine, Caroline, Henrj', Charles, Jacob, Martin, 
Margaret and P'red. Henry was a member of the 
One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, in which he on- 
listed in 18C2, and was killed at the battle of Chick- 
amauga. 

The gentleman with whose name we introduce 
this sketch was born on the Mohawk River, near 
Frankfort, Herkimer County, N. Y., September 5, 
1846. He was but four 3-ears old when his father 
removed to the Prairie State, the journc}- being 
performed by rail to Chicago and by team to the 
farm in this county. Here the lad grew to man- 
hood amid the usual surroundings of a farmer's 
son and was early set to work in the fields. His 
education was received at what was known as 
"Skunk's Grove Knowledge Shop," an old log 
schoolhouse with slab benches and the other prim- 
itive furnishings common in new settlements. 

During the boyhood and youth of our subject 
wild game was still plentiful in the vicinity of his 
home and oxen were used upon the farms, several 
3oke being attached to the breaking plows, and 
which he learned to drive. On one occasion when 
about fourteen years of .age he was sent to Chicago 
to sell a yoke of fine large oxen. On the way he 
had to cross a creek which was frozen over and the 
cattle refused to go upon the ice. As soon as they 
came to the edge of the stream they would back 
and in spite of his efforts they continued this 
process for about an hour when the boy thought of 
a scheme by which he could get them across. Turn- 
ing them with their heads toward home he backed 
them on to the ice and as soon as they saw it before 
them, they continued the backing process very 
rapidl}'. 

Young Karch remained at work for his father 
until about twenty-four years old when he took 



238 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



personal control of the farm, continuing it some 
three years. He then purchased his present place, 
tiic quarter section iiavinii; no iniiirovenients except 
the hroaiiiiig. The soil being all tillable except 
wliat is left in the timber and tlie owner having the 
IvHowledgc antl experience of a i)ractical farmer, he 
soon brougiit it to its present condition of bcautj' 
an<i worth. The lady to whom he owes the com- 
fort of his home life was known in her maidenhood 
as Miss Louisa Schracder. She was born on board 
a Mississippi steamer when her parents were com- 
ing from New Orleans. Her father, Martin Schrae- 
dcr, was formerly a fanner at Blue Island, Cook 
County, but is now residing in Chicago, having be- 
come well-to-do and retired from his active labors 
four years since. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Karcii was 
celebrated in this county in 1873, and lias been 
l>lest by the birth of six children named resjjectivel^', 
Albert, Laura, Charles, Carrie, Lydia and Artliur. 
Their liome being but two miles from Frankfort, 
they liave excellent advantages whicli combine tlie 
best of country and town life,and their children are 
being well reared and educated. Mr. Karcli was 
School Director nine years and was the means of 
placing the school on the improved footing in 
which it is now carried on. He belongs to the 
Methodist Episcopal Churcli at Frankfort, in which 
he lias been Steward and Trustee. In politics he is 
a stanch Republican. His personal popularity' is 
great and all recognize his worth as a man and cit- 
izen. 



%=^ ON. MICHAEL COLLINS. Day by day 

lf)l] each human beinsr is buildins a monu- 

il J/J ° ° 

il^^ ment more enduring than Time itself — 

(^) one which for grandeur and sublimity 

dei)ends entirely upon the subject and is in no wise 

affected by what '• they " say or do. This is the 

monument of a life, and the pleasing task of the 

biographical writer is to set this upon the printed 

page. When the mind and heart of men are 

attuned to noble deeds and upward growtii, it needs 

not that we add to the_^ simple lecord wliat would 

but "gild refined gold" but to call attention only 



to what has been done in business, office or society, 
and the traits that a personal ac(iuaintance will 
reveal. 

The Irish race is honored in tlie person of the 
gentleman named aliove, wiio is now engaged in 
business in Peotone, owning a large grain elevator 
there, and also holds membership on the Chicago 
Board of Trade. He is a self-made man, as will 
be seen, and the reason therefor understood by fol- 
lowing tiie facts of the i>areiital liistor}-. His 
parents, .lohn and .Bridget (iMulvihill) Collins, 
were born in County Clare, Ireland, the one in 
1815 and the other in 1817, the father being a 
gardener in his own land. They were married in 
1843, and became the parents of five children — 
Michael; .lohn, deceased; Martin, who is in the 
hardware business in Peotone; Thomas, Illinois 
Central Agent at (!r:ind Crossing; and iNIaiy, wife 
of William T. Shatter, a farmer in Wayne County. 

When the Emerald Isle was sorely' afflicted by 
famine in 1848, Air. Collins came to America anil 
obtaining work on the Vermont Central Railroad 
earned money to sencT his suffering family and 
finally to bring the mother and two sons — the fam- 
ily then — across the briny deep. A temporary 
home was made in tlie Green Mountain State, 
whence they removed to Canada. There the father 
worked on the Great Western Railroad for six years 
or until its completion, then locating in F'ayette 
County, III., where he still resides. He helped to 
build the Illinois Central Railroad, continuing his 
arduous labors until about a dozen years ago. He 
is still active, bearing his j'ears well, but his wife 
is not in robust health. Thej' were not able to 
bestow upon their children all the advantages that 
would be possible if they were young now, but 
gave them good advice and what education they 
could. 

Michael Collins was born in County Clare, near 
the historic groinnl of the Shannon River, October 
15, 1845, and was about (Ive years old when 
brought to America. The schooling he received 
was barely suflicient to givu him an understanding 
of the rudiments of education, but since attaining 
manhood he has diligently ajiplied himself to study 
and made wonilerful progress. He has carried on 
a systematic course of general reading, including 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



239 



law, politics and ethics; and has collected one of 
the finest and best selected libraries in this locality. 
It contains standard works on almost every con- 
ceivable subject, scarcely a topic referred to in his 
home being without its volume for consultation. 

When sixteen years old young Collins began life 
for himself hy securing u clerkship in a store -at 
Farina, Fayette C^ounty. The opportunity for ad- 
vancement seemed limited and his ambition led 
him to desire a broader field. Ho tlierefore went 
to Kinmundy, Marion County, where he learned 
telegraphy and station work on the Illinois Central 
line. In 18(53, lie was appointed night oper.ator at 
Gilman, Iro(|uois County, and a month later w■^s 
transferred to Makanda, Jackson County, as agent 
and operator for the Illinois Central Railroad. He 
performed the duties of the office but a year when 
on account of fever and ague he obtained a trans- 
fer to Peotone, where he added tiic duties of ex- 
press agent to those he had formerly carried on. 

For twelve years Mr. Collins held tlie position 
here, satisfying his employers and the public, and 
he then resigned in favor'of his brother Thomas, 
himself entering into the grain and hay business 
in company with Robert Rains, under the firm 
name of Rains & Collins. In 1875, the connec- 
tion was dissolved and a new partnership formed, 
the linn of Schroeder, Smith & Collins embarking 
in the sale of general merchandise and carrying it 
on five years. During that time our subject and 
Mr. Schroeder were also connected in the grain 
business, the style of the lirm being Collins and 
Schroeder. 

The same year that Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the Presidency, Mr. Collins made the race in tliis 
district for the Legislature and was elected on the 
Republican ticket by a large m.ajority. His record 
in the 'riiirty-sccond General Assembly of Illinois 
is one of an opponent of all ring jobs, unnecessary 
and extravagant a|)|>ropriations, and the friend of 
every means of real development and moral growth. 
He has held local ofHcos for many years and his 
popularity is indicated in the fact that he has 
repeatedly defeated candidates of the German race 
which predominates in his locality. He has been 
Supervisor of Peotone Township for years, has 
also been Chairman of the County Board, member 



of the Village Board and School Director. He has 
likewise been Justice of the Peace, although he 
read law for purely business purposes and not 
with tiie intention of practicing it other than in 
his own affairs. 

Tiie same fall that he was elected to the legisla- 
ture, Mr. Collins sold out his interest in the gen- 
eral merchandise business and bought out his part- 
ner in the grain trade, to which he has given his 
exclusive attention as a means of support and gain. 
The trade has constantly grown in his liands, the 
month of May, 1890, having brought him $20,000 
in business in Peotone. In connection with tiiat 
business he holds a membership in the Chicago 
Board of Trade, thus being able to operate among 
the bulls and bears of the grain market that'almost 
rules the deals of the eountiy. Mr. Collins also 
has a half interest in the Tile Works at Peotone, 
and a share with his brother in the hardware busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Collins was fortunate in his choice of a life 
companion, gaining for his wife Miss Caroline Folke, 
who became Mrs. Collins, December 2,1869. She looks 
well to the ways of her household, graciously pre- 
sides over the tasteful dwelling, and surrounds her 
family with the joys of home only possible to a 
true and devoted woman. She was born May 22, 
1852, was educated in the common schools and 
belongs, like her husband, to the Presbyterian 
, Church. Her father, Dr. Henry Folke, was a prom- 
inent pli3'sician of this county for many years; he 
died in 1879. Her mother bore the maiden name 
of Louisa Klinsraan and is still living, making her 
home with Mr. and Mrs. Collins. Dr. and Mrs. 
Folke were born in Germany whence tlie3' came to 
America manj^ years ago. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Collins three children have been 
born — Kittle, Grace and Paul. Miss Kittle was 
graduated from the Peotone High School in 1890, 
and will take a course of instruction in instrument- 
al and vocal music at Lake Forest University, near 
Ciiicago, next year. Miss Grace will .accompany 
her and take a classical and scientific course, while 
it is the intention of the parents to give Master 
Paul ecjuall}' good opportunities as his j'ears 
increase. 

Mr. Collins is Elder and Trustee in the Presby- 



240 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lerian Cburch nnd Superintendent of the Sunday 
School. Miss Kittle teaches the infant class. In 
])iincii)les and practice, Mr. Collins is a temperance 
man. lie has been a Republican since he arrived 
at manhood and was a member of tiie Union 
League when it was dangerous, in Southern Illinois, 
to belong to it or the Republican party. He has 
taken an active part in conventions, county, State 
<ind Congressional. He belongs to I'eotone I^odge, 
636, A. F. and A. M., in which he has occupied the 
Secretary's chairman}' times. 

The residence of Mr. Collins was a purchase and 
has been remodeled and beautified since he became 
the owner. It is furnished throughout in accor- 
dance with the taste of the occupants and is a pop- 
ular gathering place for the best citizens. A few 
years ago Mr. Collins platted Collins' Ad<lition to 
Peotone. He has owned several farms but only for 
purposes of speculation, selling when good oppor 
tunities came. When three jears old he had the 
.'•mall pox, and, taking cold, the disease settled in 
his right side and liml), permanently crippling 
liim. 



iiHOMAS CULBERTSON. Tliis gentleman 
is numbered among the old settlers of Will 
'I' County, in which his residence began in 
1836, a few mouths after he had attained his ma- 
jority. The long years which he has spent here 
have given him an extended acquaintance through- 
out the county, and he is well-known as one whose 
3 ears have been spent in industry and good citi- 
zenship. He is the youngest of ten children who 
conqirised the family of Thomas and Mary 
(Wood) Culbertson, parents and children being 
natives of New Castle County, Delaware. 

The eyes of our subject opened to the light Au- 
gust 23, 1814, and his boyhood was passed in the 
pursuit of knowledge and the home duties suited 
lo his years. WMien sixteen years old he learned 
tlie miller's trade, at which he was occupied in his 
native Slate until he came to Joliet. Here he 
found em|iloymcnt in the McKee mill, in which he 
remaided until August, 1838, after which he spent 
two or three months in the Norman mill, the dam 




of which was then taken out for the canal. He 
then went to Wilmington, finding employment at 
his trade in the mill of Dr. Bowen, and after 
twelve months spent there returned to Joliet and 
entered the Robert Jones steam mill. There he 
was engaged but a few weeks, leaving to settle on 
Hickory Creek, where he engaged in milling for 
iiimself. The old Red Mill having been begun 
but left unfinished, Mr. Culbertson rented and fin- 
ished it, operating it for two years prior to his 
purchase of the property, which he continued to 
manage until the summer of 1805. Since that 
time he has followed different occupations, having 
sold his mill a short time after he gave up oper- 
ating it, and having since his marriage occupied 
the homestead on section 12. His home is one 
of comfort, the dwelling being a cozy one, and 
the land which accompanies it sufficient in extent 
to furnish farm products "enough and to spare" 
for the usf of the family-. Tiie little farm com- 
prises thirlec!) acres, which under careful control 
is of more value than many estates much greater 
in extent. 

In March, 18.')0, having been attacked by gold 
fever, INIr. Culbertson, with several companions 
left Joliet to cross the plains to California. Their 
journey to the P^ldorado and the experiences 
which Mr. Culbertson passed through in the four 
years of his residence upon the Coast, become 
very interesting when graphicallj- pictured by 
himself, bi\t it is not our purpose to attempt their 
recital here. Suffice it to sa}' tiiat the mining to 
which he devoted himself proved more luciative 
than in the case of many who had left home and 
friends and ex[)0scd themselves to danger and pri 
vation in their search for the precious metal. 

On November 19, 1856, in Joliet Townshiii, Mr. 
Culbertson was united in marriage with Miss Mar- 
tha M., daughter of Lewis and Mary (Run3on) Ker- 
cheval. The bride was born in Preble Count3% 
Ohio, October 9, 1824, and was six years of age 
when brought by her parents to the Prairie State, 
their settlement being made in New Lenox Town- 
ship, this county, where they abode until death. 
Mr. Kercheval was a native of Virginia and his 
wife of Kentucky. They had ten children, of 
whom Mrs. Cull)ertson is the fifth in order of 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



241 



birth. She had tlie advantage of excellent home 
lraiiiinj>, acquiring many useful arts, together 
with the qualities of disposition and character 
whic'h make her respected and admired, and which 
have been a potent factor in the comfort of home 
life. She has borne her husband three Qliildren — 
Thomas E., Mary K. and Anne E. The son is now 
book-keei)er for Sanger & Moody, in Chicago; 
Mary is the wife of Wilbur II. Smith, of Jolict; 
Anne died wiien about nineteen months old. 

Mr. Culbcrtson has served both as School Dii'ec- 
tor and School Trustee, fullilling the duties of the 
ollices in a crt'dital)le manner, and evincing a deep 
interest in the progress of education. In politics 
ho is a Democrat, liotli himself and wife have 
many warm friends in the county, and all hough 
they are highly regarded for the labors of their 
earlier 3'ears and their record as old settlers, the 
respect in which they are held is due still more to 
their i)leasant natur(\s and upright characters. 



\fl EVI M. CLA"iES. This name represents 
I ((^ *^"® ^^ '^'"^ oldest living pioneers of Will 
/IL^i^ County. lie came to this region as early 
as 1832, when the present site of Jolict was covered 
with weeds lifteen feet high. The main thorough- 
fare through tliis part of the country' terminated 
at Lockport, which was a hamlet of li.alf a dozen 
shanties located near the river. i\Ir. Claycs took 
u|i a tract of Government laud in the vicinity of 
Lockport, and after making some improvements 
left it and went to Clielsea, now Frankfort, where 
he established a store of general merchandise, 
having mostly the i-ed nn-n of the forest for his 
customers. 

Mr. Claycs likewise was one of the first Postmas- 
ters in Will County, and conducted the oflice and 
his store until failing health compelled him to a 
eliauge of occu|)atioii. He then turned his atten- 
tion to farming on the section of land of which he 
was the owner and became well-to-do, bringing a 
large [lortion of his land to a good state of culiva- 
tion and putting ui) fine buildings. He also set out 



an orchard with numbers of other fruit and shade 
trees, wliile about one mile south grew ui) by de- 
grees the town of Frankfort. 

In IMarcli, 1868, Mr. Clayes sold out and re- 
moved to another farm belonging to him and lo- 
cated in the same section. There also he operated 
a steam sawmill and in this manner disposed of 
about eight}' acres of oak and walnut timber. The 
Rot'k Island Railroad furnished him abundant ship- 
ping facilities and he realized from this venture 
handsome returns. He remained there until wisely 
d(!ciding to lessen his labors and cares, and in 1873 
removed to Joliet and erected a large tine house at 
the intersection of Scott and Weljster Streets. This 
forms one of the most attractive homes of the city. 
The dwelling stands liack from the street and in 
front of it is an extensive lawn while the general 
surroundings of the place indicate the cultured 
tastes .and ara|)le means of the proprietor. Mr. 
Clajes is the owner of other valuable city property 
and a farm in Green Garden Township, besides real 
estate in Wilmington. He has accumulated his 
possessions by his own industry and economy, hav- 
ing at the start no resources but those with which 
nature had endowed him. He has had little time 
to meddle with political matters, aside from giving 
his unqualified supiiort to the Republican party. 

During his younger 3'cars Mr. Claycs enjoyed in 
more than an ordinary degree 3'outhful pleasures 
and recreations, and in comi)any with ^Ir. Stillman, 
inaugurated the first ball ever given in the county. 
The invitations were gotten up in fine st}'le, the 
paper being embellished with the United States 
coat-of-arms and the American eagle. They were 
headed "Union Hall" and read as follows: "The 
managers present their compliments and respect- 
fully solicit the company of — at the Joliet 

Hotel, Thursday, the •24th insi,., at 3 o'clock, P.:\l., 
fall of 1834. 

(). W. Stillman, J. W. Brown, (). T. Rogers, L. 
M. Clayes, S. S. Chamberlain, C. S.ayre, A. Castle, 
R. Nixon, S. Munson, Managers. 

O. W. Stillman, L. M. Clayes, Floor Managers." 

The sul)ject of this notice was born February 8, 
1808, in New Hampshire, and is the son of Peter 
and Lois Claycs, who were natives of Scotland and 
Massachusetts, respectively, anrl spent their last 



242 



PORTllAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



yeai's in Frankfort, Will County. Peter Clayes 
was the oii<,'inal manufacturer of the Chickcring 
Pianos at New Ipswich, N. H. L. M. when a young 
man removed to Pittsford near Rochester, N. Y. 
When reaching manhood he re|)aired to Pittsburg, 
Pa. and subsequently to Louisville, Ky., in both of 
which places his brother-in-law, Sylvauus Lathrop, 
was engaged as a builder and contr.actor, mostly of 
bridges, and put m) several large structures of the 
kind at both places. lie came to Illinois when 
about twenty-three years old and was subsequently 
married in Mokena, 111., November 21, 18.58, to 
Miss Parthena F. Benedict. This lady was born in 
Colborne, Canada, June 29, 1832. Of this union 
there are two daughters, viz. : Hattie A., the wife 
of C. II. I'alcott, Cashier Of the Will County Bank, 
and Louise B., who remains at home with her jiar- 
ents. The parents of Mrs. Clayes were Arazi L., 
and Lucy (Iloyt) Benedict, natives of Connecticut 
and New Hampshire, respectively, now deceased. 



-»»?-' 



*)HOMAS D. FERGUSON. Farming has 
been the chief occupation of Mr. Ferguson 

'<^'' since be reached man's estate, and be now 
gives his attention to that and to the dairy busi- 
ness at his pleasant home on section 6, New Lenox 
Township. Although still on the sunny side of 
forty, having been born March 31, 1853, I\Ir. 
F^erguson li.as manifested the qualities of true 
manhood, and won an honorable name among his 
fellow-men. His estate com))rises eighty-eight 
acres, on which a complete line of farm buildings 
has been erected, all above the average, while 
other improvements are in accord with the edifi- 
ces. The snug estate is so well managed that it 
alTords an excellent income and is more profitable 
than a larger number of acres would be if under 
1( Si efllcient control. 

The gentleman of whom we write derives his 
sterling qualities from honorable Scotch ancestors, 
combining traits which the friends of his deceased 
parents well remember in them. His father was 
William Ferguson, and his mother Elizabeth Doig, 




sister of Thomas Doig, whose sketch appears in 
this volume. Thej' were born in the land which 
has given to the world a Bruce, a Burns, and many 
heroes of sword and pen. After their marriage 
they emigrated to America, settling in New Lenox 
Townshi]), this county, about 1833. They were 
therefore numbered among the early settlers, and 
shared in the labors which have resulted in the 
[iresent prosperity and high development of this 
county. They continued to live in New Lenox 
Township until the death of Mr. Ferguson, which 
occurred in May, 18(J2. His widow breathed her 
last in Chicago, in August, 1871. 

The parental family consisted of four daughters 
and five sons, he of whom we write being the fifth 
in order of birth. His early years were spent at 
the home in this county' and in Cliicago,-his edu- 
cation being obtained in the common schools. He 
was first married, .January 10, 1878, to Miss Sadie, 
daughter of Sylvanus and Mar}- (Doxtader) Lynk. 
The wedding took place in Now Lenox Township, 
in which the bride was born, and where she died 
after a brief married life, i)assing avvay Decembpr 
10, 1879. She left an infant son, William L. Tiie 
second marriage of Mr. F'ei-guson took pl.aco at the 
residence of the Hon. Dwight Haven, October 19, 
1881. The bride was Miss Nellie L., daughter of 
Dwight and Helen L. (Savage) Haven, and w.as 
born in New Lenox Township, November 2, 1853. 
Her |)arental and ancestral history is given in the 
sketch of her father, found elsewhere in this vol- 
ume. 

Mr. Ferguson has served edicicntlj' as School 
Director, as an ollitial and as a i)rivate citizen 
manifesting a deep interest in the cause of educa- 
tion. In politics he is a Republican. Mrs. Fergu- 
son is a member of the Episcopal Church. Growing 
to maturity amid the most favorable surroundings, 
she developed into a lad}' of pleasing manners, 
more than average intelligence, and a knowledge 
of both useful and ornamental arts, which fitted 
her for any sphere in life and causes her not only 
to be cherished by her companion as his choicest 
blessing, but to make friends wherever she is 
known. Mr. Ferguson is likewise one of whom 
good is spoken, atTording the biographical writer 
a pleasant task in inditing his life history. 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



245 



JULIUS S.HOLMES. Among the prominent 
[ citizens of Will County, considerable nicn- 
1 tion belongs to the gentleman whose por- 
'^^Jj trait is shown on the opposite page, and 
who has l)cen a life-long resident of New Lenox 
I'ownsliip. In his native place he has aeciuirod a 
reputation for integrity and perseverance, and 
wherever known is highly respected. When still a 
small child he was or|jliancd by the death of his 
father, who was a farmer in New Lenox Township. 
Our snbjeet was therefore early thrown upon his 
own resources, and though at present only in the 
|iriine of life has li_v his own efforts made himself 
inde|)endent. To such men as he. America owes 
heihigh standing among other ohier countries, and 
to the efforts which such citizens as he have made. 
Will County may justly attribute the development 
of her limitless resources. 

The gentleman of whom this sketch is written is 
a son of Ihe late Asher Holmes and his wife, Eliza 
Ann Klmore. Loth were born in Sherburne, Che- 
nango County, N. V., the father on September 28, 
1797, and the mother on Septemlicr 22, 1805. lu 
their native county thej' made their Hrst home 
after marriage, sulisequently removing to Chautau- 
qua County, and in 1832 returning to that in which 
they were born. In the spring of ISS.'i they turned 
their footsteps westward, and coming to Will 
County, 111., made a settlement on section 22, New 
Lenox Township. Here the father was engaged in 
farming until his deatli, January 24, 18."i4. The 
widowed mother continued to live on the old 
homestead until her death, which occurred June 
r>, 1880. They had six children — James E., My- 
ron 1'., j;iiza A., Orsamus, Lydia and Julius S. 
F;iiza, who was the wife of Thomas Stolp, died in 
Nebraska in May, 187:5. 

The natal d.a}- of our snbjeet was August ."30, 
1848, and his birtbiJace the old homestead on 
which he grew to manhood and continued to live 
until the spring of 1890. He was educated in the 
common schools, and l)y the use of the means 
which are open to all who desire knowledge, he has 
added to the knowledge obtained at school the 
broader education which can only be gained by a 
mature mind and a practical application of theories 
in contact with mankin<l. After having pursued 



an agricultural life until the date before mentioned, 
Mr. Holmes rente<l his farm and removed to New 
Lenox ^'illage. He is now giving his attention to 
the grain trade, his in'incipal place of business 
being Manhattan, although he is also a member of 
the Chlc.'igo r.oard of Tr.ade. His business ability 
is undisputed, and has been m.ade use of by his 
fellow-citizens, who have i^allcd upon liini to fill 
oDicial stations of various natures. 

The marriage of Mr. Holmes was celebrated in 
New Lenox Townsbii), .lanuarj' 24, 1871 , his bride 
being l\Iiss Sophie, youngest "child of Abraham 
and .lane (AVood) Willis. Mrs. Holmes was born 
in New Jersey, August 14, 18r)2, but grew to 
womanhood in this count3\ to which her parents 
came in I8GI. The3' were natives of the Em|)ire 
State and the parents of nine children. The 
mother died in Wenona, Marshall County, III., 
February 28, 1880; Mr. Willis is yet living. Mrs. 
Holmes possesses an estimable Christian character, 
and has the knowledge of domestic arts and .social 
accomplishments which m.ake her home a happy one 
and give her po[)ularity among her acquaintances. 
She has borne twelve children, named respective- 
ly : Kaynor E., Arthur W., Laura E., Herbert H., 
liessic J.. Eva M., ]\Iamie E., Ethel J., Mattle A., 
Olive I., Sophie L. and .lulius W. Eva M. and 
Olive I. are deceased. 

Mr. Holmes has ever taken an active interest in 
politics, and is numbered in the Republican ranks. 
He has held the ollice of School Trustee for twelve 
years, and has also been School Director. Both 
he and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he lias held the oHices 
of Steward and Trustee, positions of financial Im- 
[lortance, for which his business talents and deep 
interest in the work of the church well qualified 
him. 



jILLIAM GOOD.SON has for a period of 
// twenty j-ears pursued his farming opera- 
W^ tions in Plainfield Township, and is counted 
one of the most substantial residents of the place. 
He is a native of Leicestershire, England, born De- 
cember 11, 1834. His father, John Goodson, was 



24G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



born in the .same sliiic fine] was lliore reared to 
afjric'ulUiral |)ursuits, ami always earned his living 
tilling the soil, spending his entire life in his native 
land. The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject wag Lucy Howell, .and siie was born in 
Rutland, Kiigland. She came to America in 186'), 
and now makes her home with her children, she 
having attained the age of eighty-on(^ years. There 
were eleven children born to the parents of our 
subject, eight of whom were reared to maturity as 
follows: George, William, .Sanuiel, Thomas, llcnr^-, 
.lolin, Richaril and Robert, all of whom came to 
America, e.\cc|)t Richard, and settled in dilTerent 
parts of the country. 

lie of whom we write went to work on the farm 
at an early age and earned his own living. J'he 
wages were low and the chances of securing a home 
in his native land were almost nil, and he deter- 
mined to see what life held forh im in America, and 
on the 2iHli of Octol)er, 185G, accompanied by his 
bride, set sail from Liverpool in the good ship 
"Cultivator," and on the 29th of November landed 
in New York. From there he and his wife pro- 
ceeded to Orange County, N. Y., where they found 
themselves penniless and among strangers. Our 
subject with characteristic self reliance immediately 
set aliout finding employment, and soon obtained 
work upon a farm. He resided thereuntil August, 
1856, and then went with his family to St. Clair 
County, I\Iich., and there was engaged in a saw- 
mill until 18.)9. Tn that year he again started 
westward, and ccuning as far as Illinois resumed 
his old employment as a farm hand in Canton, 
Fulton County. In 18G4 he went to Kendall 
County. Having prudently saved his earnings he 
was enabled to be more independent, and com- 
menced faniiitig on his own Account, renting land. 
He carried on his farming operations in that man- 
ner for six years, and then bought eighty acres of 
land, which is included in his present farm in Plain- 
field Township. This was scarceh' at all improved, 
and a rude shanty on the place was the only build- 
ing. Since then lie has been much prospered, and 
has brought about great changes on bis place, hav- 
ing erected a good set of frame buildings, planted 
fruit and shade trees, fenced the land and now has 
it under admirable cultivatit)n. lie has been so 



successful that he has added to his estate, and no" 
has one hundred and eighty-six and one-third acre 
of fine farming land, all lying in a bod}' and eoi; 
stituting as productive and well-improved a fan 
as is to be found in the locality. 

In 18.06 Mr. Goodson was happily married t 
Miss Sarah Broom, a native of Rutland, Knglanc 
and a daughter of John Broom. Their niarriagi 
has been blessed by the birth of eleven childrerl 
nine living, namely: Mary A., Lucy, Lillie, Ameli; 
Edward, Charles, Ernest, Herbert and Eva. Th 
deceased were Hannah and William II. Mr. Good 
son's career as a farmer, since he took up his resi 
dence in this place, proves him to be a shrewd 
practical, industrious man, and the honorable, up 
right life that he has alwaj's led entitles him to bt 
called a trustworthy man and a good citizen, an^ 
he and his family are well respected in this com 
munity. 

\ 
OHN W. DOWNEY. The legal fraternit; 
of Will County numbers among its mos 
painstaking and promising members him witl 
whose name we introduce this notice. H 
is yet young in years, having been born April 3 
18G0, and his childhood home was in Normal 
Township, Grundy County, this State. His pac 
entiS were John and Mary (O'Halloran) Downejj; 
who were natives of County Tipperary, IrelancJ 
The father of our subject came to America ii 
1849, and in 1851 was married to Miss O'Hallo 
ran, in LaSalle Countj', this State. They settle( 
upon a farm, and there were born to them six chi| 
dren, five sons and one daughter. One son, Ed 
ward, died at the age of twent3'-six years. Th* 
others, with the exception of our subject, are re 
siding in Grund}- County. John W., who was tin 
fourth in order of birth, spent his boyhood on tin 
farm, assisting in its labors, and attending, mostVi 
during the winter season, the common school. Hi 
was of studious habits, improving his leisui 
hours by reading and studj-, and after leaving 
school occupied himself as a teacher, which is th( 
usual stepping stone to other professions. He wa; 
desirous, however, of advancing his educatior, 



m\ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



217 



and in the summer of 1882 entered the Normal 
School at Valparaiso, Ind., wliicli he attended three 
terms. 

Mr. Downey, having resolved upon following 
the profession of law, came, in the si)ring of \SHi>, 
to Joliet, and entered the ofliee of Hale}' it O'Don- 
nell, where he closelj' applied himself to the stndy 
of the hest legal works iinlil December following, 
wlien he was admitted to the bar. He remained 
with his preceptors one year, then opened a law 
olliee, and has since confined himself to the prac- 
tice of his i)rofession. lie was elected City Attor- 
ney in April, 1889, for a term of two years. 
Politically, Mr. Downey atHliates with the Demo- 
cratic party, and in religion he adheres to the 
Catholic faith of his forefathers. Socially, he be- 
longs to the Independent Order of Foresters. He 
gives bis whole time to the duties of his profession, 
and is rapidly acquiring a substantial footing 
therein. 



KNRY C. (JULLOM. Tlie real-estate and 
r )Yi insurance business of Joliet and vicinity 
y^ finds a lively representative in Mr. Cullom, 
^ who with his partner, James W. Patterson, 
has a vvell-equipped office on Chicago Street. He 
embarked in the.se enterprises in the fall of 1888, 
writing fire, life and accident policies. He is a 
native of Illinois and was born in Tazewell County, 
April 1, 1839, to Richard N. and Betsey Elizabeth 
(Coffey") Cullom. 

The parents of our subject were natives respect- 
ively of Tennessee and North Carolina, and met in 
Kentucky, where they were married. In the fall 
of 18:i0 they emigrated to Illinois, and the father 
tliereafter occupied iiimself at farming in Tazewell 
County, 111. The mother passed awaj' in Deccm- 
lier, 18fi8. The household circle numbered five 
sons and six daughters, of whom the subject of 
this notice was the youngest. Five of these are 
living. 

The subject of this notice lived in iiis native 
county until reaching man's estate — in fact eight 
years after reaching his majority. The most of 



this time was employed in farm pursuits. His 
education was such as vvas afforded by the common 
school, and he acquired tliose habits of industry 
and economy whicii iiave followed him through 
life. In 18G8 he rajiaired to Springfield, 111., and 
engaged in the mei-cantile business until 1874. 
Then, going to Southeastern Nevada, he enteicd 
the employ of the Government as Indian Agent, 
and was in that region and Indian Territory 
about eighteen months. 

At the expiration of this time we find Mr. Cul- 
lom on a farm in Lawrence County, 111. Later he 
took a contract from the penitentiary in Joliet, 
to manufacture hosiery and (jlothing, and occu- 
pied himself at that industry for a period of 
twelve years. Then, selling out, he embarked in 
his present business. He was married October 29, 
1861, to Miss Anna M. Kingman. Mrs. Cullom 
was born May IG, 1841, and like her husband is a 
native of Tazewell County, this State. Their union 
has resulted in the birth of four sons and four 
daugjiters, seven of whom remain under the par- 
ental roof. The second daughter, Jennie N., is 
the wife of Edward C. Barrett, of Joliet. Mr. 
Cullom cast his first Presidential vote for Lin- 
coln, and in politics, continues a stanch supporter 
of the Republican party. He is an Elder of the 
Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Patriotic 
Order Sons of America. 

'T^REDERICK A. LUTHEH. Probably a ma- 
U?^ jority of the farmers of Wilmington Town- 
(^ ship are men well-to-do, and of that class 
who have been the architects of their oivn fortunes. 
Among them may be properly mentioned the sub- 
ject of this notice, who is comitaratively young in 
years, and who is a native of this State, born in 
Kankakee County, March 28, 1855. He is the rep- 
resentative of a substantial old family of New 
England ancestry, the son of Charles and Lucy 
(Holland) Luther, who were natives of A'erraont. 
The paternal grandparents of our subj(!ct were 
Jabez and Elizabeth (Parkman) Luther, the former 
of whom was a son of Caleb and Rebecca (Brown) 



•248 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Luther. Caleb was the son of Jabez and Alse Lu- 
tlier, who were natives of Massachusetts, and Jabez 
was a son of Caleb and Mary Luther, natives of the 
New England States. Caleb was a son of Samuel 
and Sarah, likewise natives of New Enjjland, and 
Samuel w.is the son of Samuel, Sr., and Mary Lu- 
ther. Samuel, Sr., was the son of Ca])t. John S. 
Luther, a seafaring man and commander of a mer- 
chant vessel. The latter was killed l)y the Indians 
on the Delaware River, in 1645; he was of German 
descent, but born in Ireland. 

Some of the early members of the Luther family 
were men of note in New England, and exercised 
no unimpurtant influence in their communities. 
Grandfather Jabez Luther was a merchant in Cor- 
nish, N. n., for many years. He lost both his arms 
by the premature discharge of a cannon, on the 4tli 
of July, 1805. Charles Luther, the father of our 
subject, was born in Pitlsford, Rutland C^ounty, 
Vt., June 30, 1819, and spent the first twelve years 
of his life there. He was married there, in 1844, 
and in 1849 set his face westward, coming to Illi- 
nois and settling on a farm in Kankakee Count}'. 
He lived there until 1865, then removed to Wil- 
mington Township, this county, where he still 
lives. 

The mother of our subject, also a native of the 
Green Mountain State, was born in Stockbridge, 
Windsor County, to Jonathan and Mary (Ranney) 
Holland. The latter were also natives of Vermont, 
where they spent their entire lives. To Charles and 
Lucj' Luliier there were born three children only, 
viz.: Julius J., Charles W. ; and Frederick A., of 
this sketch. The latter is the only surviving mem- 
ber of the family. Julius J. was in Chicago sev- 
eral years prior to his death. He was a man of fine 
business qualifications and considerable means, and 
for several years was the owner and superintend- 
ent of the Brink Express Company. 

Frederick A. Luther has been a resident of this 
county since 1865. He has followed farming all 
his life, and owns one hundred and sixtj' acres of 
land, comprising a well-improved farm lying about 
one and one-half miles northwest of Wilmington. 
He has a fine residence, with substantial outbuild- 
ings, an ample supply of farm m.achinery, and all 
the other appliances for prosecuting his calling in 






a prolilahle and successful manner. In additi( 
general agriculture he is considerably inleresti 
blooded horses, of which he is enabled to ex: 
some fine specimens. He makes of farming 
stock-raising an art and a science, and by rea 
and observation keeps himself thoroughly y>i 
as to the best methods employed in conne 
therewith. 

One of the most important events in the 1 
Mr. Luther was the occasion of his marriage, 
tember 7, 1877, with Miss Mary E. Thoma? 
wedding taking |)lace at the bridle's home in 
mington. Mrs. Luther was born January 10, 
in England, to Henry and Mary (Lester) Thfl 
who were likewise natives of England, and 
whom she came to America when a child nine 
of age. They settled in this county; the fatlj 
deceased, and the mother is still living. INIr 
Mrs. Luther are the parents of two sons — CL 
J. and John H. Both parents and sons beloi 
the New Jerusalem Church, and our subject 
litically, atliliates with the Democratic party 



AVID L. CHRISTIAN occupies a far 
two hundred and forty acres on sectioi 
Peotone Township, which is sufHciently | 
to afford a comfortable maintenance. He 
however, obtained what is better than silve 
gold, a good name and the respect of his fe 
men. He has been a leader on the side of ir 
ity when it took high moral courage to annc 
his beliefs and uplift the standard of right| 
justice in the community. 

Our subject was born in Cayuga County, >' 
September C, 1824, and is the oldest child ol 
vid and Jane (Wolverton) Christian. The f 
was born in 1795, and the mother April 26, 
both in the Empire State, where their mai^ 
also took place, the date of that event beingi 
uary 15, 1822. The wife breathed her last: 
gust 26, 1833, after having borne three chil 
of whom our subject is the only survivor. ^ 
years after her death the father removed to I 
igan, sojourning but four years ere settlin 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



249 



mPage County, 111., on a farm which he con- 
Bued to occupy until overtaken by death, in 
S15. He married for his second wife Mrs. 
hristianna Ketchum, nee Churchill, who still sur- 
jves. This union was blest b}' the birth of two 
lildren. 

The gentleman of whom we write received a 
)mmon-school education in New Yorkand Mich- 
lj.n, his youthful days being passed in the 
•dinary manner of a farmer's son. Being tlie 
West child, he had charge of his father's busi- 
jss for a few years prior to the latter's death, 
id for a short time after. He took up the High 
;hool studies in the old Chicago Academy, fitted 
^uself for teaching and found employment in 
le district schools of DuPage Count3', for three 
filters. In the intervals of his |)i'ofessional work 
i was employed on the construction of the 111- 
lois <fc Michigan Central Railroad, from Kensing- 
m to Cliicago. During a jiart of three seasons, 
^1852-53-54, he was occupied under a contract 
>r fencing the road, and some of the fence is 
ill standing near Madison, after thirty-seven 
ears. 

Jn the fall of 1851, Mr. Christian returned to 
le old home, remaining thereon until the spring 
f 1858, when he located in the village of Peo- 
)ne. Will Count3\ In the spring of 1867 he re- 
oved to the farm where he has since resided. 
I consisted of two liundred and forty acres of 
pod land, wholly unimjiroved at the time of his 
iircbase. He erected upon it, in 1867, a good 
;si.'euce, which cost $2,500, the accompanying 
iirns and other outbuildings, and placed the en- 
re acreage under good cultivation. When he be- 
jn life for hirasplf Mr. Christian was nearly 
iipty-handed, §250 being his siiare of his father's 
itate. He has an interest in the old homestead 
I DuPage County. 

On October 23, 1851, Mr. Christian was united 
r marriage with iSIiss Clara, daughter of Suniuel 
^d Judith (Elliott) Page, natives of New Hanip- 
lire. Mr. and Mrs. Page removed to Illinois in 
839, settling in Kane County, wiiere the husband 
led in 1840, his widow surviving until 1863. 
hey were the parents of six children, three of 
now are now living, and Mrs. Christian was the 



fifth in order of birth. Her natal day was March 
28, 1833, and her native State New Hampsiiire. 
Slie attended a select school in DuPage County, 
111., enriching her mind with useful knowledge and 
mental culture. A womanly woman, her quiet 
dignity is felt in every circle that she enters, and 
she has stood side by side witii her husband in 
moral and Christian endeavors. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Christian six children have 
been l)orn, as follows: Walter, September 22, 1852: 
Ella, February 27, 1854; Mary, October 1, 1856; 
David Warren, November 6, 1859; Sarah F., 
March 17, 1863; Clara Jenny, May 30, 1866. 
The}' have received more than common-school ed- 
ucations, and Warren and Clara have taught in 
this county. More than one of the family are es- 
pecially gifted in intellect and possess musical 
and other t.alents. The three eldest children are 
deceased. Ella passed away Novemlier 11, 1879, 
leaving a host of friends to honor her memory. Her 
especial talent was for music, and she excelled in 
organ playing, also succeeding wonderfully as a 
teacher. With a strong intellect and a noble heart, 
she bore a share in the good works instituted 
throughout the vicinity, and became greatly loved. 
She was the leader of the music in the church 
where the family attended, and promoted its in- 
terests very largely. She was the wife of John 11. 
Braytou. 

Two of the surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Christian are living in homes of their own. David 
W., a merchant in Kankakee, III., married Cora J. 
Palmer, and has one child, David Palmer. Sarah 
F. is the wife of II. Anson Harsh, of Normal Park, 
Cook County, and they have one child, Clara. 

Mr. Christian has been School Director in Dis- 
trict No. 6, also Township Trustee of Schools, 
Township Treasurer of Schools, Supervisor of Peo- 
tone Township and Justice of the Peace. He has 
always taken an active interest in politics, and at 
the beginning of his political experience was a 
strong Abolitionist. For twenty-five years he has 
been identified with the Republican iiarty, for which 
he has acted as Township Representative, in con- 
ventions, probably a greater number of times than 
anj' other man here. He has also been a delegate 
to State and Congressional conventions. Before 



2r)0 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAr> ALBUM. 



the w:ir lie was uoimefled with the "umlerf^ronnd 
lailiimd," and (liirin<>- tlie war lie was also a mem- 
1)01- «>r Ihi' I'liiou League. 

For alioiit livi; yoais Mr. Christian was tlic only 
man In the vilia<;(! of I'wUjne wiio would s|)eak out 
in liiliMlf (if li'mpcranuf, iiciuor being at that lime 
sold tliere without license. So franii had he been 
in expressing ids views, and so ardently had he 
labored against tiie liijuor interest, lliat he was at 
one time threaleiid by mob violence, but good 
counsel linally pievailed and he was not molested. 
Botii he an<l liis wife formerly lielonged to the 
(Jood 'I'emplars' org.anizalion and held ofliee therein. 

The entire Christian family belong to the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and take an active part in 
the work of the denomination, especially in the 
Sunday-school and music. The son Warren has 
ever been connected with the choir, his line b.ass 
voice a<lding volume and depth to the liglitei- tones 
of his sisters and others. Mr. Christian took part 
in the initiatory steps to secure preaching of liie 
Gospel, and a place of worship in the village of 
Pcotone. He is Trustee, Steward and Class Leader; 
he lias been Superintendent of the Sund.ay-school 
in Peotone twenty-three years continuouslj', and 
held the same position elsewhere. At present he 
leaches the IJilile class. Mrs. Christian ii;is had a 
cbiss for about twent^'-two years continuously, and 
the children have also been teachers. The influence 
exerted by such a father and mother is beyond 
calculation, and when extended by the sons and 
daughters the benefit to mankind is boundless, 
giving re.asoii for the approval of all who feel an 
interest in the advaneeinent of humanity. 






^^j" 



■^OHN WILLIAM DIERSEN is a prosperous 
farmer and stock-raiser, whose fine farm is 
located on section 1.0, Crete Township. He 
is the fortunate possessor of tvvo hundred 
and forty acres of highly-improved land, besides 
thirty acres of timber, all of which formerly be- 
longed to his father, whom he succeeded in the 
ownership and operation of the homestead. It has 
been almost his life-long home, as he came to it 



with his parents in his youth, having previously 
lived in Chicago some six years. The family ar- 
rived in America in 1.S46 from Ilesse-Cassel, Ger- 
m.-iny, where be of whom we writi! was born, Sep- 
lenilier 2, IHW. 

.lolin II. Dierseii, father of our subject, was of 
good (ierman blood, and in his native country was 
in the employ of a (jerman nobleman bearing the 
name of Munchhausen, from the time he was a 
young man until he came to the I'nited States. He 
married Sophia Hue, who was, like her husband, a 
native of the Prussian Province of Ilesse-Cassel 
and of [lure Hessian ancestry. After the birth of 
four children, one of whom dieil in infanc}', Mr. 
Dierseu set out for America with his wife, son and 
two daughters. The}' set sail from Bremen in 
May, 184(;. and after a tedious voyage landed in 
the American metropolis, .luly ■'). Thence they 
went up the Hudson Kiver to Albany, thence 
on the canal to Buffalo, where they embarked upon 
a lake steamer, which anchored in Chicago iu the 
latter part of the month. They remained in that 
city until 1852, when Mr. Diersen procured forty 
acres of Government land in ^Vill County and be- 
gan agricultural labors as a poor farmer. 

By hard work and the rigid economy best 
known to themselves, he and his wife got on in 
the world, linally becoming quite rich. The}' ac- 
cumulated the land now owned by their son, im- 
proved and occupied it for some 3'ears, finally 
removing to Crete Village, where both died. The 
death of Mrs. Dierseu took place in 188j, and that 
of her husband in 1887. both being about seventy- 
three years of age. Tlie_y were estimable peo|)le, 
well known in the vicinity and well respected. 
They were closely connected with the work of the 
Lutheran Church, to which they gave liberallj'. 
The only members of his family' now living are 
our subject and his sister, Mrs. Sophia Brown, 
of Chicago. Before his marriage Mr. Dierseu had 
served his country as a soldier in the Hanoverian 
War. 

.1. W. Dierseu assisted his parents as his strength 
would permit, becoming of age on the farm he 
now owns and in the improvement of which he 
took part. He was married in this township to 
Engel Desenisz, who was born in Ilesse-Cassel. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



251 



Gormany, August 28, 18t2. AVhen sixteen years 
'old she aecoinpanied lier brother I'liilip to Amer- 
ica, their home being made in lliis county. Philip 
Desenisz served some time during the late Kebellion 
Sis a member of the Union army. Mrs. Diersen re- 
ceived a good practical education and excellent 
home training from her worthy parents, and dur- 
'ing her mature years has exhibited marked ability 
Ifis a housewife and great kindness in her donieslic 
and social relations. Her mother, Si>|ihia (Sailer) 
'Desinisz, died in the year 1884, being then 
quite old. Her father, l'hili|i Desenisz, Sr., is still 
living in his native clime, where he has lieen a 
small farmer. He is a lifelong member of the 
^..utheran Church, of which his deceased wife was 
also a communicant. 

' The wife of our subject has borne him twelve 
children, of whom we note the following: John is 
a hardware dealer in Crete, his wife being Sophia 
Piepenbrink; William is at present working in a 

«:rain house in the same town; Louisa is the wife of 
r 
Phillip Pieperhrink, a farmer in Crete Township; 

Ueiiry is now with his brother, assisting him in the 
hardware business ; August, Herman, Gotleib, 
Anielia, Emma, Walter. Anna and Otto are at 
home Herman is learning the trade of a black- 
smith. Mr. Diersen has held the minor offices of 
the township and is now acting in the capacity of 
School Director, and has been Highway Commis- 
jsioner since 1871, and h.as also been Treasurer 
for the same length of time, and is Secretary of 
the Crete Farmers' Mutual Insurance Companj-. 
He and the members of his family who are entitled 
to vote belong to the Republican party. The en- 
xire family, parents and children, belong to the 
iLntheran Church. 



EV. ERNST A. BRAUER, pastor of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church at Crete, is 
one of the ablest men in the ministry and 
besides possessing natural talents of a high 
ortler, is finely educated, a close student and an 
extensive reader. For the last forty-three years 
he has given his entire attention to the interests of 




his church and people and is greatly esteemed in 
the couimuiiity, not only among those with whom 
he is intimately associated, but by the people at 
large. Mr. lirauer came to this place from St. 
Louir, Mc)., where for six years he had been p.astor 
of Trinity, one of the oldest Lutheran Churches 
in that city. Prior to this he was for ten yeais a 
Professor in Concordia Theological .Seminarj' at 
St. Louis, to which he removed from Pittsburg, 
Pa., where he had been connected with the oldest 
church in that city for six years. During the 
Civil War he served with the Missouri Militia and 
assisted in quelling tlie disturbances in that State, 
although never having regularly enlisted. 

Mr. Brauer assumed charge of his first congre- 
gation at Addison, DuPage County, 111., in No- 
vember, 1847, during the pioneer days, when his 
salary, like his congregation, was exceedingly small 
and continued so for a number of j'ears and he 
lived to see this society become one of the largest 
and most prosperous in the S3'nod, comprising the 
States of Indiana, Illinois, ^Missouri and others. 
He was one of the earliest preachers of the Luth- 
eran denomination in Illinois which was not rep- 
resented by any other for a number of years. He 
labored faithfully in the service of the Master 
and was rewarded by witnessing in due time a 
bountiful harvest. 

The subject of this notice was liorn in the King- 
dom of Hanover, April 19, 1819, his early home 
being in the vicinity of Northeim. He received 
his education at a cloister in Elfeldt, where he pur- 
sued his studies six years, but he afterward en- 
tered the University at Gottingen from which he 
was duly graduated and after this he became a pu- 
pil in the college at Berlin. Subsequently he be- 
came a private tutor in the family of Mr. Omp- 
teda, the German Ambassador at London, and was 
thus occupied two years. At the expiration of 
this time he sailed for America in October, 1847, 
and after a nine weeks' voyage landed in New 
York City. He had only intended remaining a 
few years in this countr}', but his labors have 
been attended with such prosperity and he has 
made so many friends, besides becoming greatly 
attached to its institutions that he has no desire of 
returning except to visit the scenes of his youth. 



252 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



\A'^liilc a n,-itlciiL i.f Addison, Mr. Biauer made 
lli.'Hcquaintance of Miss Bcalc Reiinnann, who bc- 
caiiio his wife Septeiiilier 9, 1849, llie wcddiii-,' luii- 
injf place in Chicago. Mrs. Br.-uicr was born 
October 23, 1822, in the town of Schullmburg', 
Hanover, and is the daiigliterof Uicharil Rcinniann 
who was of [Hire (lernian ancestry. I^be was carc- 
fullN- reared and received a thorough education 
ill liei- native tongue. She went to Paris, France, 
with an un(de and from tliere came to America in 
1819. Of iier unJDii with our subject tiiere iiave 
been born nine chihlrcn, all of whom are living. 
Five sons and two ilaughtei's are marricil. Albert 
n. was born in IbfiO and at an early age evinced 
more llian ordinary talent, being fond of his books 
and ambitious to excel in liis studies. He was 
graduated at Ft. W.ayne, (liid. ) College and later at 
Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, lie now has 
charge of the Lutheran congregation at Beecher, 
111. He married Miss Louisa Stein, of St. Louis, 
Mo. and they are the parents of seven children. 
.lane became tlie wife of Prof. Theophile Meos, 
Rector of the Ohio Seminary at Woodville, Ohio; 
they have six ehihiren. Dorothea is at home witli 
her parents; Charles II. married Miss Anna Bart- 
llng and is living at Eagle Lake, III. He was 
•educated in SpriMg(iel(i, III., and has charge of 
St. .lolin's Kvangclical Lutheran Church. He 
is the father of four children. August G. was 
educated in a Seminary at St. Louis, where he now 
lives engaged as a stove repairer; he married Miss 
Amelia Sehuricht and they have four ciiildren; 
Ilelene is the wife of the Rev. Frederick Pfoten- 
hauer, who has charge of a congregation at Lewis- 
ton, Wis. and they have four children; Herman E. 
is the pastor of the Lutheran Church at Niles, this 
State; he was educated in St. Louis, Rio. and 
Springfield, III., and married Miss Johanna Brock- 
man of Chieago;they have four children. Frederick 
E. was graduated at Ft. Wayne, (Ind.) Seminary 
and later at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and is 
now assistant pastor with his father, besides having 
charge of other local churches; he married Miss 
Anna Meyer of Lake View, III.; they make their 
home with our subject. William A. is a minister 
of the Lutheran Church, having charge of a flour- 
ishing congregation at Hammond, Ind.; he was 




graduated from the college of his church at 

Springfield, HI. Ho is unmarried. 

Mr. Braucr and his son Frederick have a fine 
library of which they make constant use and which 
contains many choice volumes including some an- 
cient works of great value. The family holds a 
high social position, representing the culture and 
refinement of the community. 

-,»* .0*o..^y^><A^..O*o.. -t,^ 

[; BRAHAM GOCKLEY. A comi)end of 
biographies of residents in Jackson Town- 
ship would be incom[)lete if it did not in- 
S*// elude that of the gentleraaTi above named, 

a retired farmer who is now enjo3'ing the fruits of 
his early industry. His farm is on section 24, 
where he has resided since April 1857. He now 
makes his home in Joliet. His lauded estate com- 
|)rises two hundred and seventy acres which he 
rents, feeling that he is entitled to repose in his 
declining years. The residence is of pleasing ar- 
chitectural design, well furnished and pleasantly 
located, and all of the outbuildings upon the 
estate are well l)uilt aii<l sudicient in size and num- 
ber to .•ide(|nately shelter stock, crops, and ma- 
chinery. 

The early life of Mr. Gockley was spent in Lan- 
caster County, Pa., in which he was born May 17, 
1827. He was reared on a farm and early deter- 
mined to follow the business of farming and stock- 
raising, which he has done throughout his entire 
active life. He was married in his native count}' 
in October, 1848, to Miss Hannah Lutz, who was 
born in the same county in 1827. AVhen the re- 
moval to this county was made the family in- 
cluded three children. The parents have had ten 
sons and daughters, five of whom died when they 
were young. 

The living children of Abraham Gockley and 
his esteemed wife are: Henry, a resident of Joliet; 
Sarah, wife of Harmon Deutschman of Jackson 
TowL'ship; Marinda, wife of Andrew Peterson, of 
Jackson Township; Albert, a resident of Joliet, 
and Mary, wife of Jerry Johnson, of Rice County, 
Kan. The devoted wife and mother was called 




J-y^a^AMy 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



255 



fi-oiii time to eternity April 25, 18G7. She was a 
im^nibor of the German Baptist Cliurch, whose 
principles she ever endeavored to carry out in 
daily life. 

The nature of Mr. Gockley Is extremely genial 
and social, and his memory is stored with infor- 
mation and incidents of earlier life, wliich make 
iiim an entertaining coni[)anion. lie manifests a 
deep interest in the welfare of those about him, 
particularly in the cause of education and the 
spreading of the Gospel. He has been School Di- 
rector for twelve years and is an active member of 
the German Baptist Church. 



♦^-^^ 



^ 



AMES R. ASHLEY. The subject of this 
notice is familiarly called "the father of all 
the wire mills of this county." He is one 
the oldest residents of the county, having 
come to Plainfleld as earl3' as 1837, when a boy of 
twelve years. He was born February 3, 1825, in 
Martinsburg, Lewis County, N. Y., and is the son 
of Riley 15. and Sally (Searles) Ashley, the latter 
of whom died when her son James R. was only two 
years old, also leaving an infant daughter who died 
in early childhood. 

The subject of this notice remained with his fa- 
ther in his native place until 1837, and then the 
latter decided to emigrate to Illinois, set out with 
his little family and in company with three other 
families journeyed overland with teams from New 
York to this county. After a tedious journey' of 
one month they arrived in the embr3'o town of 
Joliet, June 9, following. 

The father being a Baptist minister purchased a 
home in the village of Plainfield and also bought 
a farm in that vicinity, the latter of which he 
leased while he confined his attention to his pas- 
toral duties. He organized the first Baptist Church 
in the place and remained in charge of it for sev- 
eral years. Through his efiforts various other 
churches were organized throughout the surround- 
ing country, and among these he labored faithfully, 
sometimes going as far as Chicago to preach. He 
nuiintained his home continuously in Plainfield and 



died there in August, 1880, at the advanced age 
of eighty-one years. He had in the meantime con- 
tracted a second marriage and there were born to 
him tliree more children, only one of whom is 
now living. After the death of his wife he was 
married a third time, and his widow is at present 
residing in Leyden, N. Y. 

James R., of this notice, was reared by his father 
and step-mother in I'lainfield, and was given a 
good education, completing his studies at Warren- 
ville, this State. He first engaged in business in 
I'lainfield as a merchant in a small way and by the 
exercise of a wise economy, succeeded in accumu 
lating sufficient means to erect a large store build- 
ing in which he placed a first-class stock of 
merchandise. He conducted the business until 
July, 1870, and then sold out. In the meantime, 
when the township organization was effected he 
was elected Township Clerk, which position he 
held for a period of fifteen years. During that 
time he also held the office of Justice of the Peace 
two terras and in addition to this, from the fall of 
1862 until the spring of 1870, was the United States 
Ganger for what was then the Eighth Congres- 
sional District, comprising six counties. He had 
the supervision of all the distilleries, wholesale 
liquor and rectifying establishments within his 
bailiwick, and was required to inspect all liquors 
made and collect the tax thereon. It will thus be 
seen that during those years he was a very busy 
man. 

After dls[)osing of his mercantile interests Mr. 
Ashley rested for a time, then, in 1874, removed to 
Joliet and became connected with the firm of A. B. 
Sharpe & Co., with whom he remained until Jan- 
uary, 1876. He then sold his interest in the con- 
cern and that same day he and his brother formed 
a partnership with H. B. Scuttand William Wat- 
kins, for the purpose of manufacturing wire fence — 
Mr. Ashley furnishing, with the exception of $500, 
all the capital. The partners operated together 
until the summer of 187G, and resolved themselves 
into the Joliet Wire Fence Company, taking in 
several new men and Mr. Watkins dropping out. 
They located their plant at Adam's Dam until the 
1st of August when it was destroyed by fire. Not 
finding a suitable location elsewhere, they took 



256 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



their inauliinciy to the poiiitenti;uy and the fom- 
pany continued to do Ifiisiuess until Jiuuiary 1, 
187!). TluMi Ml-. Suutt, D. Robertson and Mr. 
Asidey piirehased the interest of tlie otiier part- 
ners and formed tlie new firm of II. 1!. .Sciitt & 
Co., and they operated until September, 1881, 
when Mr. Asliley disposed of his interest in the 
business to liis partners. 

In tlie meantime Mr. Ashley organized another 
firm ealled the Joliet Wire Company, with a capital 
of $r)0,0()0, and in connection with it established a 
wire drawing company, which, however, was sepa- 
rate in its operations. At this time there had been 
no enterprise of this kind west of the city of Cleve- 
land, Ohio, and it was made a grand success. In 
July 1882, Mr. Ashley purchased the mai hiuery of 
the Joliet Wire Company and took the contract for 
emiiloying one hundred and twenty-five convicts 
for eight years. At the expiration of this time he or- 
ganized the present Ashley Wire Company, of wliich 
he was made President and Treasurer. On account 
of his failing health, W. S. Brooks was appointed 
Acting President and Treasurer, while Mr. Ashley 
retained the chief supervision of the concern. At 
the last election of stockholders he was reelected 
President and Treasurer. The company are re- 
moving their plant to the southwest part of the 
city on the banks of the canal, whei'e they are 
erecting extensive brick buildings and will thus 
double their present capacity. In 1876, II. B. 
vScutt & Co., constituted the third firm in the 
United States engaged in the manufacture of barb 
wire and solved the problem of the feasibility of 
such fencing on the western plains. Mr. Ashley 
has large real-estate interests in Joliet, and at one 
time owned forty thousand acres of land in Flor- 
ida, three-fourths of which he subsequently disposed 
of to parties in this city. 

Tlie marriage of James R. Ashley and Miss Julia 
F. Tyler was celebrated in Plainfield, October 27, 
1850, Mrs. Ashley was ijorn in April, 1825, in 
Bridgewater, Mass., and was the daughter of Daniel 
Tj'ler, who spent his last years in. Troy, N. Y. 
The Tyler family left the Bay State in an early 
day, settling in Troy, N. Y., where Mrs. Ashley 
spent her younger years. She came with her sister 
to Plainfield about 1841. Of this union there were 



born four daughters, only one of whom is now 
living, Ella M., the wife of (ieorge W. ]5ush, of 
Joliet. Religiously, iNIr. Ashley is a memljer of 
the Baptist Church in Plainfield, while in political 
affairs he is a stanch Republican, and in the coun- 
cils of his party occupies a iiromincnt place. He 
has made for himself a fine record in business cir- 
cles while as a member of the communit}- he occu- 
pies no secondary' position among his fctllow-citizens. 
Elsewhere in this volume will be found a litho- 
graphic portrait of Mr. Ashley. 



.^*;^.i — 



# 



jT^ AMUEL S. WHITE. Among the energetic 
^•1? men who came to Joliet a number of years 
ago, and who were identified with its in- 
terest for years, living an upright and use- 
ful life in the midst of their fellow-men, may be 
numbered the late Samuel S. White, who entered 
into rest February 3, 1884. He was born in Law- 
rence Count}', Pa,, where he grew to manhood, ob- 
tained his education, and learned the trade of a 
painter. For some years after reaching man's es- 
tate he continued to reside in the Keystone State, 
finding gibundant employintntathis trade, in which 
he became proficient, and which he followed until 
his death. 

At the home of the bride, in New Castle, of his 
own native county, on April 22, 1851, Mr. AVhite 
was united in marriage with Miss Inez E. Craw- 
ford. This lad}' was a native of the town iu which 
her wedding took place, and had opened her eyes 
to the light July 25, 1835. She is the third of six 
children born to David and Rebecca (Hozack) 
Crawford, the parents having also been natives of 
the Keystone State. She po'isesses many virtues of 
character, much intelligence, and the cordial man- 
ners which acKl to the attractions of the true wo- 
man. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. White con- 
tinued to reside in New Castle some five or six 
years, after wiiicli, in 1856, the}' came to Joliet. 
In the spring of 1 868 they settled on a tract of 
land not far from the city, and there Mr. White 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



257 



hreatlied his last. The widow still occupies the 
hornesteaci, which consists of altoul eighty acres of 
fertile laiul, ii|)on which such improvonients have 
been mide as are common to the homes of those 
who are in comfortable circumslauces and pos- 
sessed of energy and good taste. 

Mr. White belonged to tlie rniversalist Church, 
in which he held good standing, and among the so- 
cial bodies was connected with the Knights Temp- 
lar, lie wKs the father of live children, named 
respectively: Ella L., Jjillian M., C. Harold, Da- 
vid C. and Florence K. 




AMUEL LOEBSTEIN. The late Samuel 
Loebstein, who died at his home in Beeclier, 
March 15, 1888, was a prominent citizen 
of the place in which he had been the first 
to establish a general store. It was situated in 
what is now the eastern part of Beccher, but was 
formerly known as Washington Center. A store 
building was erected and the business established 
in 1870, and the proprietor had from the start an 
excellent trade, which increased and brought 
wealth to the originator and extended his reputa- 
tion as an honorable and enterprising dealer. The 
store was well located to accomodate the country 
trade, and Mr. Loebstein thoroughl}' understood 
the needs of his custpmers and with the assistance 
of his able wife keiit the establishment well stocked 
and the business carefull\- man.aged in every de- 
tail. During his active life at this place Mr. Loeb- 
stein was also extensively engaged in buj-ing and 
selling stock. 

The natal day of our subject was February 13, 
1832, and his birthplace Ilebenhausen, Wurtem- 
berg, Germany. He was the son of Jacob Loeb- 
stein, a native of the same kingdom, whose business 
was that of a horse dealer and who was a promi- 
nent man in his town. He had married a native 
of the same kingdom, who also passed her entire 
life there. 

Their son, of whom we write, was but a boy 
when he lost his parents and after becoming of age 
he set out to try his fortune in the New World. 



After landing in New York he wont at once to 
Chicago, 111., from which point he traveled in 
Illinois, Indiana and Mi(^higan for some time, fin- 
ally locating in Dwyer, Ind. There he began his 
career as a stock dealer, thence coming to what is 
now Beecher, III. He possessed excellent busi- 
ness qualifications and made a success of whatever 
he undertook. He belonged to the Masonic fra- 
ternity, being enrolled in Blue Lodge, No. 740, at 
Grant Park. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. 
He came of the old Hebrew stock and was a firm 
believer in the .lewish religion. 

The marriage of Mr. Loebstein and Miss Anna 
Hess was celebrated in Chicago. The bride was 
born in Aufhausen, Germany, September 23, 1849, 
and was quite young when her parents came to the 
United States. In this countiy she grew to matur- 
ity and received her education. She possesses a 
cultured mind, friendly manners and a more than 
ordinary amount of business abilit}-, which has 
been particularly manifested since the death of her 
husband in keeping the enterprise in which he had 
been engaged going with its normal success. Her 
judgment regarding stock, her shrewdness in buy- 
ing, and the thorough oversight which she gives 
to every detail of the business marks her as a 
worthy member of a race from which such able 
financiers as the Rothchilds and others have sDrun"-. 
She is the mother of five children, of whom Min- 
nie, Jennie and Polly died in infanc}'. The sur- 
vivors — Emma and Fannie — are now making their 
home with their maternal grandparents in Chicago 
and being well educated in the Douglas School of 
that city. Mrs. Loebstein belongs to the Jewish 
Church. 

The parents of Mrs. Loebstein are Lippmau and 
Jetty (Leiter) Hess, natives of Aufhausen, Ger- 
manj', where the father was born May 22, 1818, 
and the mother June 25, 1825. They were com- 
panions in j'outh and their childish regard strength- 
ened and led them to unite their lives and for- 
tunes. Mr. Hess was a manufacturer of vinegars 
in (iermaiiy until Jate in thcsummer of 1856, when 
he emigrated to America. The family which in- 
cluded three children, after crossing the ocean set- 
tled in Rochester, N. Y.. later removing to llar- 
risburg, Pa., anil still later to Freeport, 111. They 



258 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



finally located in Chicago where Mr. and Mrs. Hess 
ran a hotel for some years. They have now re- 
tired from active hibor and are still living on the 
Soutii side. They are now quite full of years but 
smart and active, and are excellent representa- 
tives of their race. Mr. Hess is a man of much 
ability, recognized as such by all who knew him, 
and both have many friends in their wide circle of 
acquaintances. They are devoted adherents of the 
Jewish faith. 



Vl/OHN II. ROBINSON, deceased, began his 
residence in AVill County, in the fall of 1844, 
making his first settlement in Troy Town- 
ship, but several years later removing to 
Joliet Townsliip. In the latter he breathed his 
last December 8, 1 873. During the early years of 
bis residence here he filled the official station of 
Supervisor. His birtii took place in Tonawanda, 
Niagara County, N. Y., June 5, 1811, and at his 
native place he resided until he was nineteen years 
old. He then came West as far as Ashtabula 
County, Ohio, which was his home until he removed 
to Illinois. During his residence in Ohio, he re- 
turned to his native State and in tlie town of Hamp- 
ton, Washiugtoii County, was united in marriage 
with Miss Nancy A. Ilulett. This worthy lady 
was a u'ltive of that place, where her e3'es opened 
to the light October 14, 1813. Their union was 
blessed by tlie birtli of six children, four of whom 
died in infancy. The survivors are Andrew J. and 
John 11., the former a resident of San Francisco, 
Cal., and the latter of tiie parental homestead in 
this count)'. 

Tlie young man, who, since his father's death, 
has had charge of the Robinson homestead, was 
born in Channahun Townshi|), February 20, 1855. 
He was educated in the schools in Will County 
and grew to manhood in possession of a goodly 
store of practical knowledge which, taken in con- 
nection with his natuial inclination toward all that 
is progressive and enterprising, has brought him 
ra[)idly to the front in the business enterprises in 



which he is engaged. The homestead comprises 
eighty .acres on which are excellent improvements 
and its ap|)earance shows that it is ably managed 
antl remunerative. 

Mr. Robinson is also eng.iged in the Fire Insur- 
ance Ijusiness, representing the Home Company of 
New York, and he also represents the Michigan 
Mutual Life Insurance Company of Detroit. He 
is thoroughly adapted to this work, having an acvite 
and almost instantaneous judgment of human na- 
ture, and a persistence in presenting his cause that 
is kept from being disagreeable by affable manners 
and good conversational powers. In all business 
transactions he is careful 3'et enterprising, while he 
ranks high among the public-spirited citizens, being 
one of the most foremost in all meritorious snter- 
prises. He is an active member of the Richard 
Street Methodist Episcopal Church of Joliet, and 
in both city and country is well and favorably 
known for his private character and his business 
ability. 

An imi)ortant step in the life of Mr. Robinson 
was taken June 16, 1886, when at the bride's home 
in Joliet Township he was united in marriage with 
Miss Jennie II. Lawrence. She is a well educated 
and amiable lady, a native of this county, and one 
well calculated to fill her place at the head of 
household affairs. Their union has been blessed 
by the birth of two children. Jay and Alice. 




OSES BOWE occupies an important i)lace 
among the leading farmers and stock-rais- 
ers of Will Township, who have contributed 
to raise it to its present prosperous condi- 
tion, and have thus materially advanced the inter- 
ests of the county. Mr. Bowe is of Irish birth and 
parentage, born in County Wexford, town of Ball- 
clay, June 22, 1835, a sun of John and Annastatia 
Bowe. They had five children, namelj': Mary. 
Ellen, Elizabeth, Moses and .lohn P., all of whom 
grew to maturity, and Ellen and Mary married and 
reared f.amilies. 

Onr sulijeet spent the early years of his boyhood 
in the laud of his nativit)', commg to the United 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



259 



States with his uncle, I'liilip l'>owe, in 1K15, wlio 
located in Peniisjlvania. In 1852, Mr. Bowe came 
to Chicago, where he lived two years, working in 
the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad. In 
1854 he came to Monec, wliere he was connected 
with the same railway till about 1881. He then 
took up farming for a living and located on the 
one hundred and sixty-nine acres which he had 
purchased here in 1864, and on which he had made 
various improvements. He now has his place in an 
excellent condition, provided with suitable build- 
ings, and the land well tilled. He gives much 
attention to stock-raising and has a fine herd of 
thoroughbred Short-horns. Our subject has ac- 
quired this property by the exorcise of his keen 
foresight and practical ability. 

May C, 1860, Mr. Bowe took unto himself a wife 
in the person of Miss Hanora Hurley. She is a 
native of County Kerrj', Ireland, and a daughter 
of Michael and Catherine (Green) Hurley. They 
were the parents of five children.- Ellen, John, 
Mary, Catherine, Hanora, all of whom came to 
America, with the exception of the oldest, all mar- 
rying and rearing families, excepting John. The 
latter was an officer in the Fedeial Army, serving 
as Sergeant during the late war, and was killed in 
the battle of Lookout Mountain. Mary was the 
lirst to come to the United States, taking up her 
residence in Glens Fall, N. Y., in 1847, and then 
subsequently removing to Chicago. Mrs. Bowe 
came to the United States in 1852 and has ever 
since been a resident of Illinois. Of her happy 
wedded life with our subject the following children 
liave been born : Philip S., John J., Michael M., Will- 
iam M., and Agnes. William died at the age of 
seventeen. 

W^e have seen that our subject is a self-made 
man, and we may add, what seems to be the uni- 
versal testimony of the entire community, that he 
is a strictly honorable, straightforward man, a most 
desirable citizen and in IlIs domestic relations is all 
that a considerate husband and wise father should 
be. He interests himself in public, social and reli- 
gious matters and bears a prominent part in the 
civic life of county and township, having been 
elected Supervisor to represent the township of 
Will on the C"ount3' Board for five j'ears without 



opposition, which fact speaks well for his popularity 
and ability. In politics he is a decided Democrat. 
Religiously he and his wife arc esteemed members 
of the Reformed Church. 



^ AVID S. HENNEBRRRY occupies one of 
the fine tracts of land of which Wesley Town- 
ship boasts so many, being joint proprietor 
with his brother John. It consists of two hundred 
and seventy fertile acres on section 24, on which 
both crops and stock are raised. The fields pro- 
duce abundantly under the intelligent manage- 
ment to which they are subject, and the most care- 
less eye will discern that the stock is in excellent 
condition. The Messrs. Ilenneberr}' are single, but 
their pleasant home is presided over by their sister 
Jenny, who surrounds them with all the home 
comfort which they desire. 

In County Tipperarj', Ireland, David llenne- 
berry and Bridget Reeves were born. They be- 
came man and wife, and have reared a family' of 
seven ciiildren, viz: David; John and Annie 
(twins), Jenny, Christopher, Mary and Agnes. 
The parents came to America in 1849, making 
their first settlement in DuPage County, 111. They 
removed thence to Grundy County, and a few 
3'ears later lo Marshall (bounty, where they so- 
journed but a short time. Returning to Grundy 
County they resided therein until 1883, when they 
took up their abode on a farm on section 2, Wes- 
ley Townshi[), AVill County, where they still live. 

The subject of our sketch first opened his eyes 
to the light of day December 31, 1857, in Grundy 
County. He was educated in the district schools, 
and began life for himself when seventeen years 
old by hiring out on a farm. He worked as a farm 
hand two years, then in 1876 with his brother 
bought the place which they now occupy and oper- 
ate. Being still young in years, they have plenty 
of time before them in which to reach a high posi- 
tion among the farmers of the county, and to add 
to their already comfortable possessions. 

jNIr. Henneberry is now serving his fourth term 
as Supervisor of Wesley Township, and his con- 



260 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



linuance in office indicates the opinion that is held 
by his fellow-citizens of his good judgment and 
zeal. For three years he held the office of Road 
Commissioner of the district. The Republican 
ticket is always voted by him, and he has ever 
been active in poiilical work, both as one of the 
rank and file of tlie i)aity, and as a delegate to 
county' and congressional conventions. He lias the 
readj' speech and quick Intelligence of the race 
from wliich he descends, is respected as his good 
qualities deserve, and like otlier members of his 
faniilv, is a devout member of the Catholic Cliurch. 



t^ANIEL PATTERSON. In the annals of 
))) Wheatland Township, tlie name of this gen- 

■ -^ tleman occupies an honoiable place as one of 
its efficient pioneers wl\o has given practical aid in 
making it one of tlie finest farming regions in this 
section of tiic county. By steady toil and excel 
lent management lie has acquired a valuable prop- 
erty since he came to Illinois forty 3'ears ago, and 
he and his brother own a large tract of land, all 
lying in a body, and in a fine state of cultivation 
and exceedingly well improved. 

Our subject is a native of Dumfriesliire, Scot 
lanfl, born October 1.3, 1828. His parents were 
.John and .Tane Patterson, also natives of that 
country. He was reared in the land of his birth 
on a farm, and received a fair education. Ambi- 
tious to see something more of the world and to 
build up a home for himself, he emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 18.50, taking passage at Liverpool on a sail 
vessel. He encountered a heavy storm at sea 
which lasted nearly a week, but at last, after a voy- 
.age of thirty-seven dajs, landed in safety in New 
York Cit3'. From there he came directly to this 
county, and for a time in.ade his home with his 
brother Mungo. He finally settled on his present 
farm on section 10, in which he owns a half inter- 
est, his brother James, who lives with him, being 
tlic proprietor of the remainder. Ihis is one of 
the largest farms in this vicinity, and is well pro- 
vided with substantial buildings, modern machin- 
ery and everything to operate it to advantage. 



When he and his brother first took po.ssession of it 
it was in a wild condition, and by their united 
labors they have made it what it is to-day. Their 
farm is well stocked, as they pay much attention 
to that branch of business. When they began 
farming here Lockport was their grain market, and 
grain was shipped to Chicago from that iilace bj' 
canal. Almost the entire growth of this section of 
Illinois has taken place under their ej'es, and tiiey 
have ably assisted in placing this county where it 
is to-day, among the foremost agricultural counties 
in the State. 

The maiden name of Mr. Patterson's wife was 
Jane Williamson, and she is also of Scottish liirtli. 
He has found in her a true helpmate, one who is 
devoted to the interests of her family, and by her 
patient toil has been a factor in bringing about his 
prosperity. They have had ten children, of whom 
the following are living : William, Robert, Mar- 
garet, John, Mary, Grace, Laura and Frank. 

j\Ir. Patterson's life has been one of industrious 
toll, guided by discretion, prudence and sound 
coniinoii sense, that have placed him among the 
moneyed men of Wheatland. He has alw.a^s dis- 
played the qualities which mark a good citizen. Is 
loyal to Ills adopted country, and gives his alleg- 
iance to the Republican party. A man of earnest 
views and strong principles, he is a firm temperance 
advocate. lie has Interested himself in forward- 
ing the educational advantages of the township as 
School Director, which office he still holds. 



(^^HOMAS DOIG. New Lenox Township prob • 
ably has not a more enterprising, liberal or 
public-siiirited man within its limits than he 
with whose name we initiate this sketch. He is a 
life-long farmer by occupation, but notwithstand- 
ing the cares and labors involved in looking prop- 
erly after a large tract of land, he has alw.ays taken 
time to keep himself informed In regard to the 
various enterprises calculated to benefit his com- 
munity, and to these has given bis uniform sup- 
porn. Ills well-tilled fields yiebl abundantly liie 
choicest crops of Northern Illinois, and he culti- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



261 



vales tlicin with tlio latest improved niac-hinery' 
He has a neat ami substantial farm dwellini^, and 
the various outbuildings required for the profjcr 
prosecution of his calling. 

Thomas Doig traces his ancestry to one of the 
best nationalities on the face of the globe, being 
the son of Andrew Doig, who was born September 
21, 1797, on the river Tay, in' the city of Dundee, 
in Forfarshire, Scotland. The latter when reach- 
ing manhood married Miss Isabella Fife, a native 
of his own shire, tiie wedding occurring in October, 
1805, at Dundee. The father set out for America 
in 1830, and located at Philadelphia, Pa., where he 
was joined by his family two j-ears later, and they 
lived there several years, lie followed his trade 
of a stonecutter, was a skilled workman, and was 
employed in the erection of Girard College, the 
Exchange Building, and other important edilices 
in the city of Brotherl3^ Love. 

Early in the '-iOs the parents of our subject 
removed to Washington, D. C, where Andrew 
Doig continued his former business, also being con- 
cerned in the erection of various public buildings, 
including the postoftice, and he put up the self- 
supporting hanging stairs, a piece of architecture 
dilficult to accomplish, and which lias been gazed 
upon by admiring thousands. He was also em- 
ployed on the Capitol Building and other import- 
ant structures, remaining there until 1847. That 
year he decided to seek his fortunes in the West, 
and coining to Will County settled in lIomerTown- 
ship, and securing a tract of land changed his 
occui)ati<)n, to that of a farmer. He built up a com- 
fortable home and lived there until after the death 
of the mother, who passed away May 4, 1861. Mr. 
Doig survived his estimable partner for a period 
uf twenty-six years, departing this life at the home 
of his son Alexander, on Maple .Street, New Lenox 
Township, February 17, 1887. 

To the parents of our subject there was born a 
family of ten children, of whom the record is as 
follows: IMary Ann died in I'liiladelphia in girl- 
hood; Elizal)eth became the wife of Wiiyam Fer- 
guson and died in Cliicngo, 111.; Thomas resides 
on Majilc Street in New Leno.x Township; Andrew 
is a miller by trade and lives in Mcllcnry Co\inty; 
Jessie died in I'liiladelphia wlien quite young; 



James is farming in the State of Kansas; Isabella 
is the wife of Stanton Lynk, of New Lenox Town- 
ship; William died at lladley, in Homer Township, 
when a youth of sixteen years; Alexander is farm- 
ing in New Lenox Township; .lohn II. prosecutes 
.agriculture in the same township. 

The subject of this notice was the third child of 
his parents and is also a native of Dundee, Scot- 
laud, born March 3, 1826. He came to America 
with his mother in 1832, and at the early age of 
twelve 3'ears started out to earn his own living, 
being employed in a butcher shop in Philadel[)hia 
until a youth of eighteen. He then accompanied 
the family to Washington, D. C, where he was 
emplo3^ed at bricklaying three years. We next 
find him in Baltimore, Md., where he was similarly 
employed until 1849. In the fall of that year he 
came to this connty, locating in Homer Township, 
but in 1850 joined the caravan moving toward the 
Pacific Slope, and until Januar3-, 1 853, was en- 
gaged in hunting for the yellow ore. He was fairly 
suceessfnl, but decided to return to Homer Town- 
ship, and a year later settled on Maple Street in 
New Lenox Township. In May, 1854, he removed 
to his present farm, where he has since resided and 
given his entire attention to its improvement and 
cultivation. He has one hundred .and seventy -two 
acres of good land with modern improvements. 

Thomas Doig was married in Chicago, 111., Ma3- 
5, 1854, to Mrs. Ann M. (Lynk) Van Duser. This 
lady was born in Columbia Township, N. Y.. No- 
vember 17, 1820, and is a daughter of Z. W. and 
Sallie (Harder) Lynk, mention of whom is made 
in the sketch of Stanton L)'nk, on another page in 
this Ai.i'.i'M. Her first husband was Gilbert Xtm 
Duser, wiio died on Maple Street, New Lenox 
Township, April 2, 1853. C)f tiiis union there 
were born two children: Sarah ('., the wife of Alex- 
ander Doig, of New Lenox Township, and Joim I. 
who died here in April, 1882. 

l\Ir. and Mrs. Doig arc the parents of four chil- 
dren, viz: Isabella, who died in childhood; Annie, 
the wife of George L. Francis, of New Lenox 
Township; Irene, who died j'oung, and Thomas J., 
who is farming in New Leno-x Township. Mr. 
Doig is a stanch Democrat, i)oliticall\', and has 
taken an active part in the councils of his '|3''*''^yi 



262 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Iioklino: various iiositions of trust and responsibil- 
it}', and representing liis township in tlie County 
Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Doig is a member in 
good standino- of the INIethodist Episcopal Cliureli. 
The family iiold a good social position in the com- 
munity, and are contriliuting their full quota toward 
the promotion of its best interests. 



-%«• — ^- 



— sJifei, 



^w^- 




>;1LLIAM GKORGE JACKSON. Proba- 
bly no business man in tlie city of .Toliet 
is more slirewd, careful and persistent in 
his operations, or displays a greater vigor in his 
undertakings than the above-named gentleman, 
who witlial is modest and conscientious in his deal- 
ings. A few years ago he abandoned the. occupa- 
tion in whicii he had previously been engaged, to 
emb.ark as a furniture dealer, which he thought 
would be a more congenial and mone3--making 
business. He has lieen well repaid for the change, 
his present enterprise reaching a tr.ade of $20,000 
per year. 

Mr. .I.ackson is of Knglish ancestry .ind parent- 
age, and l)elongs to a family' whicli for five genera- 
tions had followed the same business. In 1841 
his parents, W. S. and Frances M. (Ilogbin) Jack- 
son, left the mother country to make a home in 
America. They located at Utica, N. Y., where our 
subject was born, Octc^ber 27, 18.'jl, being one of 
three sons and one daughter who comprised the 
parental household. The father was a first-class 
butcher and did a large market business. Young 
Jackson finished a commercial course of study at 
the age of twenty-two years, and being ready to 
embark in business for himself followed the foot- 
steps of his ancestors, thinking it a rut fro;n which 
he could not escape. 

In 1878 Mr. Jackson determined to seek a home 
farther west than his native State, and after trav- 
eling around considerably decided upon Joliet as 
liis future location. He went into J. J. Culver's 
meat market, but in the latter part of August, 1879, 
started a similar business for himself in the build- 
ing next door to the First National Bank, where he 
remained until tlie IJoard of Trade building was 



erected on North Ottawa Street. Into that he 
moved, continuing to prosper, and soon afterward 
buying a splendid home just outside the cit}' 
limits. 

It took many hard knocks to bring about the 
prosperity which is so easily men'^ioued, and it was 
not without some misgivings that in 1884 Mr. Jack- 
son ab.andoued the block to engage In his new 
enterprise. On the 1st of September he rented 
the entire second floor of the l?oard of Trade Block, 
and with this and his market store-room he IiIooukkI 
out with a first-class furniture repository. The 
many friends he had made in his old business nat- 
urally clung to him in the new, and a deserved 
success has been his. 

On April 20, 1876, at the home of the bride in 
New Hartford, N. Y., the rites of wedlock were 
celebrated between our subject and IMiss Maggie 
E. Craig. This lady is a daughter of James Craig, 
was the recipient of careful home training and ex- 
cellent educational advantages, and her (udtured 
mind, refined manners and fuie character Ht her for 
the positions of wife and mother, and member of 
society. She has borne her husband three children, 
named respectively: (Jeorge Elliott, l)oru Septem- 
ber 18, 1878, Clarence Mason, born Octolier 20, 
1S80, and Cleora W., born February l, 1884. l\Ir. 
Jackson is a Repuljlican. He belongs to the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, to the Knights of Pythias, and to 
several insurance societies. 

•Ml OUIS WENBERG was born in the southern 
I f(^ part of Sweden in 1856, and grew to man- 
1 1 L-^, hood in his nntive land, engaging in the 
occupations of a farmer and stonemason. At the 
age of twenty-four years, in company with his 
mcither and four brothers, he embarked at Gutten- 
berg and ere long landed in New York. They 
came West at once, locating in Joliet, where our 
sukject resumed his trade of a stonemason and his 
brothers engaged as quarrymen. Two years later 
the Wenberg brothers and a brother-in-law formed 
a co-partnership under the style of Wenberg & Co., 
and having bought three acres of land on Maple 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAl'IIICAL ALBUM. 



265 



Street, embarked in the business of quarrying. 
Business grew rapiflly, and bj' 1889 tliey had trans- 
acted a tra(ie which reached the vahie of $1G,()00. 
The firm of AVenberg & Co. was dissolved in 1800, 
Alfred Wenberg and his brother-in-law taking the 
department of contracting and masonry, and Louis, 
our subject, continuing the quarry business alone. 

Of the four brothers of our subject two are now 
deceased. Frank was born in 1818 and died in 
1886; Peter was born in 1850 and died in 1884. 
leaving two children, whose lionie is with his 
mother. This .estimable lady was born in 1821, 
and is now living in -loliet with iier grandchildren. 
She is noted for her excellence of character, and is 
regarded with loving respect by hosts of friends. 
Her husband died in Sweden in 1878. The mother 
and sons were |)receded to America b3' a sister of 
(uir subject, Ida Louisa, who married Charles E. 
Swerbeig in 1881, and died in 188.5, leaving one 
child. 

Louis Wenlierg was married in 1883 to Miss 
Lottie Soderland, a native of Sweden, who came to 
America in 1882. To them have been born two 
children: Albert, aged five jears, and Laura, aged 
ten months, whose childish beauty and hi-ight ways 
ai'c aconstant<leliglit to their parents. Mr. Wenberg 
lias risen by his own industr3' and judgment to an 
honorable place, and is highly respected for his 
integrity and social qualities. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
AVenberg belong to the Swedish ria[)list Churcli. 



=!^EORGE M. CAMPBELL, Secretary, Treas- 
urer and General Manager of the Joliet 
Stone Company, is one of that class of men 
wIk) have been instrumental in advancing the ma- 
terial interests of the citj-. A residence of nearlj- 
twenty-eight years, during which he has made for 
himself a good record, both in social and business 
circles, has fully established him in the esteem and 
confidence of .all who know him. With the exce[>- 
tion of three years, one of which was spent in the 
South, and two at his old home in New England, 
he has been a continuous resident of Joliet since 
April, 18(;2. 

TliC native place of our subject was in I'uity, 



Waldo County, Me., and the date of his birth Jan- 
uary 5, 1848. He is the son of John B. and Mar- 
garet W. (Norton) Cami)liell, the former of whom 
was a native of Montville, Me. The father of our 
subject, grew to mature years in his native town, 
and at an early age went to sea and followed 
a sailor's life for four years, in the meantime be- 
coming first mate of a vessel. He then learned 
the trade of a carpenter, and finally became expert 
as an architect and a skilled mechanic. After mar- 
riage he moved to Medford, Mass., and thereafter 
lived in several places in the B.ay State until 1857, 
employing himself as an artisan. That year he 
resolved to seek the far west and removed with 
his family across the Mississippi to Lynn County, 
Iowa, settling at a point sixt3'-five miles beyond 
a railroad. H(! still continued at his trade and 
took the lead in the building interests of that 
section of the Ilawkeye State, putting u|) some 
of the best structures in the surrounding countrj', 
including Central City. At that |)lace he built the 
lirst church and schoolhouse and left the marks of 
his handiwork upon various other important struc- 
tures, remaining there until 1862. 

In the spring of 1802, Mr. Campbell returned 
East as far .as .Joliet, 111., where he followed his 
tr;i(le one year, and then on account of an accident 
which cri[)pled one of his hands, he turned his 
.attention to portrait painting, taking up the art 
readily and iiecomiug very proficient. He subse- 
quently returned to Iowa, where he lives at a i)leas- 
ant country seat, called "The Pines," situated two 
miles east of the capitol building at Des Moines. 
He was first identified with the AYIiig iiarty, and is 
now a stanch Reinililicau and one of the leading 
men of his county. 

The parental family of our subject consisted of 
three children, the youngest of whom died in in- 
fancy. The survivors are George M., our subject, 
and Susan E., now the wife of Gurdon Fox, of 
Des jNIoiues, Iowa. The mother is likewise living. 
She was born January IC, 1827, while the fatiier 
was born September 15,1822. IMrs. Campbell was 
in her girlhood Miss Marg.aret W. Norton. She 
w.as born near Bucks Harbor, Me., in what is now 
the town of Brooksville, in the same house under 
whose roof her father first opened his eyes to the 



26G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



light, though !it the tiine of liis birth the iil.ice 
formed a part of Uie State of Massaeliusotts. 

George M. Campljell pursued his early studies in 
the Joliet schools and completed them in the Eng- 
lish and Classical Institute at Springfield, INIass., 
where he spent two 3-ears. He then occupied him- 
self as a teacher in Tennessee at the foot of Lone 
Mountain for five rnontiis. We next find him in 
Joliet, where he followed the trade of a carpenter, 
which he had learned from his father, and he soon 
commanded journeyman's pay. While at school 
he had taken a commercial course and became fitted 
for an accountant and now occupied himself in this 
capacity from July, 1867, until May, 187.'). 

The next move of Mr. Campbell was to embark 
in business for himself, having as his partner, Mr. 
George H. Monroe. In 1875, the Joliet Stone 
Company was formed and incorporated two years 
later with Mr. Monroe as President and Mr. Camp- 
bell as Secretary and Treasurer. The latter also 
became interested in the Crescent Stone Company, 
Joliet, and is at present one of its Directors. lie 
is also engaged in real estate to a certain extent. 

Mr. Campbell has always been an active worker 
in the Republican part3' but with the exception of 
servin"' as Assistant Supervisor of Joliet, he has 
declined to assume the responsibilities of ofHce. He 
was married December 25. 1873, to Miss Elizabeth 
R., daughter of the Hon. Henry Snapp. Mr. Snapp 
in former j'cars was a noted attorney and repre- 
sented this district in Congress. He is now jiving 
retired from the active duties of life in San Jose, 
Cal. Mrs. Campbell w.is born in Joliet, tliis county, 
August 25, 1851, and obtained her education in tlie 
common schools. She possesses considerable musi- 
cal talent and perfected herself in this accomplish- 
ment in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have 
two children, Jessie M. and Ida A. Our subject 
and his estimable wife are members of the Univer- 
salist Church. 

The Joliet Stone Company was incorporated in 
1877 with a capital of $30,000, winch later was in- 
creased to 1100,000. The principal quarries are 
near the foot of Richards Street and from them are 
obtained the largest output of any quarry in this 
part of Illinois, tiie district covering an .area of 
about eighty acres from which is t.aken all tiie va- 



rieties of stone known to this region. The main 
office is at Joliet and there are five branch otflccs 
in Chicago to which is run a fleet of boats owned 
l)y the company and operated by a force of two 
hundred and fifty men during the l)usy season. 
Tliey have connection with all the railroads center- 
ing in Joliet, being the onlj' quarry enjoying such 
ample transportation facilities. 

On another page of this Album .appears a litho- 
graphic portrait of Mr. Campbell. 



W^ALTER J. FIDDYMENT. After years 
of well-directed efforts as one of the farm- 
ers and business men of Lockport, this 
gentleman has retired in affluence to the enjoyment 
of an elegant iiome and the society of a charming 
family. He is a son of John and Sophia (Blogg) 
Fiddyment, natives of Norfolk, pyugland, where he 
was born, April 3, 1837. His father came to 
America the same year, and was joined by the 
niolher and son in 1839. John Fiddyment was a 
distiller, and carried on his business in Lockport 
until 18()5, when lie removed to a farm in Lock- 
port Township. 

Walter J. Fiddyment attended the public schools, 
proving an apt pupil and fitting himself for a prac- 
tical api)lication of the theories which he learned 
with his father. When liis father removed to his 
farm our subject eng.-iged in farming with him, 
but resided in Lockport. In 1881 he embarked in 
the business of a quarrynian, by opening a quariy 
at Lockport, in which the quality of the stone is 
unsurpassed. By strict attention to business and 
honorable methods, his product obtained a ready 
sale, and the business which began with but a few 
men, en)plo3'ed from one to two luindred when our 
subject disposed of his interest in 1889. 

In 1886 Mr. Fiddyment organized a stock com- 
pany called the Lockport Stone Company, of which 
he became President; Olas Paulsen, Secretary and 
Treasurer; W. J. Fiddyment, Olas Paulsen and 
J. C. Fiddyment, son of our subject, Directors. 
The business was extended until it became one of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



267 



the best equipped and most pnifituMe plants in tlie 
West. Having disposed of liis jilant to the West- 
ern Stone Company, ISIr. Fiddyment retired from 
the business. Fie has always been noted for his 
lllurality and wenialit}'. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat. The record of his business life is creditable 
alike to his financial ability and maul}' spirit, while 
his personal character 'ommands tiie respect of his 
friends. 

The marriage of Mr. Fiddymont and Miss Ellen 
.1. Clarkson took place in 18G2, and has been blessed 
with the birtii of fourteen children, eleven of whom 
are living in Will County near the parental home. 
Mrs. Fiddyment is a native of Joliet and belongs 
to one of the oldest and most honored families of 
(he county. She is a member of St. Dennis Cath- 
olic Church, is a woman of devout Ciiristian char- 
acter, and possesses the gracious manners which are 
sociiarming in a iiostcss. 






^^EORGE M. LYND. It affords the bio- 
(11 ^-—^ graphical writer pleasure to be able to re- 
^^^i^| cord in this volume the main incidents in 
the life of an honest and upright citizen, a good 
business man and a patriotic soldier, who has been 
well known in Lockiiort for a number of years. 
Mr. Lynd was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1836, 
ruul as the fortunate son of educated parents and 
the inheritor of the zeal and mental ability which 
have characterized his progenitors, he became pro- 
ficient in book lore and capable of performing well 
his part in life. 

Tlie father of him of whom we write was Samuel 
Lynd, a native of Germantown. Pa., wlio devoted 
himself to the ministry in the Baptist Church. Such 
was liis devotion to the cause of the M.aster that 
he left a lucrative position in the Pjast and came to 
Cincinnati, Ohio, when it was but a straggling vil- 
lage, 'i'liere he remained eighteen j'ears, building 
up a large congregation, afterward going to St. 
Louis, Mo., as pastor of the First Baptist Church. 
He was chosen as President of the Western Baptist 
Theological Institute, located at Covington. K3'., 



and moved to Georgetown, Ky. Subsequently he 
came to Chicago, 111., .as pastor oi the North Street 
Chunli. but was recalled to Cincinnati, where he 
closed an active ministry of fort^'-five years, to 
spend his last days with his son in Lockport. 

Tlie wife of this able minister and the mother of 
our subject was born in New .lersev, and was a 
daughter of the Rev. James Staughton, at onetime 
Chaplain of the House of Representatives at Wash- 
ington, D.C. The Rev. Mr. Staughton was the divine 
whose eloquence made Chatham Street Church, of 
Philadelphia, famous, drawing thither such crowds 
that the capacity of the building was never suffic- 
ient to accommodate them, although the edifice 
was so spacious that no successor w.as able to fill it, 
and it was eventually torn down. 

The subject of this sketch w.as educated in the 
school presided over by his father, and began his 
personal career as a teacher, his particular field 
being that of a private tutor. '"The shot heard 
round the world" aroused him from his peaceful 
calling, .and answering the first call for troops to 
sujipress the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company C, 
One Hundredth Illinois Infantry. His command- 
ing officers were Capt. Bacon and Col. Bartleson, 
under whose leadership he saw service in the West, 
participated in the battle of Chickamauga and in 
Sherman's march to the sea. He was subsequently 
sent back to Nashville, where he assisted Gen. 
Thomas to defeat and destroy Hood's army. He 
was never touched by a bullet, but passed through 
the many dangerous scenes of war unscathed, ex- 
hibiting the qualities which led to his successive 
promotions from the rank of Sergeant to that of 
Captain, which he held when mustered out. 

Ui)on returning to the North at the close of the 
war Mr. Lynd entered the grocery business with his 
brother-in-law, Mr. Lull, in Lockport, III., and to- 
gether they carried on a growing trade for a num- 
lier of years. About a decade ago Mr. Lull retired, 
his former partner continuing the business at the 
old stand, where he has an excellent trade and en- 
deavors to meet every want of his patrons. Mr. 
Lynd is fortunate in his home life, having won as 
his companion Miss Mary M. Blount, whose family 
is one of the oldest and most prominent in the 
count\'. Her father, .Samuel Blount, was the first 



2G8 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Supervisor of Homer Township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lynd are the parents of twodaughlers — Carrie and 
Louise. Mr. Lynd is a member of Gooding Post, 
G. A. R., at Lockport. 



^^E 



^^^ 




ARTIN WESTPHAL was born at Brain- 
stadt, Holstein, October 27, 1837, when 
tiiat section of the country was under 
Danish rule. In 1856 lie came to America, 
and in liie fall of the same year located in Crete, 
this county ; here he remained until 1803, when 
coming to Joliet, he was employed as Deputy Re- 
corder until the autumn of 18G9. Having been 
admitted to the bar, he now began the practice of 
law, and in 1875, opened tlie German I^oan & Sav- 
ings Bank, wiiich he continues at present with the 
assistance of his two sons as clerks. 




'^l^KRGAN BROS. The Messrs. Michael, John 
and Daniel Bergan own and operate three 
hundred and twenty acres of land on sec- 
tion 4, Manhattan Township, their specialty 
being the importing, breeding and sale of horse- 
flesh. They have become known far and near for 
their herd of Shetland ponies which generally 
numbers from fifty to sixty head; and for the fine 
Kentucky saddle horses in which they deal. They 
also raise draft horses, full-blooded Short horn 
cattle, thorough-bred Cottswold sheep and full- 
blooded Poland-Chnia swine. The zeal which they 
have manifested in their business is bringing them 
the success which they merit, and they have the 
pleasure of knowing that in their former line of 
lalior they were also successful, not only gaining 
worldly goods, but relieving their parents of a 
great burden and securing their ciioiccst blessing. 
Martin Bergan, the father of our subject, was 
l»orn in County Kilkeune}', Ireland, in 1803, and 
tilled the soil in his native land until the fall of 
1847. In November he bade adieu to the Emer- 
ald Isle, crossed the Atlantic to New C>rleans and 



started northward with his family. The river 
froze so that he was not able to reach Joliet, III., 
until April, 1848. He then bought eighty acres of 
raw land which now forms a part of the Bergan 
Bros, estate. At that time the township of Tren- 
ton, comprising what are now Gi'een Garden and 
Manhattan Town.ships, contained but seven voters, 
and Mr. Bergan is the oldest settler therein now 
living. He improved and operated his farm, for 
some years being very successful, and adding to 
his landed estate until his possessions here 
amounted to three hundred and twenty acres and 
he held land elsewhere in the county. Misfortune, 
however, overtook him about a decade since, and 
he retired, his sons assuming control of affairs With 
the determination to recover all that he had seem- 
ingly lost. 

Mr. Bergan has at different times been the in- 
cumbent of the various township offices, and he has 
also been useful in his day and generation by rea- 
son of the assistance which he h.as given to the 
cause of education and religion. He put up the 
first schoolhouse in his district and has helped to 
build churches. He has always voted the Demo- 
cratic ticket. He is now eighty-seven years of age, 
while his wife, formerly Miss Esther Welsh, of 
County Kilkenny, Ireland, has reached her three- 
score j'ears and ten. Both belong to the Catholic 
Church and as devout believers have reared their 
children in the tenets of the faith. Their family 
includes Michael, IMary, John and Nicholas, who 
were born in Ireland, and two of whom are mem- 
bers of the firm of which we write. Mary is the 
wife of John Peterson and lives in Harris, Ander- 
son County, Kan., and Nicholas resides in Nuckolls 
County, the same State. The children born in 
America are William, who died at the age of 
twenty -eight years; Mrs. Bridget Hay den, of Flor- 
ence; Ann, widow of Thomas C. Kelly, who lives 
with her parents; Daniel, of the firm of Bergan 
Bros.; and Martin, who keeps a livery stable in 
Manhattan. 

The three brothers, of whom we write, were 
reared upon the farm which they now operate and 
the work of which they learned the rudiments of 
when quite young. They enjoyed the privileges 
of the district school in wliich they acquired a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



26'J 



practical education. John was the hunter of the 
famil}- anil made several trips to Green Bay, Wis., 
and the hunting grounds of Minnesota, where he 
spent some time in hunting and trapping, doing 
well in this occu|)ation. In 1880, after their father's 
misfortune, they put their shoulder to the wheel 
and together bought the home farm and engaged 
in the cultivation of grain. They worked hard, 
managed carefully and won success, soon being re- 
warded by seeing the mortgage lifted and having 
the deed of a well-improved farm in their posses- 
sion. 

The brothers gradually worked into the stock 
business and in 1887 began importing Shetland 
ponies. John Bergan went to the Shetland Islands 
bringing back a herd and is now making his'fourth 
trip thither. They not only import but they also 
breed the little animals, having the best herd of 
brood mares in the country. It includes Minnie 
\\'arren, the smallest brood mare in the United 
States; her weight is but one hundred and ninety 
|)<)unds. She took the honors at the American 
Horse Show, in t'hicago, where three other first 
premiuuia were secured by the Bergan Bros. Their 
ponies are all registered. Few prettier sights can 
be imagined than that afforded by the i)layful an- 
tics of the tinj- equines. 

The liergan Bros., keep nothing but fine stock, 
and in all their labors use the latest farm machinery, 
likewise keeping up to the times in the construc- 
tion and arrangement of necessary buildings. An 
immense barn having a frontage of one hundred 
and sixty feet affords stabling and shelters the 
large amount of hay and grain needed to supply 
the wants of the stock. The land is watered by 
Jackson Creek and is further su[)plied with the 
cooling liquid b_v means of a windmill and tank, 
while a beautiful orchard and shade trees provide 
fruit and afford shelter from the scorching rays of 
the suu. 

In 1888 the Bergan Bros., assisted to organize 
the American Shetland Pony Association, of which 
John Bergan is Mce-President. All are members 
of the Grange at Manhattan, three miles distant 
from their home, and Daniel is Treasurer of the 
Lodge. He has also been Highway Commissioner 
for four3ears and is now serving as School Direc- 



tor. He is likewise a member of the Central C'om- 
mittee of the Democratic party, to the principles of 
which all the brothers stanchly adhere. They be- 
long to till' S.acred Heart Catholic Church in Joliet, 
and have a high standing among its members. 




LLEN G. HAWLEY, editor of the Will 
County Commercial Advertiser, was born 
in Centralia, 111., April 25, 1858. He is 
the son of Henry S. and Deborah (Bramen) 
Hawlej-, natives of the Empire State, who settled 
in Lockport early in the '30s. Our subject was 
educated in the public schools of Lockport and 
at an early age entered the oUice of the Lockport 
Courier, which was then edited by N. S. Grim- 
wood, the balloonist. After two years spent in 
the employ of that gentleman he entered the office 
of the Joliet Sun, where be finished his apprentice- 
ship. He ha<] become thoroughly conversant with 
the printer's trade, and had also acquired a good 
knowledge of journalistic work in editorial and 
other departments. 

In 1877 Mr. Hawley opened a small job print- 
ing otiice in Locki)ort, and during the same year 
began the publication of the Lockport Standard. 
The enterprising spirit of the man and his ambition 
to reach a high standing in the fields of joiirnalism 
was not satisfied with this enterprise, and he, there- 
fore, began the publication of the Advertiser, be- 
lieving that a sheet of this nature would reach a 
larger circulation and a more influential place. He 
liegan it b}' himself filling the vaiious positions of 
editor, reporter, printer, devil and business man- 
ager. The plant consisted of one old press pro- 
pelled by hand. 

Ere long the standing of the paper had become 
sufficiently assured to allow the use of horse-power 
to run the press, and eventually the business grew 
until all the modern ai)pliances of a first-class es- 
tablishment were obtained and steam became the 
motive power. The Commercial Advertiser now 
has eight editions for as many places in Will 
County. Mr. Hawley is without a peer as a solid- 



270 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tor for advertising and job work, and is what in 
Western parlance would be called a "hustler." 

The euteriirise of Mr. Mawley is not confined 
to the newspaper business, but in 1888 he built a 
brick bnildiu<j;- at No. 407 Chicago Street, Joliet, 
and in 188;i inaugurated the electric light system 
in Locki)ort. He introduced the Edison incandes- 
cent light, placed the business on a firm basis and 
liicn dipnsed of his interest to Norton & Co. He 
is now Iniilding for iiimself an elegant home, 
which, when completed, will be a ciedit to the 
city. As he is yet in hi.s thirties anil has not yet 
reached the highest point of man's vigor, it is but 
natural to sup|)ose that this section of country will 
hear yet more of his work in years to come. 

In 187;) Mr. Hawley led to the hymeneal altar 
Miss Aretta M. Riggs, of Pontiac, a lady well fitted 
to assist in building up his fortunes and making a 
happy home. She is a native of Pennsylvania, 
descends from an old family, and inheribs the pro- 
verbial industry of the ancestral race. She worked 
in the printing-office as long as her assistance was 
needed, and has by her clear understanding and 
good advice also assisted her husband in his labors. 
Mr. Hawley takes no special interest in politics, 
but is descended from l\c|iublican ancestors. He 
belongs to the lodges of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternity, and to the 
Universalist Church. The Hawley family have 
been pillars in that church for years and assisted 
in founding the university of that faith. 

ICHAEL WALTER. No better example 
of pluck amid discouragements can be 
found than in the life of this gentleman, 
who is a prominent groceryman of Lock- 
port. His industry is tireless, his integrity be- 
yond question, and his personal popularity almost 
unbounded. He is liberal-hearted, generous to a 
fault, his good traits of head and heart win for him 
the respect and friendship of all who know him, 
while in citizenship he is progressive and energetic. 
Mr. Walter was born in Kleinwelzheim, Ger- 
many, December G, 18."!8, Init became a resident of 




America in 1851. He learned the trade of a shoe- 
maker but after working at it for sometime, he 
became a clerk in the store of J. S. Finch, subse- 
quently- finding emploj'ment with N. S. Rafferty, 
who was engaged in the clothing business. 'I'iring 
of indoor life young Walter left Lockjiort in 1859, 
and went to Pike's Peak where he endured all the 
hardships which were to be met with in the rough 
mining camps. He returned to Lockport with but 
little to show for his peril and toil, except the ex- 
perience of human nature which he had gtiined. 

The smoke of the shots upon Ft. Sumter had 
scarcel}' disappeared, when at the first call for vol- 
unteers 3'oung Walter answered by enrolling his 
name in a Lockport artillery company. The date 
of his enlistment was Ajiril 19, 18(il, and the Urm 
three months. At the expiration of that time he 
re-etdisled as a member of Dresser's Battery, and 
was assigned to duty in Battery D, Second Ar- 
tiller}^ During the severe campaigns of that bat- 
ler3' he was never absent from his post of duty. 
The battery was organized at Cairo and mustered 
into service in December, 1861, beginning their 
active work at Ft. Donclson, where they partici 
pateil in the entire siege. They then went to 
Pittsburg Landing and on the Friday preceding 
the great battle took up their position, being in 
constant readiness until the opening of the fierce 
conUict Sund.ay. December G. Battery D was one 
of those that formed on the advanced line within 
one hundred 3'ards of Shiloh Church and was not 
surprised at the first onset of the enemy. 

Battery D accompanied (ien. Grant to Corinth 
and subsequently went with Col. Ben Grierson on 
his famous raid, after which they did post duty 
until ordered to join the esi)edition against Vicks- 
burg. They accompanied Sherman on his march 
from Vicksburg to Meridian, Miss., and until mus- 
tered out of the service November 21, 18G4, Mr. 
Walter took part in all the marches, raids and bat- 
tles in which the battery participated. His record 
for bravery and devotion to duty was second to 
none, and he received the commendation of his su- 
perior officers and the good will of his comrades. 

At the close of the war ISlr. Walter again re- 
turned to Lockport and engaged in business, first 
as a dealer in dry-goods. Disposing of this busi- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBDM. 



271 



ness he went to Leniout to superintend a store and 
finally on May 25, 1875, he began the business in 
wliicii he is at present engaged. lie was married 
October 16, 1865, to Miss Margaret Pitts, a native 
of this county, who bore liim ten children, nine of 
whom are living. Mrs. Walter died in 1881, and 
Mr. Walter was again married in June, 1887, to 
Miss Adline Heron. He is interested in the social 
orders, being b(>th a Mason and Odd Fellow and is 
Commander of Gooding Post, G. A. K., at Lock- 
port. 



-i^l- 



\f 



m 



OlIN H. BURKnAR'r,.Supervisor of DuPage 
Township, occupies a pleasant home on sec- 
tion 36. He is a well-informed and enter- 
prising man, has been engaged in some form 
of agricultural work since boyhood and commands 
the respect of his fellow-men. He was born in 
Cook County, October 21, 1858, was educated in 
the public schools and linished the High School 
studies at Lemont. Subsequently he attended a 
business college in Chicago, thus fitting himself for 
a practical sphere of life. 

In 1869, our subject removed with his parents 
to Will Count}', here growing to manhood and be- 
ginning his personal career which has not yet 
taken him from the paternal fireside. He is a Re- 
publican and has been called upon by his associates 
to fill several olticial stations. For two terms he 
was Justice of the Peace, one year Assessor, and in 
the spring of 1890 was elected Township Super- 
visor. 

Henry Burkhart, father of our subject, was born 
in Saxony, Germany, Januar}' 26, 1819, to George 
and Susan C. Burkhart,also natives of that kingdom. 
He was reared to manhood, receiving a fair educa- 
tion in his native tongue, to which since coming to 
America he has by personal effort added a knowl- 
edge of English reading and writing. In 1845 he 
emigrated, sailing from Bremen to New York in 
forty-two days, and going at once to Erie County, 
N. Y., where he worked as a farm hand for several 
years. There he was married, October 31, 1848, to 
Aliss Fredericka Dorre, a German lady of fine 
character and useful knowledge. She bore her part 



in the cares and shared in the joys that he en- 
countered until February 4, 1886, when she en- 
tered into rest, leaving a wealth of affectionate 
remem'orances. 

The family of Henry and Susan Burkhart con- 
sisted of seven children, five of whom survive their 
mother. Emma is the wife of Peter Williams, 
living in California, John H. is at home; Charles 
A. lives in Stockton, Cal.; Louisa is the wife of 
George A. Hills, of Chicago; Amelia is at home. 
In 1849, the father removed ffom the Empire 
State to Cook County, III, where he remained un- 
1869. He then took up his abode in DuPage 
Township, this count}', on the farm that is the 
home of our subject. It comprises eighty acres, 
devoted principally to gardening, in which line 
of agriculture Mr. Burkhart is meeting with de- 
served success. He began life poor, and by economy 
and industry has gained all that he has of woldly 
goods. His political views are like those of his 
son, in whose public life he rejoices as a fond fa- 
ther will, as a field suited to his talents and indi- 
cating the reputation he hears. 






ENRY W. OHLENDORF. Among the 
younger members of the farming commu- 
7/^ nity of Crete Township the subject of this 
^^ notice may be properly mentioned as hav- 
ing achieved success in more than an ordinary de- 
gree. He was born July 17, 1857, at his father's 
homestead on section 35, Crete Township, which is 
now his property, and where he owns nearly three 
hundred acres of some of the finest farming land in 
this part of the State. This is well improved and 
largely devoted to the breeding of fine stock, Mr. 
Ohlendorf making a specialty of Holstein cattle 
and Berkshiic swine. He was bred to farm pur- 
suits from his youth, while his natural habits of in- 
dustry and enterprise ensure his continued success 
in his undertakings. 

The subject of this notice is the scion of a sub- 
stantial old family, being the son of Henry Ohlen- 
dorf, one of the oldest settlers of Crete Township 
and one of its most successful farmers. The latter 



272 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



is a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany, and was born 
September 16, 1821). He was reared in his native 
Province, beeoniiiii; familiar with agricultural pur- 
suits and obtaininj,' a good education in the Ger- 
man tongue. Alxjut liie time of reaeliing his ma- 
jority liis parents, .lohn Henry and Sopliia (Senne) 
Olilendorf, accompanied by the balance of their 
family, emigrated to tiio United .States, setting out 
on a sailing-vessel fnim Ilremerhaven about 1850. 
After a nine weeks' voyage they landed in New 
York City, whence tliey proceeded directly to 
Chicago, 111., and from there to Crete Township. 

The grandfather of Mr. Olilendorf, upon reach- 
ing his desiin.ition, purchased one hundred and 
si.xty acres of partially improved laud on section 
3'), where he built up a comfortable homestead 
and remained with his good wife until the marriage 
of their eldest son. They then removed to another 
farm in Crete Townshii), and when their third son 
was married removed the third lime, buying a 
farm each time a son was married, until the five 
were all comfortably located. The parents liually 
settled on a farm on section 19, where Grandfather 
Ohlendorf died in 1882. He had then arrived at 
the advanced age of nearly eigiity years. His 
widow, who is now nearly eighty years old, is still 
living, making her home with her son, August. 
Both were mcmbsrs for many years of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Henry J. Ohlendorf, the father of our subject, 
was the eldest of five sons and two daughters born 
to his parents, all of whom were natives of Ger- 
many and five of whom are still living, four of 
them being in this county. Henry J. was mar- 
ried to Miss Minnie Arkenberg, who was born in 
the Kingdom of Hanover, and who was quite 
young when her parents emigrated to America. 
Tliey likewise settled in Crete Township and died 
there. Mrs. Ohlendorf is still living and is now 
past fifty years of age. She has been from early 
youth a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. 
To her and her husband there was born a family 
of four children, one of whom, a son, John, died 
at the age of eleven years; Henry W., our subject, 
was tiie eldest born; Emily is the wife of Henry 
Trebold, a farmer of Crete Township; Regina lives 
with her mother in Crete. 



The subject of this notice received a careful 
parental training, attended the district schools in 
his native township and grew up healthful in 
mind and body with strength and courage for tiie 
battle of life. When reaching iiis majority, he 
crossed the Atlantic to visit the scenes of his 
father's early years and bis grandfatiier's iiome. 
Tliis proved not only a pleasant but a very valu- 
able experience, and he returned feeling that the 
time and money thus emjjloyed could not have 
been spent in a wiser manner. Subseciuently he 
was married, in Crete Township, to Miss Mary 
liartm.'iun. Mrs. Ohlendorf vvas born in this town- 
ship June 18, 18t)I,and is the daughter (^f John 
and Ellen (Behrens) Hartmann, who were likewise 
natives of Germany and earl}- settlers of this town- 
ship, and who are now residents of Crete. Mrs. 
Olilendorf is a lady of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence, and by her union with our subject has be- 
come the mother of four bright children — Agnes, 
Charles O., Walter and Ida. Both our subject and 
his wife were trained in the doctrines of the Luth- 
eran Church, to which they faithfully adhere. Po- 
litically, Mr. Ohlendorf is a stanch sni)porter of the 
Kei)ublican [larty. He has been tax collector of 
his township for the past year and is a man in 
whom the community ii.as entire confidence. He 
is reliable in his business transactions and as a 
farmer, skillful and progressive, and in all respects 
is proving a worthy representative of one of the 
leading families of this section. 



9£^J^^^« 



ON. FRED KAUKA. It is probable th.at 
!io resident of Beecher is more widely 
known than the Hon. Fred Kauka, a retired 
farmer and ex-Representative. He was 
born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, November 17, 
1823, and lost his father when very joung. His 
mother married again, and she and his stepfather 
died after our subject became a resident of the 
United States. He grew to maturity in the land 
of his birth, receiving an excellent education in his 
native tongue. He married Miss iSIary Hasenjacr, 
and after the birth of one child the young couple 






t^^^£^ 




^7^^c^-~ 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



275 



set sail for the United States, leaving Bremeriiaven 
on the "Gaeta," Cant. IIoiikmi coininanding. After 
u vuyago of seven weeks they landed in the Ameri- 
can metropolis, whence they went direct to Ciiicago. 

Mr. Kanka settled fourteen miles west of that 
city, remaininji;; there from 1817 to l.sr)4, at which 
time he became a resilient of Will County. He 
seinireil one hundred and sixty acres of Govern- 
ment land on section 13, AVashington Township, 
his lidmcstead lieing surrounded by unbroken lands 
devoid of habitation. He improved the estate, 
seeing cultivated fields giadually take the place of 
the primitive sod, and various improvements spring 
up about iiim. The enterprise which he displayed 
redo\inded to his credit, and he became known as 
one of the most judicious and enterjjrising farmers 
in this vicinity. After some years he sold his fer- 
tile estate and bought five acres on section 21, near 
the town of Beecher. Here he has made his home 
since 1881, retired from the arduous labors of 
farm life, while yet surrounded with all which 
makes country living pleasant. 

Mrs. Kauka was born in Hesse-Cassel, August 25, 
1S23, and is the daughter of natives of that Dilchy, 
who were of pure German stock. They came to 
America three years after their daughter, and set- 
tling in this county, died here at an advanced age. 
They were members of the Lutheran Church, as 
were also the parents of Mr. Kauka. They were 
the i)arents of one son and three daughters, three 
of whom arc now living in Illinois and one in Iowa. 
Mrs. Kauka was the third in order of birth, and 
like her brother and sisters was carefully reared 
and well e<lucate(l in her native land. She is an 
excellent housewife, a kind neighbor and a devoted 
wife and mother. She is the mother of seven chil- 
dren, all now settled in homes of their own. Caro- 
line is the wife of Jacob Frahrn and lives on a farm 
in Saunders County, Neb.; Mary is the wife of 
Heiny Letz, who operates a farm in Washington 
Township, this count}'; Sophia married Fred Gev- 
eke, who is farming in F'illmore County, Neb. ; Liz- 
zie is the wife of Peter Blayne anil resides in 
Uceclur; Fied II. married Emnm Hatteudorf, their 
home being in Chicago; Ellen is the wife of Thomas 
Peterson, a mechanic in Chicago; Lavina married 
Fred Uorman, a milkman in Chicago. 



In 1877 Mr. Kanka was elected by the Republi- 
cans of this county to represent them in the State 
Legislature, and was reelected in 1879. Heserved 
on the committees of Agriculture and Horticulture 
during the entire time that he was in the Legisla- 
ture, and he also acted on special committees on 
IMining, Manufacturing and Penitentiarj-. As a 
committeeman he was p;i,instaking .and judicious, 
and his friends have no reason to be ashamed of 
the record which he made in the legislative halls. 
As a local ollicial he has served in various offices, 
among them being those of Township Collector, 
Supervisor, Commissioner of Highways, and .lustice 
of the Peace. In the latter office his term of serv- 
ice amounted to sixteen years. This fact alone is 
proof that his fellow-men regard him a* upright, 
intelligent, and interested in the best good of his 
fellow-men. He and his estimable wife attend the 
Congregational Church of Beecher. 




^^ HARLES PETTIGREW. On the opposite 
page appears a [lortrait of this gentlemen, 
who is Superintendent of the Illinois Steel 
Works. He has for raanj- years been intimately 
cpnnected with the business interests of Joliet and 
is recognized everywhere as a man liberal and pub- 
lic-spirited and of more than ordinary ability. He 
was President of the first Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation organized in the place and held the office 
until the press of other business compell'.'d his res- 
ignation. 

One of the best countries on the face of the 
globe claims Mr. Pettigrew as her son, he hav- 
ing been born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, February 
■L 1814. His parents were John and Agnes 
(Hislop) Pettigrew, who were likewise of Scotch 
birth and ancestry; they are both living and are 
now residents of Scotland. The father for many 
years was engaged in the grocery trade and was a 
man noted for his sturdy honesty and reliability. 
The parental Itousehold included eight children: 
John is a resident of Joliet; Charles, our subject, is 
the second child; Ellen, Mrs. Scott, lives with her 
husband in Melbourne, Australia; Isabel remains 



276 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



in her native Scotland; Gavin, who resides in tlie 
city of London, England, is engaged in tlie mer- 
cantile business; Andrew is proprietor of a dry- 
goods establisUnient in the city of Glasgow, Scot- 
land. One cliild, also named Isabel, died in infancy, 
and Agnes when about twenty years of age. 

The subject of this notice spent his boyhood 
days in his native village of Lanark, and after a 
brief time spent in school went into the cotton fac- 
tory of the Lanark Spinning Company, where he 
remained seven years and until a youth of eigh- 
teen. Then, determining upon a change of occupa- 
tion, lie repaired to the city of Glasgow and served 
an apprenticeship of five years at the trade of a 
machinist. Not yet satisfied with the condition of 
his prospects he. in 1807, crossed the Atlantic and 
making his way to Chicago, 111., followed his trade 
there until 1870. 

In August, of the year above mentioned, Mr. Petti- 
grew came to .lolietand entered the employ of what 
is now known as the Illinois Steel Company but 
wliat was then the Union Coal, Iron and Transpor- 
tation Company, of which A. l'>. Meeker, was Presi- 
dent. His fortunes now began to mend perceptibly 
and here he has since remained. 15y strict atten- 
tion to his duties he secured tlie confidence of his 
emi)loyers and in 1872 was promoted to the fore- 
manship of the machine shop. A year later he was 
made Master Mechanic witii its attendant duties 
and responsibilities. In 1882 he became Assistant 
Superintendent and in 1889, was appointed Super- 
intendent, which office he still fills to the entire 
satisfaction of all. 

Upon becoming a voting citizen Mr. Pettigrew 
identified himself with the Republican party, but he 
has meddled very little in politics with the excep- 
tion of serving as an Alderman of the First Ward 
for two years. He took unto himself a wife and 
helpmate in June, 1869, Miss Agnes, daughter of 
Daniel and Agnes (Stewart) Cameron. Mrs. Petti- 
grew, like her husband, is a native of Lanarkshire, 
Scotland, and was born in December, 1844. Her 
childhood home was in the same town as that of 
her husband. Her parents were of Scotch birth 
and ancestry and are now deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Pettigrew there hare been born three chil- 
dren, the eldest of whcnn, a daughter, Edith Stew- 



art, is the wife of H. H. Delos and lives in Chicago. 
Tiie ulher daughters, Agnes and Clara Belle, are at 
home witii their parents. The Pettigrew family 
occupies a tasteful and commoilious residence at 
No. 709 Collins Street, and is numbered among 
tlie first families in tlie social circles of the city. 

~ ENRY COLE. One of the finest farms 
"jXj within the limits of Crete Township is 

^ owned and occupied by Mr. Cole, who is 

'^ recognized as one of its leading citizens. 
This comprises his father's old homestead, embrac- 
ing four hundred and ten acres, finely located and 
improved, well watered, and plentifully supplied 
with timber. Among its valuablu features is a 
mineral spring which is utilized by both the pro- 
prietor and outsiders, 

Tlie main points in the history of the subject of 
this notice are as follows: He is the son of the 
well-known Erastus Cole, a native of New Hamp- 
shire and of English descent. The latter when a 
child of three years was taken by his parents to 
Herkimer County, N. Y., where he was reared and 
educated, and where he lived until forty years old. 
In the meantime he learned cabinet-making, which 
he followed in the Empire State until 1838, and in 
that 3'ear he came to Illinois, an unmarried man 
aud secured a tract of Government land, which 
land is now comprised in the farm occupied by his 
son Henry, and which he secured at a land sale in 
Chicago. It embraced a part of Sections 5, 0, 7 
and 8, in what is now Crete Township, and there he 
spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1864, when 
sixt}--six years old. 

Erastus Cole was an honest, hard-working man 
who gained a competence through his own efforts. 
Possessed of more than ordinary intelligence, and 
decided in his views, he was first a member of the 
Whig party, a stanch Abolitionist during the 
slavery- days, and died firmlj^ grounded in Re- 
publican doctrines. His religious views accorded 
with those of the old school Baptist church. After 
coming to Illinois he was married in Danville to 
Mrs. IMartha (15oardman) Gilbert. This lady was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



277 



1)011) ii) Rushville Townsliip, Ontario County, N. 
Y., ill 1810, uiul came of American parenUige. Slie 
grew to womanhood in her native county, and was 
liiere married to Ascl Gilbert. They lived in New 
York State until almut 18.'35, then came to Illinois 
:inil settled near Danville, wheie Mr. Gilbert en- 
,<;aged in farniin<>: and died. To Mv. and Mrs. Gil- 
bert were born three children, all of whom are now 
deceased. 

Mrs. Cole proved the true helpmate of her hus- 
band ill all his worthy undertakings, and contributed 
by her good judgment and frugality, largely to his 
success. She survived him a number of 3'ears, and 
died at her home in Crete February 28, 1870, at the 
age of sixty, years. For some time she had been a 
member of- the Congregational Church. Of her 
union with Mr. Cole there were born three children, 
two daughters and a son. The eldest, Emma, was 
married to D. P. Shoemaker, and died in 1880 in 
LaPorte County, Ind., at the age of thirty-eight 
years, leaving two sons. iMr. Shoemaker is still 
living anil a resident of Indiana. Miss Ellen Cole 
is uninairied and a resident of .loliet. Henry, our 
subject, was the eldest born, lie was reared on the 
farm and completed his studies at the village schools 
of Crete. 

Mr. Cole was married in Crete April 22, 1862, to 
Miss Luc}' A., daughter of (). O. and Lydia (Skin- 
ner) Hordwell. Mrs. Cole was born April ,'>, 184,'j, 
in Shelbunie, Mass., of which Slate her parents 
were also natives and where they were reared and 
married. They came to Illinois in 1854, settling in 
Crete, but in 1866 removed to Manteno where they 
are now living retired from active labor. Mr. 
Hordwell is seventy-eight years old, while his esti- 
nialile wife is a year his senior. They are greatly 
respected in their community, nnd possess all the 
liaits of character which made them kind and in- 
dulgent parents and hospitable neighbors. 

To the parents of Mrs. Cole there was born a 
f.-uiiily of six children, three of whom are living, 
and of whom she was the fourth in order of birth. 
She was a child of niiiej-ears when her parents came 
to Crete, where she was reared to womanhood and 
obtained her education in the village school. Of 
lier union with our subject there have been born 
six children — Laura E., Willaid M., Ada B., Frank 




W., Inez G. and Ray E. They are all at home 
with their parents, with the exception of Ada, wdio 
is the wife of \Villiara E. Hall, and who resides at 
Manteno, this State. 

Mr. Cole, politically, is a strong supporter of Re- 
publican principles, and has been prominent in local 
affairs, serving as Township Assessor eight years; 
Road Commissioner four years, and School Director 
for many years. 

REEMAN II. ROBERTSON, editor and 
proprietor of the Peotone Eagle, is a native 
/4i of the Granite State, and possesses marked 

characteristics of the Yankee race. He is the sec- 
ond of three children born to John W. and Martha 
T. (Huntoon) Robertson, who were .also natives of 
New Hampshire, and spent all their wedded life 
therein except two years. During that period they 
resided in New York, where the husband died in 
1855. The widow survived until 1875. 

The town of Franklin was the birthplace of our 
subject, and May 3, 1843, his natal day. He ob- 
tained a common-school education, and at the age 
of eleven years took up the; labors of life by be- 
ginning the trade of a printer. He finished his 
apprenticeship in the odice of the Statesman at 
Concord, when sixteen years old, spending the fol- 
lowing two and a half years in advancing his 
studies and improving his mind. 

Coming to Illinois in 1865, Mr. Robertson 
worked on the Peoria Transcript a year and a half, 
then found employment in the Democrat office, in 
Henrj'. A twelvemonth later he went to low.a, 
and entered the office of the Bedford Southwest, at 
Bedford, remaining then; but a year, and thence 
going to Mount Ayr, where he bought a half in- 
terest in the Ringgold Record. After a brief so- 
journ of eight months he sold out, and removing 
to Dakota City, Neb., purchased a half interest in 
the Dakota City 3fail, retaining it but a twelve- 
month, when he again changed his location, first 
selling his share in the journal. 

M.adison was the next home of Mr. Robertson, 
and his enterprise the purchase and publication of 



27^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the h'l'vk'w, wbiuli lie sold after a year, buying in- 
stead the plant of the old l^akota City Mail, and 
removing it to Stanton. In that town he pnblished 
a paper two yeais, then moved the plant to Mis- 
souri ^'alley, Iowa, continuing his journalistic 
labors there until an accident brought them to a 
close. A runaway team had caused a fracture of 
his skull, and six months after beginning his work 
there IMr. Robertson was obliged to close out his 
business. 

The next newspaper venture of Mr. Koberlson 
was at Oilman, 111., where he ran the Argus, Cres- 
cent City (^wnand Lahogue A^cics at the same time, 
al.so carrying on an office and publishing a sliect 
called the Panhandle, Advocate, at Piper. The 
office at Oilman was burned, in 1884, entailing 
upon our subject the loss of all his machinery, pa- 
per and other material. His spirit was undaunted, 
and he was soon in the possession of the Oovvrie 
Register, at Oowrie, Iowa, the plant of whicii he 
subsequently removed to Orand Junction, later 
selling it and returning to the Prairie State. 

Entering an office at Kankakee, Mr. Robertson 
remained there until November, 1889, when he 
became editor of the Sunday Hero, in Chicago, 
leaving that city to begin an enterprise in Peotone 
- for which he saw a gpod opening. His work there 
was begun May 19, 1890. and already the Eagle is 
(inding its w.ay into many a household, continually 
growing in favor. "Ye editor" adds to his native 
energy the training given by years of experience 
amid varied surroundings, and sucli is his financial 
shrewdness that he wins success where many a man 
would see nothing hut disaster. He wields a facile 
pen, ol3serves keenly, judges quickly, and judi- 
ciously selects matter for publication. 

The choice of a companion is an important step 
in a man's life, and fortunate is he who chooses 
well. The lady who shares the joys and sorrows 
of Mr. Robertson became his wife in 1869, prior 
to vvbich time she bore the name of Sarah Herold. 
Shs is a daughter of Amos and Margaret (Gander) 
Herold, who lived in Ohio many years. The mother 
was born in that State and the father in Virginia. 
Mrs. Herold died in 1849, and Mr. Herold after- 
ward went to California. Returning to the States 
he married again and removed to Livingston 



County, 111., dying there in 1873. His first mar- 
riage resulted in the Inrtii of seven children. His 
(laughter Sarah, Mrs. Robertson, w;is born March 
14, 1814. .She is a capable iioiisewife, an honored 
member of society, and a loving wife and mother. 
She has one son, Willie H., a bright lad wiio has 
already been working at the printing business a 
year and a half. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robertson belong to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and have good standing among 
its members. He belongs to the Ancient Odd Fel- 
lows. In politics he is a Republican, and no man 
in the party has more abounding faith in its prin- 
ciples, or is more interested in its advancement than 
he. Although Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have been 
so siiort a time in Peotone they have sliown the 
qualities of mind and character that win friends, 
and are likely to be the center of a Large circle as 
they l)ccome better known. 

<^»^NESHIA MEERS, LL. 15. The legal pro 
fession is represented in Joliet l)y severa 
•! men of pronounced ability and erudition ini 
the law, who are an honor to the legal brotherhood 
and lo the community of which they form a part. 
When a young man assumes a prominent place 
among them, rising in the esteem of his associates 
and extending his practice, these facts indicate his 
possession of a high degree of professional skill and 
knowledge,and the manners which win success and 
respect. Such has been the case with the subject 
of this sketch, who began his practice in the city 
in the fall of 187G, and whose office in the Masonic 
Building is pointed out as that of one of the prom- 
inent and rising attorneys and couliselors of the 
flourishing town. 

The parents of our subject, Dennis and Anna 
(Ilalloran) Meers, were born in Ireland and came 
to the United States soon after their marri.age, their 
first location being in Massachusetts. They after- 
ward lived in other Eastern States, the husband 
being engaged in railroad work and contracting. 
In New York City and the State of New Jersey the 
I greater i)art of his life was spent. In 187o witli 



PORTRAIT AIvD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



279 



his family Iio removed to Jolict, 111., where lie en- 
gaged in the hardware business. He continued the 
same until his death, in June, 1888, having asso- 
ciated with him his son Robert, who still carries on 
the business. Mr. Meers belonged to the Demo- 
crat party, and although always ready to cast his 
vote, had never been an office seeking politician, 
being always a busy man, whose attention was 
given exclusively to his personal affairs. He had 
reached the age of sevent3--two years, when he 
broalliod ids last; his widow still lives. Both be- 
longed to St. M.ary's Catiiolic Church before the 
division of tiie parish, after whicii they were num- 
bered among tlie early members of the Sacred Heart 
Churcli, and helped to build the church edifice. 

The birtli of E. Meers took place in I'loomsbury, 
N. J., Fetiruary l.'i, 1854, and his youthful days 
were spent in lii.s native State and New York City, 
lie was educated at Seton Hall College, a well- 
known Catiiolic institution, located at Orange, N. 
J., and of wliicli Father Corrigan, now Arch-bishop 
of New York, was President. After completing 
bis studies in lliat institution young Meers assisted 
his father in liis work of contracting until the re- 
moval to tlie West. He then read law with Messrs. 
Olin & Phelps, and with the late Judge McRoberts, 
taking liis lectures at the University of Micliigan, 
in Ann Arbor, wiiere he was graduated in the class 
of '76. 

Returning to Joliet Mr. Meers began the prac- 
tice witli C. W. Brown, a prominent attorney of 
lliis city, with whom he remained four years, or 
until tlie election of Mr. Brown to the position of 
States Attorne}'. He then opened an office for 
himself, and continuing to practice alone, has 
proved very successful in acquiring business and 
in winning cases wliicli have been given into his 
hands. He is a vigorous pleader, able at will to 
employ the shafts of wit which are so pecuh'ar to 
the Irish race, and whicli so tlioroughly impress 
a point upon tlie hearers; he is well versed in the 
principles of equity and in legal precedents, and in 
all respects a worthy disciple of Coke and Black- 
stone. 

Mr. Meers served two terms as City Attorney, 
holding the office from 1879 until 1883. He has 
not run for any other office, although an active 



worker in the ranks of the Democrat party. Dur- 
ing the Presidential campaigns he has alwa^'s taken 
a prominent part in the canvass, making speeches 
and aiding his party as much as possible. He 
belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters; 
Catholic Order of Foresters; Ancient Order of 
Hibernians; and tlie Irish-American Club. He 
belongs to the Church of the Sacred Heart. Mr. 
Meers is still single, living with his mother in a 
fine home on Third and Eastern Avenues, a beau- 
tiful part of the city, where his father first built. 



SAAC HENRY, a worthy citizen of Plaiiifield 
Township, where he is engaged in agriculture, 
came to this county .as early as 185(5 and cast 
his lot with its pioneers. He is a Pennsylvaniau 
by birth and liis father, Jacob Henry, is supposed 
to li.ave been a native of the same State. He 
moved from there to Ohio in 1835, and was an 
early settler of IJichland County. At that time 
tliat |)art of Ohio was sparsely settled, and l)ut 
few improvements had been made. Deer and all 
kinds of wild game were plentiful where now are 
fine farms, thriving towns and cities. Mr. Henry 
bought a tract of tini})er land, and after building 
a log house fc)r the accommodation of his family, 
entered upon the hard task of clearing a farm from 
the primeval forests. There were no railroads in 
those days, and Milan, fifty miles distant, was 
the nearest market. Mr. Henry lived there six- 
teen years and then sold out and removed to De- 
fiance Count)', and bujing land there, entered 
upon the task of its improvement. His useful 
career, however, was soon brought to a close, as he 
died there about one j'car later. The maiden 
name of his wife was Christiana Coulser, and she 
was a native of Pennsylvania. In 18G() she re- 
moved to Wisconsin, and after living there a short 
time, to Grundy County, Iowa, and later to Marion 
County, Mo., and there died. 

The subject of this sketch was five j'cais old 
when he removed with his parents to Ohio, and 
there be was reared under pioneer iulluences to the 
life of a farmer. When the family removed to 



280 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Defiance County lie bonglit a trad of timber land 
and built tliero. 'I'liinking to better himself by 
lemovinjr to Illinois, ho came here in J 856, and 
was employed in a cabinet shop for a year. He 
then tvent to Michigan City, Ind., but after a .stay 
there of two months returned to his own home, 
and the following year again came to Illinois. He 
engaged in farming, working land on shares for 
eight years, and then purchased the place where he 
now resides, on section 13, Plainfield Township. 
Jt comprises eighty acres of land of exceptional 
fertilitj', and he has it under good improvement, 
and lias made here a comfortable niu\ cozj' home. 
IMr. Henry is, no doubt, greatly indebted to the 
aid he has received from his capable, helpful 
wife, to whom he was united in marriage in 1858. 
Her maiden name was Sarah Smith and she was a 
daughter of G. Y. Smith, of whom see sketch on 
another page of this work. The pleasant home 
circle of our subject and wife is completed by the 
five children born to them, namely: Mary M., 
Clara M., Werner L., Laura and Frank. A simple, 
n|)i'ight, independent man, Mr. Heniy bears a good 
reputation and is held in genuine respect for his 
sterling qualities. He has made his way in the 
world by persistent industry, and by the careful 
management of his affairs to a place among our sub- 
snbstantial citizens. 



-^-^-^ 




lEORGE H. HARSHBARGER is classed 
among the leading agriculturists of Plain- 
Held Township, and there is no finer or 
better im[)rovcd farm in all the county than his. 
He was born in Penn's Valley, Center Counl3-, Pa., 
January 27, 1829. His father, John Harsh barger, 
was of German descent. The grandfather of our 
subject was a native of that country, and w.as there 
reared and married, and subsequently came to 
America and settled in Pennsylvania, and there 
passed the remainder of his life on his farm in 
Penn's \'allev. 

The father of our subject was bred to agricul- 
tural pursuits, and followed farming profitably for 
man}' 3'ears, until his life was brought to a close in 



his comfortable home in Penn's Valley, at the age 
of sixty-three yeai-s. The maiden name of his wife 
was Mary Rishel, and she was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania. After the death of her husband she went 
to live in Hublcrsburgh, Center County, and there 
passed away in February, 1890, at the venerable 
ago of eighty-five years. She reared six sons and 
four daughteis to good and useful lives. 

The son of whom wo write received his educ-i- 
tion in the district school, and was early set to 
woik on the farm and obtained a practical knowl- 
edge of agriculture, continuing to live with his 
parents until 1844. In that j'ear lie commenced 
to learn the trade of a carpenter, which he followed 
in Pennsylvania until 18t7, when he concluded to 
come West to try life on the prairies of Hlinois. 
He took the most expeditious route at the time, 
and hy foot and stage made bis way to Erie, Pa., 
and from there by the Lakes to Chicago, where he 
embarked on the canal for Lockport, and from that 
place he went to Morris, Grundy County. There 
he found emploj'ment at his trade the ensuing 
three months, and then he took up his residence in 
Plainfield, continuing here as a carpenter and 
builder until 1878. He had previously bought his 
present farm, .and he then decided to devote him- 
self entirely to its management. It is pleasantly 
located on section 8, one mile west of Plainfield, 
and contains one hundred and twenty acres of 
finely-tilled land. It is exceptionally well im- 
proved, having upwards of five miles of tile, and 
i.s amply provided with neat and commodious 
buildings, and ranks as one of the finest pieces of 
property in this section of the countr}'. 

Mr. Harshbargor has been twice married, his 
lirst marriage, which occurred in Plainfield, being 
to Miss Harriet Baker, a native of Ohio. Her death 
in 1862 deprived him of a true and faithful wife, 
and their four children — Tacy, Frank, Seldon und 
Anna — of a good mother. Our subject was again 
married, taking .as a hcliimate Mrs. Sophia Hoa}', 
lice Barney, a native of New York State, and to 
them have come two children — Mabel and John. 
Mv. Harslibarger'.s daughter, Tacy. married Thomas 
H.ayes and resides in J'lainfield. His daughter, 
Anna, married Wilson Davis, and also lives in 
Plainlii'ld. iSIabcl is the wife of Frank G. Cuiskin, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



281 




of Plainfield. Frank resides in Somonauk, this 
State, and Seldon, in Kendall County, 111. 

Mr. Harshbarger is endowed witli a sonnd under- 
standing, decision of character, and other traits 
that have enabled iiina to make his own way in 
the world without the adventitious aids of fortune 
and birth to an independent position among his 
fellow-townsmen. He and his wife are highly re- 
garded in this community, where they have lived 
for many years, and have the warm friendship of 
many of their fellow-citizens, as they are social, 
hospitable people, making their home attractive to 
all who cross its threshhold. They ai'e valued 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
do all the}' can for the good work in which it is 
engaged. 

siHOMAS inLE.S. Northern Illinois h.as long 
been known as a land where fine crops arc 
garnered and fertile fields abound. Among 
the very productive estates which are included 
within its borders m.a}' be mentioned that of Thomas 
Ililes, located on section 20, Wesley Township, 
along tlie banks of the Kankakee River. A vast 
amount of labor has been performed here in order 
to redeem this acreage from its condition as a part 
of the primeval forest, and prepare the soil to bring 
fortii abundant]}' to the full extent of its capacitj'. 

Mr. Ililes is an Englishman, born in Uecembcr, 
1S27, and as the son of a farmer had fewer priv- 
ileges in the educational line than are afforded that 
class in free America. Although his schooling was 
quite limited and his book learning is therefore 
somewhat meagre, he possesses native intelligence 
and (piickly comprehends all that is going on about 
him. At the age of twelve years he began working 
out for farmers, continuing to supi)ort himself in 
this manner until he ha<l reached his majority. 
Having decided that in America he would find op- 
pdrtunilies for advancement not afforded in his 
native land, he bade adieu to home and friends and 
crossed the broad Atlantic. 

Mr. Hiles landed at Philadel[)hia a friendless 
stranger, with about $.50 as a capital with which to 



begin his labors. He came directly to Cook County, 
111., where for nine months he worked on a farm. 
In the spring of 1850 he came into Wesley Town- 
ship, Will County, entered the employ of Elijah 
I'reer for two 3'ears, and then purchased eighty 
acres of the land which he has brought to so excel- 
lent a condition. He had but few neighbors. He 
erected a frame house and began clearing the land, 
doing all the labor of felling trees, etc., himself. 
From time to time he .added to his farm other tim- 
bered lands, which he cleared in succession until he 
now has two hundred and ten acres of improved 
land, about two hundred acres of which were 
cleared by himself. This is a record which has 
been made b^- few even of our most enterprising 
farmers, and Mr. Hiles deserves great credit for 
that which he has accomplished in redeeming the 
fertile land to man's use. He is engaged in general 
farming, and successfully pursuing his vocation. 

Mr. Ililes and Miss Sarah Carpenter were joined 
in holj- wedlock Septembers, 1852, and lived hap- 
pily together until February 24, 1880, when the 
wife was called hence. She was a daughter of 
Charles and Abigail (.Milliman) Carpenter, natives 
of the Empire State, who removeil to Illinois about 
the time of the Black Hawk War. The occupation 
of Mr. Carpenter was tilling the soil. He and his 
wife are now deceased. i\Irs. Sarah Hiles was born 
January 17, 18.35. She bore her husband six chil- 
dren, the record of the survivors being as follows: 
Mary, born J.anuary 1, ]8'57, is the wife of Mike 
Miller, of Joliet, and the mother of six children; 
Fred M. was born October 21, 1867; Benjamin T. 
February 15, 1880. 

A second matrimonial alliance was contracted by 
Mr. Ililes February 1, 1881. His bride on this 
occasion w.is Miss Aseneth Hamblin, who was born 
May 29, 1832, in Onondaga County, N. Y. She 
received a good education in the district schools, 
and upon the foundation thus laid has reared a 
structure of wide knowledge through extensive 
reading and keen observation. She is an active 
worker in the Siind.ay-school, was constantlj' en- 
gaged .as a teacher while in New York, and is a 
willing worker in the promulgation of every good 
cause. Her home is not neglected, but is conducted 
in such a waj- that the domestic machiner}- moves 



282 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



sniootlily, and every comfort sunouiids tlio mem- 
bers of the home circle. 

The parents of Mrs. lliles were Abner I. and 
Electa (Neariiii;) llamblin, natives of Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut rcspectivel}'. They became 
husband and wife in the Empire State, and there 
continue<l to leside until their death. Their home 
was in Madison County, where Mrs. llamblin 
breathed licr last August 6, 1 8G3, and her husband 
March 15, 1875. Both were active participants in 
ciiurch work, and Mr. llamblin was a farmer. Mrs. 
Hiles was the ninth of the eleven children born to 
them, of whom seven survive at this writing. 

Mr. Ililes has always taken an active interest in 
politics, and gives his vote to the Republican 
partJ^ Before he left ids native land he became a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
but has not been identified with lodges of that fra- 
ternity in America. He now holds the office of 
Township Trustee, in which he has served for fifteen 
years p.ast, and is also a Director of the local School 
Board. He has served as Pathmaster. He and his 
wif(^ belong to the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch. 



» ^-*-^ -^ 




ON. AUGUST W. BERGGREN, Warden 
~^) of the Illinois State I'enitentiary at Joliet, 
has held several important official stations 
in other parts of this State, and won a high 
H'putation for his uprightness, good judgment and 
public spirit. He was ap|)ointed to tlie position he 
now holds in April, 1889, and took charge on May 
1st, following. He is a native of the Scandanavian 
Peninsula, his birthplace Sweden, and his natal 
day August 17, 1840. His parents were John and 
Catherine Berggren, the latter of whom died in 
their native land, leaving to her husband's care 
six sons and one daugiiter. 

In 1856 the widower and his family came to 
America, drawn to cross the briny deep by the ac- 
counts they had hoard of the " land of the free and 
tiie home of the brave," and its opportunities for 
all who desire to rise in the social scale or improve 
their worldl}- condition. A location was selected 
at Oneida, this State, but tin; fatlier subsequently 



went to Glendale, Iowa, where he breathed his last 
in 1863. Two of his children have also passed 
away: Peter Anton died in the Hawkeye State, 
in 1863; and Anna Christina in Knox County, 
this State, the year after her arrival in America. 
The surviving members of the fraternal band are: 
.lolm Eric, a Aletliodist Episcopal minister, now 
retired and living in Iowa; Louis G., a farmer in 
Polk County, Neb. ; Charles, a stonemason in Gar- 
rison, Kan.; he of whom we write; and William, a 
farmer in Pettis County, Mo., who holds tlie office 
of Justice of the Peace. 

In his native land August W. Berggren was ap- 
prenticed to the tailor's trade, serving two years. 
After reaching the Western Continent he worked 
at his trade both in Galcsburg and Monnioutli, 
this State. His workmanship was always to be re- 
lied upon, and his citizenship was equallj- trust- 
worthy. Ere long these facts were recognized by 
his fellow-citizens, and wiiile still quite young he 
was placed in public office. In 1809 he was elected 
Justice of the Peace, in 187'2 became Siieriff, and 
to the latter station was re-elected in 1871, 1870 
and 1878. A still higher honor awaited him, his 
friends desiring his services in a more important 
function, to which his intelligence, interest in pub- 
lic welfare, and keen perception of its needs fitted 
him. In 1880, therefore, he was sent to the Senate, 
representing the Twenty-second District, composed 
of Knox and Mercer Counties. Four years later 
he was returned to the Senatorial boil}' as a mem- 
ber from the same district, then composed of Knox 
and Fulton Counties. During the last session of 
his second term Senator Berggren was President 
pro tern of the Senate. His record as a lawmaker 
is a matter of history and well known to his con- 
stituents, whose cordial esteem he has won by his 
position on the side of all that is elevating ond 
true. 

The lion. Mr. Berggren is quite interested in 
social and benevolent orders, and is identified with 
the Knight Templars and the Iiide|)endent Order of 
Odd Fellows. He has been President of the Cove- 
nant IMvitual Benefit Association of Illinois, located 
at Galesburg, since its organization in 1877, and he 
is also a Director in the Galesburg National Bank. 
He chose .as his comiianion in life a Swedish lad^-, 





i/y^^A 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



285 



Miss Christina Nasliiiul, tlieir msininire licing eeie- 
lii'atcd Marcli S, I8G0. Mrs. Berggren excels in 
lioiisewit'er}', is intelligent anil refined, and with a 
character which causes her to he highly regarded 
by all to whom she is known. Tlie union has been 
lilesseil by the birth of six children — t'apitoia 
Maud, Guy Werner, Ralph Augustus, Clans En- 
gene, Jay Valentine and Earl lingo. The daughter 
is finely educated, being a graduate of Knox Col- 
lege, and the others have also received excellent 
advantages proportionate to their years. Death 
has entered the family circle, removing from its 
midst the son and brotlier, Ual|)h Augustus, who 
was accidentally killed by a gravel train on the 
.Santa Fe Railroad, on May 20, 1887. 






;r:REDERICK WILLIAM WERNER, M.D., 

i^ bears the reputation of being one of the 
busiest persons in the city of Joliet. He is 
in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative practice, 
■ind is widely and favorably' known throughout 
\\ ill County, where thus far he hasspi nt his entire 
lite. He was born February 8, 1858, in Joliet, and 
is the son of William and Barbara (Goebel) Wer- 
ner, who were natives of Germany. The mother 
while single emigrated to America, in 1843, and 
the father a few years later. 

The Werner famil}' is of pure German stock, 
as far back as is known, and possessed in a marked 
degree the substantial and reliable traits peculiar to 
that nationalit}'. They were unusuallj' well edu- 
cated, conforming to the laws of their native land, 
which required that a child should be placed in 
school at the age of six 3'cars, and jnirsue his stud-' 
ies until fourteen. 

The father of our subject was trained to habits 
of industry in his j'outh, learning the trade of a 
stone mason, developing into a contractor and 
builder. Fpon coming to America he settled in 
Will County, III, and departed this life May 20, 
1 887. The mother bore the maiden name of Bar- 
bara Goebel. Th',' parents were married in Joliet, 



and Mrs. Werner now makes her home with the 
Doctor. The household circle included seven 
children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Eliza- 
beth died when two j'ears old ; Annie Marie died 
in infancy; Frederick W., our subject, was the 
third child: Louis Charles Frederick died when 
about eighteen months old ; Frederick Charles is 
eng.aged as a harness-maker and living in Joliet; 
George Washington, a veterinary surgeon of good 
repute, makes his home in Kansas City, Mo. ; Ed- 
ward Herbert is one of the leading dental surgeons 
of Joliet. It will be observed that these children 
were named in honor of the patriots of both Ger- 
many and America. 

Dr. Werner in his b03'hood days attended the 
city schools of Joliet, and when approaching man- 
hood began the study of medicine under the in- 
struction of Dr. A. W. Heise, in the winter of 
187G-77. Later he entered the medical depart- 
ment of the Michigan State University, and after- 
ward BcUevue Hospital Medical College, New 
York City, from which he was graduated March 1, 
1880. Returning then to his native city, he 
opened an oifice, and his career has been one of 
uniform prosperity. 

[n politics Dr. Werner favors the principles of 
the Republican party, but he meddles very little 
with public affairs, otherwise than those connected 
with his profession. He served as Coroner of Will 
Count}' from June, 1880, to December, 1884, first 
by appointment and subsequently was twice elec- 
ted to the office. He was County Physician from 
1881 to 1888, and City Physician from 1884 to 
1887. From 1882 to I880 he held the office of 
Treasurer of the United States Pension Examining 
Board. He is a member in good standing of the Will 
County Medical Societ}', the Chicago Medical 
Society and the American Society of Microscopists. 

On the 28th of May, 1881, Dr. Werner was 
united in marri.agc with Miss Louisa Fredricka, 
daughter of C. W. and Marie Agnes (Bertch) 
Staehle. Mrs. Werner was horn in Joliet, and re- 
mained with her parents until her marriage, receiv- 
ing a good education in the common school. Mr. 
and Mrs. Staehle were natives of Germany, and 
are now residents of Joliet. Their family consists 
of seven living children. 



286 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



In connection with this sketcli a litliograpliic 
portrait of tlie Doctor is presented to the readers 
of the Aludm. 



iraraE 



(F ^ENRY BOHL owns and occupies a farm on 

^^j section 34, Washington Township. A gen- 
eral air of thrift and prosperitj' is noticeable 
and even a casual glance is sufficient to 
show that tlie land is well tilled and tli.at the 
buildings which have been erected upon it are .ad- 
eqii.ate to their requirements, while they and the 
other improvements are well kept in every par- 
ticular. 

The eyes of our subject opened to the light in 
Mecklenburg, Germany, April 14,1838. His father, 
Herman Bohl, was a farm laborer who had mar- 
ried a lady of his own Duchj- — Miss Mary Buhr- 
ling. Tlie^' lived in the neighborhood in which 
they had been reared until after the birth of six 
children, two of whom died when quite young. 
The parents with the surviving members of the 
family set out for America in the fall of 1857, tak- 
ing passage from Hamburg in the sailing vessel 
'•America" and landing at New York City after 
having spent four weeks and three days at sea. 
The family came west together and made a settle- 
ment in Du Page County, 111. After some years 
the parents, their onl}' son and one daughtei', re- 
moved to Will Count}' and settled on the farm 
now owned by our subject, the parents living with 
liim until their death. The father breathed his 
last in 1883 at the age of seventy-seven j'ears; the 
widow survived until 1889, reaching the advanced 
age of eighty-two j'ears. During the last two 
years of her life she was entirely blind. Both of 
the parents were life-long members of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Henry Bold is the third in order of liirtli in the 
[larental family. He received his education in his 
native country- to which he bade adieu when about 
nineteen years old. He became of age in Du Page 
County, 111., and was there united in marriage 
with Miss Minnie Sehuld. This la<ly vvas born in 
M(!cklenberg, Germany, in 184G, and after being 



left an orpiian she came alone to the United States 
wlien she had almost reached womanhood. She 
made her home in Du Page County where she w.as 
married not long after her arrival. She was well 
skilled in domestic arts, was a consistent member 
of the Lutheran Church and a woman whose good 
qualities were recognized by her neighbors and ac- 
quaintances. She breathed her last at her home in 
Washington Township, August 25, 1883, when b.ut 
thirty-eight years old. 

The happy union of Mr. and. Mrs. Bohl was 
blest by the birth of eight children, of whom Wil- 
lie, Lena and two infants are deceased. The sur- 
vivors are: Recka, Henr}', William and .Tohn, all 
of whom yet cluster around their father's fireside. 
Mr. Bohl and his children attend the Lutheran 
Church and he is a stanch Republican. 






J 



\T/ULIAN E. WHITE. This young gentle- 
man is engaged in tlie drug business in Jol- 
iet in which he made a permanent location 
in 1885, establisliing himself in a business 
that is rapidly growing. "With an upright charac- 
ter, the courteous and pleasing manners of a well- 
bred gentleman, and an intelligent mind, he has 
been admittecl into the "inner circle" of society, 
while in business circles he is regarde<l as one of 
the most promising young men of the city. He 
is the third child of E. D. and Margaret (.4.dams) 
White who came with their family to .Joliet in 
1876. The father is now engaged in the music 
trade iiere and in addition to pianos and other 
musical instruments also handles sewing machines. 
He is a native of the Empire .State, wiiile his wife 
opened her eyes to the light in Pennsylvania. 

The subject of this biographical notice was born 
Mar(^h 9, 1851, in M.ayville, Chautauqua County, 
N. X ., but his boyhood was spent in Crawford 
Countj', Pa. After completing his education he 
became a drug clerk in his home town where he 
continued in tiiat employment a year. Being at- 
tracted by the accounts lie had heard of the Rocky 
JMountain region, Jie then went to Denver, C'ol., but 
finding no opening in the drug business became a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



287 



clerk ill an estaljlislinient devoted to the sale of 
men's fui'nisliiiig goods. For two years lie was 
lluis employed when lie joiirne^'ed eastward, reach- 
iiii,' .loliet in the sprino; of 1877, his |)arents in tlie 
meantime having located here. He entered the 
estalilisiiment of J. D. Brown & Co., remaining 
tlu'ie lluee or four years after which he went to 
Chicago. There lie engaged with the drug firm of 
r^ord, Stoutenlicrgct Co., as a triiveling salesman and 
after two and one-half years spent in that capac- 
ity, he became an employe of the firm of Fuller S: 
Fuller. For the latter nriii he worked about three 
vears after which he began business for himself at 
the time and place before noted. 

Mr. White is a firm believer in the principles of 
the Henublicnii part}', which he therefore supports 
on all occasions. He is identified with the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, having reached the Royal Arch 
Degree and being Captain in the Chapter. An 
event interesting to Joliet society and particul- 
arly to Mr. White, took place at the residence of 
( ).srn(iiiil Fox, Aiiril 23, 1890. This was the mar 
liMgc of our sul)ject and ^liss Jessie Fox, dau'ghter 
(if the host, a young lad}- whose intelligence, cul- 
uiie. and amiable character have given her pop- 
iibiiity in society and endeared her to the hearts 
(if many friends. The wedding ceremony was per- 
formed at six o'clock and was followed by an 
elegant recei)tion participated in by the society peo- 
))Ie of Joliet. 

' cC>o " 

^, ICHAEL SHENK is a substantial, well-to- 
do farmer of Custer Townsliii), and he has 
borne an honorable part in bringing about 
the great change wrought by the pioneers 
and present citizens of AVill County that has placed 
it in the front ranks of its sister counties. His 
parents were Christian and [ IMagdalene (Wolf) 
Shenk, natives of Lancaster Count}', Pa. His father 
operated a mill there for thirty years, and with 
his wife was a life-long resident of that part of the 
conntry, she dying in 1850, and he in 1824. 

Our subject is the only survivor of six children. 
He was born in August, 1818. His education was 
conducted in the cominon schools. He suffered 




an accident at a raising when he was eighteen years 
of age, whereby his right shoulder, ribs and leg 
were broken, and for four years he was unable to 
do anything. After that he went to work on a 
small farm for himself in Erie County, Pa., made 
improvements upon it, built a house and barn, and 
made full payment at the rale of V2'2 per acre, he 
l)uying it of his mother. He remained on that 
place about fourteen years, and then disposed of it 
in order to try agriculture in this county, and com- 
ing here in 1858, he Ixjught his present farm. The 
improvements upon it were very meagre, but he 
has placed it in a good condition. He built his 
present dwelling in 1875, and also erected a good 
barii at a cost of '^1,000. He has one hundred and 
sixty acres in the home farm, all of which is under 
fine cultivation except thirty acres, and he has ad- 
joining it eighty acres of land that is well adapted 
to pasturage and is used for that purpose, he hav- 
ing his farm well stocked. 

By his marri.age, in 1851, to Miss Sarah A. Car- 
ter, our subject secured the substantial aid of a 
wife who, by her good management of their house- 
hold affairs, has contributed in no small degree to 
bring about their present prosperous circumstances. 
]\Irs. Shenk is a native of England, born in 1822, 
and received a good education in the land of her 
birth. Her marriage with our subject has been 
gladdened by the birth of eight children, all of 
whom are living, and are well settled in life. Their 
record is as follows: John, who is living in Yates 
Center, Kan., m.arried Sarah Wright, and they have 
four children; William, a resident of Fairbury, 
married Alma Robbins, and they have one child; 
Jerome, of Reed Township, married P.elle Morrill, 
and they have one child; Elizabeth, wife of Harvey 
Brown, of Chicago, is the mother of nine children; 
Delia Ann is the wife of Napoleon Leslie, of Braid- 
wood, and has five children; Joseph, a resident of 
Braidwood, married Ella Rankin, and they have 
five children; Minnie married John Jiison, who 
lives on the home farm, and they have three ehil- 
ilren; Ida married Calvin Whitson, of Pontiac, and 
they have four children. .John Shenk bore an hon- 
orable part in the late war as a soldier in the C)iie 
Hundredth Illinois Infantry, and was slightlv 
wounded at Mission Ridge. William went out 



288 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



with the same regiment, but came home sick before 
the expiration of iiis term of eiilistmont. Ileuftur- 
ward served in a throe months' reti'inient. 

Since 1 858 Mr. Sheiik has been associatert with 
tlie people to wliom Custer Township owes its pros- 
perity, and lie lias conducted himself in all ways so 
as to secure the entire coufidence and respect 
of his fellow-citizens. He has taken part in the 
manasrement of public affairs as School Director 
of this district, and at one time he was Assessor of 
Custer and Keed Townships for a period of two 
years. He votes the Republican ticket. Mrs. 
Slienk has for many j'ears been a devoted member 
of the Episcopal Churcli, and is equally esteemed 
with her husband. 



^p^EORGE S. BRISTOL represents the llour- 
fff |— ^ ishing agricultural interests of Plainfield 
^^ Township, and his farm on sections 33 and 
34. is one of the most desirable in this locality as it 
is under the best of cultivation and is amply pro- 
vided with good machinery for cver^- purpose. 

Our subject is a native of Ohio, horn in Perry 
Township, Franklin County, Januarj' 26, 1843, a 
worthy descendant of an old pioneer family of that 
State. Corel Bristol, his father, was a native of 
the same county, born in Sharon Township, May 14, 
1810. His father, Eri Bristol was born in Bristol, 
Conn., a son of Jacob Bristol, who was of English 
birth. The father of the latter, great-great-grand- 
falher of our subject, emigrated from Bristol, Eng- 
land, about 1 776,and settling in Connecticut, bought 
land in the town of Bristol. He was a clockmaker, 
and it is said manufactured the finest clocks ever 
made in America in his day. During the Revolu- 
tion he proved to be a patriotic citizen to his 
adopted country and building two ships he placed 
them at the disposal of the colonists and aided 
them in fighting the British. Jacob Bristol was 
ten 3'ears old when he came to America with his 
parents. He became a clockmaker and spent the 
rest of his life in Connecticut. Eri Bristol, grand- 
father of our subject, became a member of the 
Scioto Company that bought sixteen thousand 



acres of land in what is now Franklin County, Ohio, 
and he was thus an early pioneer of the .State. In 
the spiing of 1804 each member of the colony sent 
a son into the wilderness of Ohio, to build log 
cabins and prepare the way of the others who soon 
joined them, the removal of these families being 
made with teams, some of them having horses and 
others oxen. They were among the first to locate 
in th.at part of Ohio, and the grandfather of our 
subject, settled in wh.it is now Sharon Township, 
nine miles north of the present site of Columbus, 
on Whetstone Creek. In that time the State was 
in a wild and unsettled condition, the dense prime- 
val forests being inhabited by various tribes of 
Indians, and deer, bears, wolves, panthers, and wild 
cats were numerous. There were no railwr.ys nor 
canals, and in fact no public roads, all conniumica- 
tion with the outside world was by [)ersons passing 
through the narrow paths or Indian trails on foot 
or horseback. The people lived in the most primi- 
tive manner, obtaining their food from products of 
the land, wild game and fish, and the women spun 
and made all the clothing used. The grandfather 
of our subject resided on the homestead that he 
hewed from the wilderness, until death closed his 
mortal career. 

The father of our subject was reared, married 
and resided in the place of his birth until 1870, 
-when he came to Plainfield, and with his sons, 
bought the farm where our subject now resides. 
He is still living, is in his eighty-first year, and 
makes his home with his children. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was Annah 
Ross and she was a native of Westmoreland County, 
Pa., a daughter of David and Mary (Satcher) Ross. 
Her death occurred in Franklin County, Ohio. 

George S. Bristol received the rudiments of his 
education in the public schools and then had the 
advantages of a fine course at Eastman's Business 
College at Chicago. In May, 18G4, at the age of 
twenty-one j'ears, he enlisted in Company E. One 
Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio National Guards, 
for one hundred days, and was dispatched with his 
regiment to Parkersburg, W. Va.., and after re- 
maining there six weeks was sent to Washington, 
and thence to the James River of Virginia, where 
he did garrison duty until the expiration of his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



289 



term of enlistment, when lie was discharged liaving 
done honoialile service in the cause of his countrj'. 
After his military experience, Mr. Bristol returnee) 
to his native State and remained a resident thereof 
until the spring of 1868, when he made a new de- 
parture and ill the vigor of a stalwart manhood 
came to Illinois to try fanning in the Prairie State. 
He was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Plain- 
field in the suinnier and in the winter utilized his 
education by teaching. He taught six winter 
terms and the remainder of the j'ear was engaged 
as liefore mentioned. In 1871, he located on the 
farm he now owns and occupies and has been thor- 
oughly successful in its cultivation. In ISSi), he 
had the misfortune to have his dwelling burned, 
and he has since replaced it by his present neat and 
comfortable residence. 

The marriage of our subject in 1872 with Miss 
Uosabelle Clark was an important step in his life 
and be thereby secured an able assistant in his 
work. She is a native of Plainfleld, born in March, 
18 17, and a daughter of Erastus Clark. Her father 
was born in (ireenfield, Franklin County, Mass., his 
f.ilher bearing the same name, being also a native 
of that county, born in the town of Colerain. His 
father, John Clark, is supposed to have been a native 
of the same town and a descendant of English ances- 
try, who were early settlers in that place, and he was 
there engaged as a manufacturer. Mrs. Bristol's 
grandfather learned the trade of a woolen manu- 
facturer and established the first spinning jenny, 
and carried on the business there some ^eais. He 
subsequently removed to Niagara Falls, established 
a factory, and resided there until 183G, when he 
came to Plainfield. He was an early settler here, 
l)uying a tract of land about one mile south of the 
village. He and his son operated a flour and saw- 
mill for a few years and^ he then went to Kalamazoo, 
AHcli., and there died at the home of a daughter at 
the advanced age of eighty -six years. Mrs. Bris- 
tol's father was young when he came to Plainfleld 
with his parents and assisted his father in operatiuw 
the mills, finally buying the sawmill, which he op- 
erated for a time. He then disposed of it and 
turned his attention to farming, and resided here 
until 1878. In that j'ear he removed to Kansas, 
bought a faiiii in l{eno County and still makes his 



home there. The maiden name of Mr. Clark's wife 
was Caroline Cotton. She was born on the Isle of 
Wight, a daughter of William and Jane (Brett) 
Cotton, also natives of that island, who were pio- 
neers of Plainfleld. Mr. and .Mrs. Bristol's pleas- 
ant wedded life has brought to them two children, 
Mabel .1. and Elsie C. 

Mr. Bristol is a man of honorable character and 
high standing in this commnniiy, with whose best 
interests he has earnestl}' identified himself more 
than twenty years, and by his manly, straightfor- 
ward course in all his business dealings and in his 
social relations he has gained a warm place in the 
regard of his fellow-citizens. He has a well-balanced, 
well-cultivated mind and sincere religious views 
whieh find expression in the Universalist faith, he 
and his wife being valued members of the society 
of that denomination in Plainfield. Politically he 
is a stanch Republican. 







^jENJAMIN OLIN. The legal profession of 
Will County is worthily represented by the 
■, subject of this notice who has been engaged 
in the practice of law at Joliet since June, 
of the year 1870. He is a native of the Empire 
State and was born in Allegany County, August 
12, 1.S38. He emigrated to Illinois with ' his pa- 
rents when quite young, they settling first in La 
Salle County, from which they subsequently 
removed to Kendall County. 

Judge Olin received his English education in 
the common and select schools of La Salle and Ken- 
dall Counties and subsequentl^y entered Beioit Col- 
lege, Wis. He commenced the reading of law in 
the oflice of JNIessrs. Gray A Bushnell at Ottawa, 
HI., anil later studied with John Cruthers, of Os- 
wego, Kendall County. 

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Olin in 
April, 18G1, a.ssisted in raising Compan}- K, Twen- 
tieth Illinois Infantry and was elected First Lieu- 
tenant of his company. After about one 3-ear 
spent in the service he was obliged to send in his 
resignation on account of ill-health. He then 



2:)0 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



weiii to Colorado wlieiu he spent several raonllis 
and upon his rotuin resumed his law studies at 
Cliicago with the firm of INIather, Taft & Bates. He 
was admitted to the liar in 1863 and began the 
practice of his profession at Morris, this State. 

Subsequently Mr. Olin associated himself in 
partnership witii Hon. V. A. Armstrong, of Morris, 
and they engaged in the practice of law until the 
removal of Mr. Olin to Joliet in June, 1870. In 
the meantime he had become prominent in the lo- 
cal affairs of Grundy County, representing his 
ward in the City Council of Morris and holding 
the otHee of School Inspector, besides tilling other 
positions of trust and responsibility. He was looked 
upon as a man of sound judgment and his opinions 
were generally respecteil. 

After his removal to Joliet .Judge Olin associated 
himself in [lartnership with Capt. Phelps in the 
practice of law, which partnership continued until 
1873, when it was dissolved by the election of Mr. 
Olin to the Judgeship of the County Court, lie 
acquitted himself with great credit, serving his full 
term and in 1877 was re-elected and held tlie olHce 
the full term of the four years, and one year over 
on account of a change in the law lixing the time 
of holding elections. Then after nine yeai-s of 
public service and when his nomination was again 
talked of, he declined to be a candidate for re-elec- 
tion. 

Since his removal to Joliet Mr. Olin has been 
identified with many of its leading enterprises and 
has distinguished himself as a liberal and public- 
spirted citizen. He is ijarlicidarly interested in 
educational affairs, having lieUl the office of School 
Inspector for several years, and was also a member 
of the Board of Directors of the Joliet Public Li- 
brary, whicli office he has recently resigned. As an 
attorney he has been entrusted with important in- 
terests, while his intimate knowledge of the intri- 
cacies of law has enabled him to serve his clients in 
a just and satisfactory manner. His strict Integrity 
and honorable dealings have gained him the confi- 
dence and esteem of his fellowoitizens and both in 
social and business circles he occupies an enviable 
position. 

Mr. Olin in September, I860, w.as joined in wed- 
lock with Miss Julia Schauber. Mrs. Olin is a lady 



of high culture and varied attainments anil well 
fitted to be the partner of such a man as her hus- 
band. She was born in Saratoga County, N. Y. 
The family residence is pleasantly located at No. 
102 Young's Avenue. In 1889 Judge Olin asso- 
ciated himself in partnership with George J. Cow- 
ing, a young gentleman of line attainments, who is 
rapidl\- risirig in his |)rofession. 




RED BOLTMANN. The late Mr. Bolt- 
mann was born in Hanover, Germany, 
June 9, 1846. lie was the son of Henry 
and Sophia (01enkem|i) Boltmann, natives of 
Hanover, where the}' were reared and married, 
and lived for some years thereafter. They came 
to America in 1853, taking passage at Bremer- 
haven on a sailing-vessel that crossed the Atlantic 
at a rapid rate, making the quickest time ever re- 
corded by a sailing-vessel. The hurricane which 
had speeded it on its course at so rapid a rate 
neai'ly caused the destruction of the vessel, and 
many of the passengers died from fright or sick- 
ness in the short space of three weeks and three 
days. The Uoltmann family survived the dangers 
of the passage, and coming from New York to 
Chicago, settled on a farm in l)u Page County. 
There they made some imiiroveinents ere changing 
their residence to Will County and settling on 
section 35, Washington Township. 

The elder Jlr. I»oltmann secured a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, mosll\' wild land, on 
which he at once began to make improvements. It 
is now known far and near as a home of great 
comfort, where pleasing hospitality abounds and 
the social pleasures of life «re thoroughly enjoyed. 
Mr. and Mrs. Boltmann are now quite old, having 
been born in 1812, the former July 19 and the lat- 
ter September 19. Mr. Boltmann has been identi- 
lied with the Republican party, and he and his 
wife have been active members of the Lutheran 
Church since their childhood. They are particu- 
larly well known by the best (Jerman families of 
the county and are respected b^- all. 

The sentleman with whose name this " sketch 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



•291 



is introduced, was educnted in tlie public! schools 
of Du Page aiul AVill Counties, and acquired a, 
practical knf)wledge of agriculture on the parental 
estate. He was engaged in tilling tlie soil until 
after the breaking out of the Civil War. when he 
entered the Fnion arni^' as a member of Company 
H, .Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry. Going south, 
the regiment was put under the general couiuiaiid 
of Sheridan, and under that gallant leader partici- 
pated in the battles which have made his name 
famous. Mr. Boltmann also took part in the bat- 
tles of Atlanta and others of prominence, escaping 
injury, excepting a slight wound on the knee, in 
all his arduous and dangerous campaigning. He 
remained in the Hold until the close of the war, when, 
being discharged, June 8, l.SG.'j, he returned to his 
father's home justl}^ proud of his record as a loyal 
citizen and brave soldier. 

Mr. Boltmann continued to occupy himself with 
agriculture until 1873, when he established himself 
in business at Beecher, dealing in wines and liquors 
until his health failed. He closed his ^'es in death 
August 24, 1878, since which time his widow has 
successfully carried on the business, to the inter- 
est of which he had given his entire attention after 
its institution. The nature of Mr. Boltmann was 
a thrifty, kindly and capable one, and he was well 
known for his generosity toward his fellow-men 
and looked upon as a good business man. He was 
a member of Blue Lodge, No. 740, F. & A. M., at 
Grant Park, and had filled the various chairs. He 
was a sound Democrat in politics and his religious 
faith coincided with the doctrines of the Lutheran 
Church, to which he belonged, and to which he 
gave liberally. 

The marriage of Fred Boltmann and Miss Sophia 
Olenkemp was celebrated in Du Page County, this 
State. The bride was born in Hanover. (Jermany, 
October 9, ISKi. She was reared to womanhood 
in her native land, receiving an excellent educa- 
tion there, and after she came to America acquired 
good use of the English tongue. In 1S6G she 
crossed the ocean in compan_y with an uncle, tlie 
passage from Breuierhaven to New York on the 
sailing-vessel "Shakespeare" consuming seven weeks 
and two days. She came at once to Illinois, and 
for a time resided in Du Page County, subse- 



quenntly making her home in Washington Town- 
ship, AVill County. Her parents were William and 
Sophia (Herman) Olenkemp, both natives of Han- 
over and descendants of German stock of the bet- 
ter class. Mr. Olenkemp was a shoemaker. Two 
years after their daughter had come to America 
he and his wife made their arrangements to follow 
her to the New World. They were about ready to 
start when the husband and father sickened and 
died when about fifty-five years old. The widowed 
mother subsequently made the journey with the 
children who remained with her, and joining her 
daughter in Will County, spent her last days there. 
She died July 27, 1879, at the ripe age of seventy- 
five years, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
Boltmann. She and lior husband belonged to the 
Lutheran C'hurch. Their family consisted of four 
daughters and one son, the latter of whom, Henry 
Olenkemp, is now running a meat market in W3'o- 
ming. He has served five, years in the regular 
army. 

Mrs. Boltmann is a shrewd and capable woman, 
who manages her business affairs with great abil- 
ity. She belongs to the Lutheran Church and 
generously supports every good work which is 
done therein. She is the mother of six children, 
one of whom, a daughter, Emma, died when eight- 
een months old. The living arc: Tilda, wife of 
Henry Biefeldt, a lumber dealer of Beecher: Henry 
and William, who are carrying on the farm in 
Washington Township, and Alvina, who keeps 
house for them ; and Rosa, who remains at home 
with the mother. 



? 



A^IKS C. ZARLEY is the owner and occu- 
pant of one of the fine farms of Joliet 
Township, his home being located on sec- 
^^Jj tion 28, and comprising three hundred acres 
of beautiful land, upon which complete and excel- 
lent improvements have been made. The place is 
devoted to the dairy business, from sixty to eighty 
cows being kept, ;uid three wagons run to Joliet, 
where the milk is solil. That part of the estate 
which is under tillage is thoroughly cultivated, 



292 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and on every hand are to be seen evidences of the 
thrift and prosperity of the owner. 

Among the very earliest settlers in this county 
were the late Reason Zarloy and his wife. Me was 
horn ill Kentucky, and in 1814 was married ti) 
Sarah ISIustard, a native of Ohio. In Sciota 
County, of that State, they made their first home, 
CH>ming to Illinois in 1828, and spending about 
three years in the vicinity of Danville, Vermilion 
County. In 1831 they removed to this county, 
sotlling on the farm now owned by our subject. 
Here they took up the labors of pioneer life, un- 
Hinohin<ily enduring the arduous toils and severe 
privations to which they were subject, and braving 
danger ami even death in tiieir efforts to subdue 
nature and develop the resources which she pos- 
sessed.- ()u at least one occasion they were obliged 
to have llieir home and seek protection from 
savage foes in a town where some preparation was 
made to meet and repulse the Indians. This was 
during the Black Hawk AVar, when the Sacs and 
Foxes were terrorizing Hie settlers upon the fron- 
tier. Belter times giaduall}' dawned, the ccuntry 
became more thickly settled, the comforts of life 
more easy to obtain, and tlie surroundings more 
pleasant and cpiiet. Reason Zarley became a highly- 
ri'siieclcd and inlluential citizen, and when called 
hence in August, 1 85'.l, he left to his descendants 
that best of all inheritances — an honored name. 
Ho was oiic'of the tirst Justices of the Peace in 
this vicinity, having been elected when what is 
now Will County was still a part of Cook County. 

Mrs. Sarah Zarley was a daughter of the Rev. 
William Mustard, one of the [lioneer Methodist 
preachers in Ohio. She joined the Methodist 
Church when eighteen years old, and was a mem- 
ber for over seventy-five years. Her death took 
place August 4, 1887, at the home of her son-in- 
law, Gabriel Noel, in Jackson Township, this 
county. Her meraoiy is held in loving reniem- 
lirance by her descendants, to whom Grandma 
Zarley was a model of beautiful old age. She had 
borne lier husband twelve children, of whom the 
subject of this sketch is the tenth. Two of their 
deceased children were for many years proprietors 
of the Joliet Signal. These were Calneh and 
Calvin Zarley, the former of whom was born in 



Pike County, Ohio, April 21, 1822. In May, 
1840, in company with his brothei Calvin, whose 
death occurred many years ago, he began the 
publication of the Joliet Signal, which he editetl 
for forty years. At the time of his death he was 
in company with R. S. Brown, the (uililisliing linn 
being kn;/wn as Zarley & Brown. Calneh Zarley 
died August 20, 1886. He is well remembered by 
the citizens of Joliet, and by many outside this 
flourishing corporation. 

The gentleman with whose naiiu; this sUetcli is 
introduced, was born August 26, 1832, in Danville, 
to which place his parents had fled for safety dur- 
ing the Black Hawk War. He grew to manhood 
on his father's homestead in this county, wlieie the 
greater part of his life has been spent. In 1864 he 
went to Montana and engaged in mining for ten 
years, meeting with varying success, but return- 
ing to his native Slate somewhat better off finan- 
cially than when he had left it. Since that time 
he has given his attention entirely to fanning, be- 
coming an expert in the business, and iiailicularly 
in the management of a dairy farm. 

Personally, Mr. Zarley is well calculated to make 
friends, being cordial in manner, intelligiMit in 
mind, and honorable in his dealings with his fel- 
low-men. He held the office of Su|iervisor of 
.loliet Townshiii one term, and has been School 
Director for a number of j-ears. In the advance- 
ment of the cause of education he. has always been 
greatly interested, .as well as in other matters which 
tend to elevate society and increase the prospcrit}' 
of the country. In politics he is a Democrat. He 
attends the Baptist Cluirch, of which his wife is a 
member. 

In .loliet, ()ct(jber .'!, 1876, Mr. Zarley was 
united in marriage with Miss Ida, daughter of 
Jacob and Eliza (Boss) Patrick. Mrs. Zarley is 
the youngest in a family of ten children, and was 
born in Aux Sable, Grundy County, October 6, 
1845. She is an educated and refined woman, who 
looks well to the ways of her houfehold, is devoted 
to husbaiKl and children, and full of kindly deeds 
to those about her. Her father was a native of 
New York and her mother of C'p.nada, their first 
home after marriage being in the latter country. 
Thence they came to this county in an early day, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



295 



settling in .ToHct Townsliip, but afterward remov- 
infr to Grundy County. Tlioy subsequently re- 
luiiied to tills townsliip, in which they breathed 
llieir last. Mr. and Mrs. Zarley are the parents of 
live cbildren — William 11., Arthur M.. G. Noel, 
.Maud H. ami Louie E. 




NDREW .1. MILLS. M. I)., the Coroner 
(@/lJI1 of this county, is numbered among its 
prominent and most successful practitioii- 
^ ers, and is in the enjoyment of a good busl- 

ines. Ill' Is a man In the prime of life, having 
lieeii born September It), 1834, and is a native of 
Essex County, N. Y. 

Dr. Mills is the offspring of substantial stock, 
being the son of William Mills, likewise a native 
Tif Essex Count}', N. Y., and who was born May 2. 
IS 12. The latter grew to mature years in his na- 
tive county and was there married to Miss Lura 
A. Fisk. The mother of our subject was born in 
Uutland County, Vt., May 21, ISll, and was taken 
b\ her parents to New York State when a child of 
eight years. In the year 1836 the family took u\> 
their line of inarch toward what was then the far 
West, locating in Franklin County, Ohio, where 
they sojourned niUil 1851, the father engaging in 
farming pursuits. Tliat year the}' decided upon 
another change of residence and coming to this 
ciiunly, settled near Twelve Mile Grove. The 
father In IS IS had entered one hundred and sixty 
acres of land and upon this he took up his residence 
with his family and prosecuted agriculture until 
(sCil. Then with his estimable wife, retiring from 
the active labors of life, he left the farm and re- 
moved to Joliet, where the father Is still living. 
The mother departed this life August 8, 1887. Both 
parents had identified themselves with the Metho- 
dist l<;|iiscopal Church during their j'ounger years. 
William Mills originally was a Jacksonlan Demo- 
crat, but voted for William Henry Harrison in 
18 10, and upon the formation of the Republican 
party identified himself with it. He however has 
never been a political aspirant, but is contented to 
cast Ills vote at the general elections. He is highly 



respected and may be properly- numbered among 
the pioneer residents of this county. 

Dr. A. J. Mills, the subject of this notice, spent 
his younger ^years in his native Slate and upon the 
removal of the family to Ohio, pursued his first 
studies in the common schools, making good head- 
way and becoming cpiite proficient at an early age. 
He began the reading of medicine alone and after 
entering the army was under the instruction of Dr. 
Z. P. Hanson, now a noted physician of Chicago. 
His studies however were frequently- interruijted, 
as he was obliged to secure the means for continu- 
ing them. 

Upon the oulbreali of the Civil War the Doctor 
entered the ranks of the Union Army, enlisting in 
the Forty-second Illinois Infantry and being com- 
missioned as Assistant Surgeon of the regiment. 
He was at the front and in the field hospitals and 
for four months was on the medical staff of the 
Artillery Brigade, Fourth Army Corps, going 
through the Atlanta canipaign. He served until 
the close of the war, receiving then his honorable 
discharge and being mustered out April 16, 18G5. 

Upon leaving the army Dr. Mills entered the 
Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, in the class 
of 18G5 and 1866, from which he emerged fully 
qualiiied for the duties which awaited him, having 
graduated March 1, 1866. It is liardi}- necessar}' 
to state that politically, he is a stanch Republican. 
He was elected to his present ollice in the fall of 
1888 and is ()rominently connected with the Will 
County Medical Society. 

Miss Sarah E. Whiteinore was wedded to our 
sul)jcct INIarch 29, 1855. Mrs. Mills* was born 
September 26, 1835, in Washington County, Pa., 
and is the daughter of F^rancis W. and Frances A. 
(Webb) Whitemore, who were natives of \'irginia 
and Maryland, resi>ectively. They came to Illinois 
about 1811, and settled first at Magnolia, Putnam 
County. Subsciinently they came to this county, 
where they sojourned for a fevv years, and are now 
deceased. 

The children born to Dr. ISIills and his esti- 
mable lad}' are recorded as follows: William F. was 
graduated from Rush Medical College in the class 
of 1887, and is now a practlcMiig physician of Man- 
hattan, this county; he married Miss Agnes R. 



296 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



McDoiiougli, !uu) the}- have one c-liild, a dauirliter, 
Elda A. George W. offleiales as the Northwestern 
Agent fur tlie tobacco manufacturing firm of Wil- 
son, McCallay A Co., making his lieadquarters at 
Otnaha, Neb.; he married Miss Nellie A. Diamond, 
and they have three daughters: Merle Ada, llilma 
Lillian and Veidene Eloise. Lura Frances is the 
wife of William M. Mitchell of Rockville, Kanka- 
kee County, and they have one child, a son, Ken- 
neth ]Mills. 

Dr. Mills is one of the oldest members of Wilton 
Lodge, No. 640, I. O. O. F., in which he has held 
tlie different ofliees and represented bis lodge in 
the Grand Lodge of the State, since its organiza- 
tion in 1877. He also belongs to William A. Webb 
Post, No. 657, G, A. R., of which he was the first 
Commander, lie takes pride in his practice and 
aims to excel. The medical profession was one 
which he chose in his boyhood fur his life vocation 
and one to which he gives his best efforts as the 
result of his practice indicates. Socially and per- 
sonally, he is held in high esteem, being numbered 
among the leading citizens of Joliet. 

A lithographic portrait of Dr. Mills appears else- 
where in this volume. 




ILLIAM CALHOUN. This great Re[)ublic 
owes a larger deljt than she can ever pay to 
the loyal citizen-soldiers who rallied to her 
defence in the darkest hours of the Rebellion, and 
heroically fought and suffered, and never laid 
down their arms till the glorious Stars and Stripes 
once more waved over a free and undi viiled country. 
As a representative of those heroes it pleases us to 
give this brief life record of William Calhoun, who 
with several of his brothers did honorable service 
in the Union array during the late war. Our sub- 
ject is a farmer in Custer Township, owning and 
managing a good farm on section 20. 

Ab»er Caliioun, the father of our subject, was a 
farmer, and a native of New York. He was a soldier 
in the Black Hawk War, and received a land war- 
rant for his good Services. The mother of our sub- 
ject was Mary (Hoyt) Calhoun, a native of Ohio. 



She was married to the father of our subj(^ct in 
that State, and removed to Michigan at an early 
day of its settlement. They came to Illinois in 
1H5;3, find located on the farm now belonging to 
our subject, and there spent the remainder of their 
days, lie dying in 185.'), and she April 19, 1878. 
They were the parents of twelve children, all sons 
but one, eight of whom are now living. 

The one of whom we write was the sixth child 
in order of birth, and was born in the month of 
January, 1836. His educational advantages were 
very meagre, and consisted of a short attendance 
in the district school. He was earl}' called upon 
to assist his father in the farm work, and after the 
latter's death took tender care of his mother as 
long as she lived, and did not ruarr}' until after her 
death. 

After the breaking out of the war our subject 
watched its course with patriotic interest, and as 
soon as possible offered his services to his country, 
enlisting August 12, 1862, in Company F, Seventy- 
sixth Illinois Infantr}', and served faithfully till 
August 12, 1865. He took part in man}' battles, 
and his officers always found him to be an efficient 
and trustworthy soldier. He was in the battle of 
Mobile, Ala., and participated in a large num- 
ber of severe skirmishes. He served under Geus. 
Steele, Crocker, Thomas, McPherson, Grant and 
Sherman. Li December, 1862, Mr. Calhoun was 
sick in the hospital for a short time, and was then 
sent to the convalescent camp at Memphis, Tenn. 
From the hosi)ital there he was sent to St. Louis 
Hospital, in whicli he remained till after the siege 
of Vicksburg. He then rejoined his regiment, and 
while it was on a raid from Natchez he received a 
sunstroke, which was very severe in its effects, and 
for eighteen months he was almost blind, and he 
lost the entire use of his left ear, and could scarcely 
hear with his right one. Notwithstanding his ter- 
rible condition he never left his regiment all 
through his sickness, and vvas finally discharged 
with it after the close of the war, at Galveston, 
Tex. 

The Calhoun famil}- was well represented in the 
armj-, as besiile our subject three of his brothers 
did valuable service in the defence of their coun- 
try's honor — Ransford, Henry and Albert. The 



roRTRAIT AND HIOGUAPHICAL ALBUM. 



•297 



last named sacrificerl his life for the old Hag. He 
was a joiif.h of seveuteeii )e:irs when Ik- en- 
listed in the same company and regiment as our 
subject, and in 1864 he received injuries from whieii 
lie died at his iiome soon after at the age of nine- 
teen, and his body now lies in the cemetery at Cus- 
ter Park. His brother, Henry .1., enlisted in the 
same regiment and conjpau}' at the age of twenty 
years, and did brave service on many a hard-fonght 
battlefield. He endured the hardships and priva- 
tions of a soldier's life without a murmur, and is 
still suffering from a knee which was injured while 
in the array. He is forty-eight years of age, and 
in the prime of life has acquired a competence on 
his farm in Plymouth County, Iowa. He is mar- 
ried and has a fine family of four children. 

After retiring from the army Mr. Calhoun quietly 
resumed farming operations on his farm in Custer 
Township. He has labored assiduously to place 
its one hundred and twenty acres under the best 
of cultivation, and now has it well improved, and 
sup|)lied with neat buildings, and everythii.g nec- 
essary for operating it to good advantage. 

December 21, 1883, Mr. Calhoun took an inijior- 
lunt step in life, which has contributed greatly to 
his comfort and hapi)iness, as on that date he was 
married to Miss Ellen A. Bra3-. Her father, l)om- 
inick Bray, is an old soldier, and is now suffering 
from the effects of his faithful service while in the 
army. He and his wife have a comfortable home 
near Jamestown, Cloud County', Kan. Mrs. Cal- 
lioun is a native of this .State, born in Kankakee 
County, where she received an excellent com- 
mon-school education. The pleasant home cir- 
cle of our subject and his wife is completed by 
three children — Frank 1!., William Wesley and Jes- 
sie L. 

Mr. Calhoun is a man of sterling, self-ri'Si>ccling 
character, well-balance<l mind, and his whole career 
has shcpwn him to be a patricjtic, trustworthy eiti- 
zen, deserving of all confidence and regard. He 
concerns himself in the welfare of this township, 
where he has made his home since bo\hc)od, and 
when he has been called to oflice has, by his faith- 
ful and eflicient attention to the duties thus 
devolving upon liim, materially forwarded its inter- 
ests. He is Dircctorof this school district, and has 



held this iwsition for the last fourteen years, and 
he has also been Pathmaster. He is a member of 
Bowen Post, G. A. \l.. at Wilmington. He is a 
sturdy suj)porter of the Republican i)arty, and 
always votes for its candidates. Ho began life for 
himself empty handed, and has attained his present 
good circumstances by persistent and well directed 
toil. 



'^m- 




J, ICHAKL J. CUNNINGHAM. It is sel- 
dom that a young man reaches a more 
lli prominent station than that held by the 
above-named gentleman, or exhibits so 
many intellectual and business qualities at SQ early 
an age. Mr. Cunningham, although not yet thirty 
years old, is Mayor of Manhattan and one of its 
most popular business men, and added to this he 
has a record of usefulness in pedagogical work, 
both as teacher and institute worker. He is shrewd 
and energetic in the prosecution of whatever he 
undertakes, has mental ability of no mean order, 
and is full of public spirit and interest in the pro- 
gress of the country. 

Even a brief record of the lives of his parents 
will suttice to show that Mr. Cunningham is the 
inheritor of many of the qualities which give him 
prominence in the community and that he would 
be unworthy of his parentage were he not enter- 
prising and zealous. His father, James Cunning- 
ham, was born in County Longf(jrd, Ireland, and 
became a machinist. He emigrated to America and 
for some time worked at his trade in Poughkeepsie, 
N. y. In lKo7, he located in this county, for five 
years operating a farm in the northern [)art of this 
townshii). lie then |Hirchased one hundred and 
sixty acres of raw land in New Lenox Township, 
placed it under gooil improvement and successfully 
operated it until 1871, when he was taken sick. 
After three years of invalidism, he closed his eyes 
to earthly' scenes, leaving his farm encumbered 
somewhat by :i mortgage. 

With wonderful tact and good management, Mrs. 
Cunningham succeedeil by the aid of her children 
in clearing their home from indebtedness and in so 
conducting their ;iffairs as to be able to secure 



298 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



AVesU'in lands also. Slif now owns two huudred and 
forty acres nuar MarysviUe, Ivan., and relains jios- 
scssiou of llie fuiui in tliis county which is now 
itMitcd. but u|)on which .'^he resided until 1889. She 
now lives with our subject and her daughter, Katie 
L. Like her husband, she was born in Ireland, 
County Kilkenny having been her birthplace. She 
bore the maiden name of Bridget King and is a 
daughter of Thomas Ring, who, although a farmer, 
was a graduate of the Latin School of Dublin. She 
is a sister of the Rev. Patrick Ring, of St. Louis, 
prominent in the Catholic Church, and with whom 
she came to America, stopping in the Empire Slate 
where she was married to Mr. Cunningham. Both 
she and her husband have been active members of 
the Roman Catholic Church and Mr. Cunningham 
was a' Democrat. 

The family of which our subject is the sixth 
member includes also Matthew, foreman for the 
Nebraska City Packing House; Thomas, a man of 
leisure, wiio is traveling a great part of the time; 
Richard, Mayor of Summerfleld, Kan., and engaged 
in the agricultural implement business; Martin, 
deceased; Mary PI, wife of Nelson Lynx, partner 
of our subject; Katie L. ; and Maggie E., now Mrs. 
Nugent, of Wilton Township. 

The grandfather of our subject was James Cun- 
ningham, wlio followed agricultural pursuits in the 
Emerald Isle, and who bore a very active part in 
the Irish Rebellion. Some seven years before his 
death he had a paralytic stroke, and from that time 
he suffered more or less. 

The natal day of our subject was April 1 1, 1862, 
anil Ills birthplace, the township iu which he is now 
so popular. He was reared in New Lenox Town- 
ship and prior to his seventeenth jear attended the 
district schools. He then entered the Normal 
School at ^'aIparaiso, Lid., and after completing 
the scientific course, was graduated in 188i. He 
adopted the profession of teaching, the first two 
years of his professional labor being given to the 
schools iu Spencer. He then accepted the Princi- 
palship of the New Lenox graded school, retaining 
the position three years and during the time taking 
an active part in the work of the county institutes, 
and in other ways advancing the cause of educa- 
tidu. His services were requested at New Lenox 



the fourth year, but he resigned the position to 
which he had been elected in order to embark in 
mercantile |)ursuits. 

Forming a partnership with Nelson Lynx, of 
Spencer, Mr. Cunningham began the sale of general 
merchandise in a rented building in Manhattan. 
The stock was new and well selected, the proprie- 
tors pleasant and courteous, and success attendeil 
their efforts. In the fall of 1889 they put up a 
new store building. 24x72 feet in dimensions, and 
increased their stock which is now the largest .as- 
sortment of general merchandise in town. Mr. 
Cunningham also does a large business for the 
Home Insurance Company, of New York, and at- 
tends to the renting of the home farm and his 
brother's estate. 

During 1889 Mr. Cunningham was X'ilhige Clerk 
and in 1890 he was elected Mayor without exertion 
on his part. This fact is indicative of his po])U- 
larity and the reputation which he has. He is an 
active Democrat and has been a delegate to county 
and State conventions. He belongs to the Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church' of Joliet. 



-s ^ » •" 



« l»ALTER B. STEWART, M.D., Ph.C., 
\rJ/i junior i)artner of the firm of Curtis & 
V^^ Stewart, is one of the younger members 
of the medical profession c>f this county, a'-.d lo- 
cated in Joliet May 1, 1888. He wjis born in 
Wilmington, this county, February 13, 18GG, and 
is the son of J. W. Stewart, one of the early set- 
tlers of this region and now a leading banker of 
Wilmington. The mother bore the maiden name 
of Lettie Whitten. The parental familj' consisted 
of four childien. 

Dr. Stewart obtained his i)reliminar3' educatiou 
in the scliools of his native i)Iace, and completed 
his studies in Champaign College in 1885, receiv- 
ing the degree of I'h.t'. Soon afterward he com- 
menced the reading of medicine under the instruc- 
tion of Dr. Curtis, his partner, with whom he 
continued until entering a course of lectures at 
the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Chicago, 
from which he was graduated in the class of '88. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



299 



Soon afterward he was appointed House Surgeon 
of St. Joseph's Hosiiital, wliicli position he still 
holds, lie malves a specialty of surgery, and has 
already attained considerable reputation in this 
branch of the practice, having rare opportunities 
for study and observation in connection with his 
duties at the hospital. 'Ihis in.stitution accommo 
dates over fifty patiei ts, and aside from this Dr. 
Stewart is building up quite an extensive private 
practice. His skill and ability are acknowledged 
facts among the peoi)le who have sought his ser- 
vices, and it is predicted that in the near future he 
is destined to make for himself a reputation as a 
physician and surgeon of ikj mean acquirements. 
He is unmarried. Politically, he is a Repnltlican. 




UGUST BOEIIL, as a farmer of large 
il experience, great capability', sagacious and 
far-seeing, and |)rudent in the manage- 
ment of his affairs, is considered one of 
the most successful of the well to-do agiiculturists 
who are active in pushing forward the material 
interests of Will Count}' in general, and of Monee 
Townslii]) in particular. Associating himself with 
the pioneers of this region, he has tilled the soil to 
some (jurpose during the three or more decades 
that he has lived here, as is shown by the fine ap- 
liearance of his well-appointed and well-stocked 
farm, with its neat buildings and well-tilled fields. 
While doing a general farming business, Mr. Uoehl 
lias paid special attention to rearing horses the 
last seventeen years, and for six years h.as been a 
breeder of thorough-bred English Shire horses, 
and now has a fine herd, .among them being some 
that are imported. 

August Boehl is of foreign birth, born in I'rus- 
sia, (Jermau}', August 13. 18.3.5. His parents, 
Christian and Christina (Weigand) Hoehl, were 
natives of the same place .as himself. They had 
three children — Christina, Wilhelmenaand August. 
While our subject was scarcely more than a babe, 
he had the misfortune to lose his good mother, who 
died in 1838. His father married again, Freder- 
icka C.acker becoming his wife, b}' whom he h.ad 



the following seven children: Louisa, Catherine, 
C'hristian, George, William, Ilenr}- and Frederick. 
The father was a manufacturer of cloth in his 
native country, but abandoned that business when 
he came to the United .States in 18.')7, accompa- 
nied by his family with the exception of the 
eldest daughter. lie settled on forty acres of 
land on section 15, Monec Township, where his 
earthly jnlgrimage came to an end in 18G3, at the 
age of fiftj'-seven years. His wife survived him 
until 1885, when she too |)assed aw.a}'. 

The subject of this biographical review passed 
the earl}' years of his life in his native Germany, 
and there received a substantial education. He 
worked for his father in the old countr}', and 
after coming here spent his first six months at 
employment for which he w.as paid 112 a month. 
He subsequently began life on his own account, 
and in 1859 purchased eighty acres of the land 
where he now lives for $1,000. At different times 
he has added to this, first a tract of twenty acres, 
then one of eighty acres, and subsequently one of 
forty acres, paying $5 an acre for the limber land. 
This, by incessant toil, he now has well cultivated, 
and has all the necessarj' improvements and ap- 
pointments to make it one of the best-equipped 
farms in the township. 

iMr. Boehl has not been ininided in his laliors. 
but has had the cheerful co-operation of a capable 
wife, to whom he w.as married in the month of 
May, 1858. Nine children have been born to 
them, namely: Emma, deceased, who was the wife 
of Henry Dierchas; Edward, a resident of Minne- 
sota; August, Arthur, Charles, George, Louis, 
IJlly and Mary. 

Our subject h.as always honored industry in 
word and deed, and hence he has done well in his 
life work. A man of roundal)ont common-sense, 
wise and careful in the management of his alt'aits, 
his fellow-citizens, appreciating these character- 
istics and his general trustworthiness, have called 
him to the responsible office of Supervisor, and 
he represented his township on the County Board 
for three terms, and has used his influence to 
promote the best interests of the public. In 
politics, he favors by voice and vote the Repub- 
lican party, he having been a member of that 



300 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



oi-gaiiiziition siiioc he onst his first ballot for Lin- 
coln. He anil liis wife ai-e amonj>- the most es- 
teemed members of the Tnited Presbyterian 
Chiir<-li. and their every-day lives are guided by 
theis' religious principles. 



AVPillT C. HAYEK. Among the younger 
members of the Joliet bar, none are more de- 
serving of honorable mention than Dwight 
C. Haven, who vvas born in New Lenox, May 10, 
186;{. The Havens trace their history back to the 
days when the '-Mayfiower" was plowing the waters 
of the mighty deep. In one of her later trips she 
brought a progenitor of the family to America. 
The grandfather of our subject was Samuel Haven, 
who came with his family to this county in 1835, 
from Chautauqua County, N. Y. He and his sons 
were very pronounced, outspoken Abolitionists, and 
particularly was tliis trne of the father. 

The parents of our subject were Dwight and 
Lizzie (Craig) Haven, the mother being a native 
of Dublin, Ireland, although of Scotch parentage. 
Of the five children born to them one is dead. The 
living are: Samuel Rush Haven of Joliet; Edith A., 
and Bertha A., who are yet at home, and he of 
whom we write. The father was School Commis- 
sioner for Will County, from 1865 to 1868, and 
the Haven family was one of prominence among 
the early settlers. 

The early life of our subject was passed in his 
native place, his boyhood being marked with no 
eventful incident. Being ambitious for the acquire- 
ment of knowledge he was sent to the Illinois Uni- 
versity at Champaign, from which institution he 
was o-raduated in the class of '83. In the military 
(k'liartment of the University he received from the 
(iovernor of Illinois the commission of a Captain 
(Pirevet) of the Illinois National Guards, for his 
proficiency in military tactics. He has since taken 
a "reat interest in the National Guards and is now 
Captain and Adjutant of the Fourth Infantry Regi- 
ment. He served through two strikes in which the 
troops were called out, in the years 1885 and 1889. 

After his graduation young Haven adopted the 



profession of teaching, which is an almost universal 
stepping stone to other professional work, liis knowl- 
edge being made useful as an instructoi- at his own 
home. He began reading law in the (jitice of Hill 
A' Dibell in 1884, and was admitted to Hie bar in 
1886. lie at once began practice in connection 
with the Il(m. Charles A. Hill, M. C, who was one 
of his preceptors, the firm name being Hill \- Haven. 
It was changed in .lanuary, 1881, to that of Hill, 
Haven & Hill, u|)on the admission of Alfreil M. 
Hill, son of Capt. Hill, as a partner. 

In social circles Mr. Haven stands high, his cour- 
teous manners, intellectual culture, and good habits 
entitling him to esteem. He is a Knight Temi)lar 
and niiiniber of the Independent ( )rder of Red Men. 
In politics he is a Repul)lican and is President 
of the.loliet Lincoln Club. He was married April 
3, 1890, to Miss Marian Robinson, of Minneapolis, 
Minn. 



-5- 



^ 



-?- 



C. HALEY. This gentleman, although still 
a young man, has a fine reputation as a mem- 
ber of the legal profession and a citizen of 
whose worth no one is in doubt. lie was 
born in Saranac, Clinton County, N. Y., Jlaich 17, 
1849, and with his parents came to Will County, 
III., in 1851. He attended the public schools and 
added to his store of learning by a course of study 
in the University of Notre Dame, at South Bend, 
Ind. He then read law with T. L. Breckenridge, 
of .loliet, and .took a complete law course in the 
Universitj', at Ann Arbor, Mich., from which he 
w.as graduated in 1871. 

The same year Mr. Haley was admitted to the 
bar and immediately began practice soon having a 
large and lucrative business. He is a clear thinker, 
a close student into the details of a case, a logical 
pleader an<l iias the keen wit and commanding 
presence that go far to secure the attention of coun- 
selors and jur) men. His abilit}- attracted attention 
and he was elected City Attorney, and he has also 
served on the Common Council. Such is his fitness 
for office that no one questions his services. It was 
natural that he should be selected as the standard 
bearer ft)r his (larty in political battles and he h.as 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



301 



been the nominee for Member of Congress twice in 
succession in the Kiniitls District, nearly overcom- 
ing a Republican niajorit3' of six thousand and 
laoiiing but one hvindrcd and seventy eiglit voles 
of election. 

It is l)Mt natural to conclude that in choosing a 
companion in life Mr. Haley would seek for a lady 
witli cultured mind and manners, and a character 
of nobility. Such was the case, and among the 
mendjers of a prominent family of this city he 
found the woman lie desired as his wife. This was 
Miss Mary A. D'Arcy, and they were united in 
marriage December 1, 187.'). Mrs. Haley is no less 
[)<)pular than her husband and the home over which 
she presides is a frequent gathering place for the 
cultured and accomplished friends they possess. 

^^s AMPBELL BROS. This firm comprises 
(li James and Alexander Campbell, two of the 

^^<' most enterprising young citizens of iMan- 
hattan Townsliii>, who operate two hundred and 
forty acres on section 13, this being their mother's 
farm, and forty acres adjoining, and whose spec- 
ialt3' is breeding full-blooded Clydesdale horses. 
They have as much money invested in imi)orted 
cquines as any firm in the township, and a lover 
of horse llesh would lie much pleased with the 
fine animals to be seen on their place. The}' are 
also doing a successful farm business, their cro[)s 
being equal to any in the neighborhood in quality 
and amount per acre. 

A brief space devoted to the more immediate 
ancestors of the Campbell Bros, will not be amiss, 
as in this wa}" an insight may be gained into the 
character which they inherit, and a reason found 
fur llieir success. Their paternal grandfather, John 
Campbell, was a native of Scotland, wherein he 
followed the trr.dc of a mason until his death, also 
serving for a time in the English army. His son 
.Tohn was born in Blerathel, Scotland, learned the 
trade of the father, and in 1851, while still un- 
married, came to America. After working at his 
trade in New York City for some time he went 
South, sojourning during various periods in Ala- 



bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other Southern 
States. He finally made his w.ay to Joliet, III., 
where he continued his former pursuits, among the 
jobs in which he assisted being the "Warden's Iiouse 
at the penitentiary. He .also worked at his trade 
in Chicago, although making his lif)me still in 
Joliet. 

About 1859 this gentleman removed to llie 
country, and some two years later l<^ft Joliet Town- 
ship to take possession of one hundred acres of 
raw land, which forms a part of the present Camp- 
bell farm. Immediately after his purchase he be- 
gan making improvements, hiring liel)) to run the 
farm while he continued to work at his trade in the 
two cities before mentioned. He proved a suc- 
cessful manager and overseer, added to his kinded 
estate, and at the time of his death owned two 
hundred acres. He breathed his last March 18, 
1886, when sixty-four years old. For years he did 
efficient service as School Director. He belonged 
to the Republican part}', and to the Presbj'terian 
Church. 

The mother of the Campbell Bros, was born near 
Glasgow, Scotland, and is a daughter of Sand}- 
Kier, who came to America in I85t. Iler father 
was a mason, who like the gentleman who became his 
son in-law, worked at his trade in New York City, 
and afterward in -loliet and Chicago, making 
his home in the former place. He invested in 
land, and eventuall}- became a large farmer. (Sec 
sketch of James Kier.) His daughter Grace was 
reared in Scotland, and w.as a young lad}' when 
she crossed the Atlantic, not long after which she 
became the wife of John Campbell. She is now 
living in Hamilton County, Iowa, with her chil- 
dren. She has borne eight sons and daughters, as 
follows: Kale, now ]\Irs. McLaughlin, of Hamil- 
ton County, Iowa; John, a farmer in the same 
county; Charles, who died in Will County; James 
and Alexander, of this sketch; Eliza, who lives 
with the two brothers just namerl; Maggie is de- 
c*.ased; and Archie is attending the High School at 
Joliet. 

James Campbell openeil his ey.ee to the light of 
day May 4, 186;?, on the farm ■which is his present 
home. He was reared upon it, and e<lncated in the 
district schools, remaining under the parental roof 



302 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



until the (le;it1i of liis f.-itlicr, in 1880. He then 
rented a fiinii of two bundred and forty aci'es in 
Manhattan Tovvnsliip, from liis uncle, .lames Kiel', 
and operat (1 the same until the s|)ring of 1880, 
nlieu he formed a connection vvitii his hrot'iier and 
returned to his former home. 

Alexander Cam|)bell was also born on this farm 
August 3, 1865. lie enjoyed llic privileges af- 
forded in the common schools, and i-emained u|ion 
the farm with his mother until September, 1888, 
receiving wages for his services after lie had 
reached his majority. He then m.ade a journo3' to 
Scotland, for the double purjjose of improving iiis 
health, and buying Clydesdale horses foi' himself 
anil brother .lames. Going to New York City he 
embarked on the Cunard steamer ''Umbria," Sep- 
tember 1.5, and si.x and a half ilays later landed in 
Liverpool. Going to Glasgow he made that city 
his heacfquavters while traveling somewhat in the 
land from which his ancestors came, visiting the 
former homes of his ^jarents, etc. He sailed from 
Glasgow November 10, on the steamer "Grecian," 
stO|)ping at Halifax twenty-four hours, and arriv- 
ing in Philadelphia November 29, whence he canie 
directly homo. 

While abroad Mr. Campbell jjurchased five full- 
blooded Clydesdale horses and an Iceland i)ony, 
which he brought with him to America. Soon 
after his return he rented the home farm and an 
adjoining tract, and with his brother began the 
operation of the same. They have all the modern 
conveniences in the way of buildings, use the lat- 
est improved farm machinery, and devote them- 
selves with unremitting zeal to the work they have 
in hand. About one hundred and ninety acres arc 
planted, principally with corn and oats, and the 
lialaiice is used as pasture and h.wing giound. 
They employ four teams in their farm labors, and 
in addition to their specialty raise a good grade of 
cattle and hogs. 

The Campbell Bros, now have about twenty-five 
lu^'id of graded horses on their i)lace, while their 
full-blooded equines include three marcs and two 
stallions. Mabel Eden is a l>eautiful bay five years 
old; Betsey is three, and Florence two. These 
were imported Ijy themselves, as was Sir Burt, a 
three-year old, registered as No. COO. I'rinee 



Kevenswortli, also an ini|)orted animal, is eight 
years old, and registered as No. 1700. The Camp- 
bell Bros, imported Bed Moss Chief, who is now 
owned by their brother in Iowa. 

Neither member of the firm is married, but -they 
have an cflicient housekeeper in their sister, .lames 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church at, .loliet, 
and both are held in excellent re|)ute in that city, 
and wherever they are known, .lames is a Demo- 
crat, while Alexander is independent in politics. 



•IIOMAS .1. Ivl HIv, whose pleasant home in 
llifr^^x '" Florence Township, is a native of .lanes- 
V_y ville. Wis. and was born .July 18, 1854. His 
parents, James and Elizabeth (Forsythe) Kirk, were 
born in the Emerald Isle and married in Ogdens- 
burgh, N. Y., whence they removed to .Tanesviile. 
In 1860 they changed their place of abode to Will 
County, HI., locating on a farm in Florence Town- 
ship, where both subsequently died. The elder 
Kirk was a cooper by trade and also a farmer. 'I'lie 
family consisted of six children — Mary .1. now 
wife of .loseph Whalen, a Dakota farmer; our sub- 
ject; Elizabeth, still unmarried ; Andrew, .lames and 
William, farmers in this count}', two of them hav- 
ing homes in the same townsliii). 

The gentleman of whom we write was reared in 
this township from about his sixth V'ear, and lips 
foUowecl farming since youth. He owns eighty 
acres of fertile land, which is carefully and intelli- 
gently tilled and bears adequate improvements. At 
present the attention of Mr. Kirk is divided be- 
tween his agricultural work, threshing and well 
drilling. He stands well in the estimation of his 
fcUowinen, being reliable and energetic in his bus- 
iness affairs, kindly in social and domestic life, and 
useful as a citizen of the county and State. 

Mr. Kirk has served five years is Collector of 
Florence Township and is now acting for the sec- 
ond term in the capacity of Assessor. His politi- 
cal affiliation is with the Democrat party. The 
order and attractiveness of his home are due to the 
housewifeh' skill and plensing qualities of his wife 
who bore the maiden name of Fannie .lackson. She 






{/iyV'\y-)^y--^---(s^-v^^^.^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



305 



was 1)0111 in Florence Townsliip, August 1, 1855, 
to Cliurles and Ellen (Cating) Jackson, anil be- 
came the wife of our subject January 7, 1880. 
Four cliarming daughters have come to bless the 
union. Tluw are named vespectivel}' : Laura K., 
Ktlicl Pi., Alice and Klinor. 



^— 



•^^ 



Sf AJIES C. AVEKSE. The building interests 
I of .Toliet would be but poorly represented 
I in this volume did not its pages contain 
J mention of J. C. Weese. who has been en- 
gaged as an architect and builder for inan3'' years. 
In this city he has designed and bnilt m.any of the 
best residences, among them being the dwellings 
of H. B. Scutt, M. Calmer, Dr. Raynor, and others. 
He has also done much work in Morris, Aurora, 
Yorkville, and other places. He is a practical car- 
penter and architect, whose knowledge has not 
licen picked up but was acquired under competent 
masters and improved by practical labor in both 
lines. 

The Weese familj^ is of German extraction, the 
grandfather of our subject having been born in 
the Fatherland. His father, John Marcus Weese 
and Laura Howell were born in Canada, and after 
their marriage lived for many years. To them 
were born thirteen children, eleven of whom are 
now living, the subject of this sketch being the 
second. The others are: William, a blacksmitb 
and carriage builder in Plattville, Kendall County; 
Mrs. Catherine Morden and Mrs. Victoria Lazier, 
twins; Elias N., whose home is at Minooka, Grundy 
Countj'; Lorain C. and Wellington, deceased; Mrs. 
Laura Hurd; Walter; Mi's. Cliloe Pierce; and 
Adeline and John, twins, the latter of whom re- 
sides in Chicago; Adeline, the first, is deceased. 

In County Hastings, Province of Ontario, on 
.August ,30, 1842, the subject of this sketch was 
born. His father being a f.armer, his early life 
was spent amid rural surroundings, and until the 
age of fifteen years he shared, as a boy could, in 
various agricultural labors in the intervals of his 
school life. Ill' then served his time as a carpen- 
ter's apju'ent ice. Working at that trade exclusively 



for seven years. He next devoted himself to archi- 
tecture, which he learned in the city of New York, 
for a period of ten years, and since that time has 
been dcsiguing and building. In 1871 he came to 
Joliet, which has been his home during most of 
the years since that date. He now occupies an at- 
tractive residence at No. 105, Second Avenue, 
whose internal arrangements are a model of house- 
wifely skill. 

On .lanuary •22,1 872, the rites of wedlock were cel- 
ebrated between our subject and Miss Kittie Farley, 
a resident of Leiand, LaSalle County, III. The 
bride is the daughter of the Rev. A. and Mary 
(Anderson) Farley, the father having been a min- 
ister in the United Brethren Church. During the 
cholera scourge, which decimated so many neigh- 
borhoods, in 1852, Mr. and Mrs. Farley were 
stricken down with the dread disease, dying within 
a week of each other. Their daughter was reared 
by an aunt, and under her loving care grew to 
womanhood, a noble and refined young lady fitted 
for any sphere in life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Weese are childless, but have an 
adopted d.aughter. Mrs. Weese is a consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Weese is a true blue Republican, whose first Presi- 
dential ballot was cast for Rutherford B. H.ayes, and 
who has followed that vote with a steady adherence 
to the party which he then chose. A reliable citi- 
zen, an intelligent and upright man, he is regarded 
with respect by his fellow-citizens, his wife sharing 
in their esteem. 



-^r- 




!hyj^ ARTIN H. DEMMOND. To pay the trib- 
ute of honor and respect to those pio- 
neers who went in advance of civilization 
and hewed a path for the approach of nian, 
is always a pleasant duty. Their self-denial has 
given us the comforts of life; their perseverance 
laid the foundations of our large cities and thriv- 
ing towns. They planted the seed, knowing that 
they vvould not live to enjoy the ripciu'd fniit. 
T^iey worked not for themselves, but for poster- 
ity, trusting in faith that in due time the reward 



306 



PORTilAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 



of their patient efforts would be realized. The 
genllenian whoso name introduces this biographi- 
cal review is numbered among the worthy pio- 
neers of Will County, and thougii long since 
passed from the busy scenes of life, yet, liice the 
good man of old, "his works do follow him." 

A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Demmond was 
born March 4, 1803, but early in life lemoved to 
Oneida County, N. Y.. then located in Herki- 
mer County, where lie grew to manhood. He spent 
the years of his youth in the usual manner, and by 
studj' and observation gradually acquired a busi- 
ness education, which he used successfully in after 
life. After lieing firmly established in the dry- 
goods business, he set up his own household, plac- 
ing at its head an estimable lady who bore the 
maiden name of Sophia Murray. Mrs. Demmond 
was liorn July 26, 1804, in Petersburg, N. Y., 
whence when she was still quite young her father 
removed to Cayuga and later to Sharon. After a 
brief residence there, they went to Whitesboro, 
Oneida County, and there she grew to woman- 
hood. After the death of her father, John Mur- 
ray, she went to live in Frankfort, Herkimer 
County, N. Y., where she met Mr. Demmond and 
with him was united in the holy bonds of matri- 
mony April 10, 1831. In that place the3' began 
their married life. 

In October, 1834, Mr. Demmond closed out his 
business in Frankfort and having resolved upon 
removing to the promising AVest, came to Illinois 
and, settling in Joliet, engaged in the mercantile 
business. With far-seeing prudence he bought 
eighty acres (/f land lying west of the river, and 
platted Demniond's addition. His business enter- 
prise soon led him into building, and several 
blocks which still stand were erected by him. He 
became the owner of a number of fine fa"ms and 
in the later j-cars of his life was interested in the 
raising of fine cattle. His busy, useful and suc- 
cessful life came to a close during the cholera epi- 
demic of 1854; he died July 18, of that dread 
disease after an illness of but twelve hours. His 
remains were first interred at the old homestead 
but were afterward removed to Oakwood Cemetery. 
He was a Democrat until slavery became a party 
issue, when his views on that subject led him to 



join the Whig party. Mr. Demmond was very 
charitable, but performed his deeds of kindness in 
a quiet way, not letting his left hand know what 
his right hand did. 

After the death of her husband Mrs. Demmond 
closed out his business, which left herjin po.ssession 
of ample mean.s. Her mother came to live with her 
and (lied at her home. Her household now consists 
of her sister, Mrs. Eliza Foltz, a daughter of the 
latter, Mrs. Lafavour, and nephew. Will Lafavour. 
The latter, a rising young artist, has made a trip 
through Europe in pursuit of his studies and in 
search of health. They are numbered among the 
oldest and most influential families of the city and 
occupies a spacious residence on Broadway, sur- 
rounded by ease and luxury. Mr. and Mrs. Dem- 
mond were not blessed by children, but a niece. 
Miss Catherine Murray, was a member of their 
household from her youth until her marriage to 
Col. Bartleson, who was killed during the late 
Civil War. She afterwards became the wife of 
Rush Cassellierry, of Chicago. A portrait of the 
late Mr. Demmond is presenlod in connection with 
this sketch. 






^iEORGE LIVERMORE VANCE. One of 

the most elegant business blocks of Joliet 
JAj stands as a monument to the industry and 
energy of INIr. Vance, who erected it in 1888, and 
utilizes all of it for the sale of furniture ami other 
articles in that line. He is one of the leading busi- 
ness men of the cit}-, occupying a good position, 
socially and financially. He is of stanch New 
England stock, a Vermonter by birth, first opening 
his eyes to the light in Caledonia Count3', Groton 
Township, March 13, 1840. His immediate pro- 
genitors were Aaron and Lucinda (Tucker) Vance, 
who were likewise natives of the Green Mountain 
State. They traced their ancestry to England. 

Aaron ^'ance, in addition to being engaged as a 
boot and shoe dealer, also carried on farming. The 
parental household included eight children, all of 
whom are living and of whom the subject of this 
notice was the eldest born. David E. is a prac- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



307 



ticiiig attorney of Winona, Minn.; William A. is 
tiic postmaster at Houston, that State; AUiert N. 
is niercliandising in Decorab, Iowa; Nicliolas W. 
is a l)aiiliPi' in Wolsey, S. D. ; Xanc}' A., Mrs. Dyeri 
is tiie wife of a merchant in Houston, Minn. ; Abby, 
ftFrs. Calvin Vance, is a resident of Money Creek, 
tiiat State, an<l Aaron K. lives in .Toliet. The par- 
ents celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their 
wedding May 3, 1888, at their home in Money 
Creek, Minn. The occasion was one of general 
rejoicing, and at whicii were convened a large 
number of relatives and friends. 

.Mr. ^'ance was reared to manhood in his native 
State, acquiring a good education, and upon ap- 
proaching manhood engaged in teaching district 
schools four years. Later he went to Rutland and 
was occu|)ied in the boot and shoe business two 
vears. We next find him in the ITnited States 
Treasury department at AVashington, D. C, where 
lie held a clerkship from 1864 to 1870. During 
this time he devoted his leisure hours to the study of 
l;uv. nnil w!is graduated from the Columbia in the 
law department, and was admitted to the bar by 
the supreme court of the District of Columbia. 

Deciding now upon seeking his fortunes in the 
West, Mr. Vance emigrated to Minnesota and was 
engaged in the mercantile business at Money Creek 
until .lanuary 1, 1873. During that year he came 
to .Toliet and established himself in the furniture 
trade, which he has prosecuted successfully and 
thereby accumulated a competency. Polilicall3', 
he is a pronounced Republican, and while in Min- 
nesota served as Postmaster and Justice of the 
I'eace. 

While sojourning at the national capital Mr. 
Vance formed the acquaintance of Miss E. K. Fow- 
ler, and the mutual attachment which followed 
resulted in their marriage May 30, 1868. Of this 
union there were born two children: George A., 
teller of the Will County Bank, and Grace Fow- 
ler, who is attending the High School at Winona, 
Minn. Mrs. Vance was a native of A'irginia, and 
departed this life at her home in Joliet, November 
6, 1873. Mr. Vance on the llHh of July, 1877, 
contracted a second marriage with Miss Jennie, 
daughter of William and Keziah Lewis. This 
lady was born March 18, 1813, in England, and 



spent her early years in a comparativel3' unevent- 
ful manner under the home roof, acquiring a good 
education in the common schools. Of her union 
with our subject there have been born two chil- 
dren, one deceased. Beulah A. the survivor. So- 
cially, Mr. \'ance is identified with the Masonic 
fraternity. being a Knight Templar. is Prelate therein 
and also belongs to the Rojal Arcanum. For three 
years he was President of the Young Men's Christ- 
ian Association, and is now its Vice President. His 
religious views coincide with the doctrines of the 
Baptist Church. He is President of the Will 
County Sundaj'-school Association, and takes an 
active interest in the religious training of the 
young. The various enterprises calculated for the 
good of the community receive his cordial and 
uniform support. He has been for some time con- 
nected with the Will County Bank, in which he 
now holds the office of Vice-President. 



^. 



LBERT L. GRANGER. There is proba 
bly not within the limits of IJomer Towri- 
I II) ship a more thorough or substantial farmer 
^ than Mr. Granger, who is successfully 

operating two hundred and eighty .acres of choice 
land on section 32. He has good improvements, 
including a substantial brick residence, which, 
with its appurtenances forms a very attractive and 
inviting home. In ailditiou to general agriculture 
he makes a specialty of heavy draft horses and 
highly-bred roadsters, and is conducting this de- 
partment of his business in a manner which indi- 
cates his thorough knowledge of it and his pride in 
it. As a member of the commimity he is held in 
high esteem. 

Mr. Granger w.as born at his present home in 
Homer Township, September 20, 1843, and there 
spent his boyhood and jouth in attending the dis- 
trict school; later, Knox College atGalcsburg. Til., 
and the military academies at Fulton, 111., and Phil- 
adelphia, Pa. He was married at St. Johnsbury, 
Vt., July 17, 1873, to Miss Georgiana. daughter of 
Horace B. Jones, of Victory, Vt. Mrs. Granger 
was born in St. Johnsbury, December 10, 1848. 



308 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Iler parents were natives of Vermont, wlierc they 
still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Granger are the t'o.ster 
parents of three ehildren — Gertrude R., Lottie K. 
and Albert L. 

Mr. Granger, politically, is an active Republi- 
can, and takes a deep interest in public .iffairs. 
During the late Civil War lie enlisted in Feb- 
ruary, 1863, in Company F, Eighth Illinois Cav- 
alry, and in October following was promoted to a 
First Lieulenancy in the Twenty-ninth United 
States Coloreil Troops, serving in that capacity 
uritil November, 1865. He wont all through the 
Appomattox Campaign, was present at the siege of 
Petersburg, and also had the satisfaction of wit- 
nessing the surrender of Lee. 

The father of our subject was M.aj. Alanson 
Granger, a native of Cortland County, N; Y., born 
in the town of Preble. November 18, 1802. He was 
there reared to manhood and was married at Trnx- 
ton, that county, June 8, 1826, to Miss Mary 
Perry. The latter was born in Truxton, Novem- 
ber 25, 1809, and after marriage the young people 
settled in Homer, N. Y., where the}' remained until 
1833. That year he emigrated to Illinois and 
located a tract of land on section 32, in Homer 
Township, this county, and bad the honor of nam- 
ing the township after his native place. He was 
joined by his wife the following year, and they 
continued to live on the same farm the remainder 
of their lives. Mr. Granger departed hence Octo- 
ber 7, 1871. Tlie mother survived her husband 
for nearly fifteen years, her death taking i)lace July 
7, 1889. Mr. Granger held the oflice of Township 
Supervisor several terms, and was a man thoroughly 
respected among his neighl)ors. The parental 
household included eight children, three of whom 
are living, named respectively: Helen M., wife of 
Wesley D. Jones; Alvan P., of Denver, Colo.; and 
the subject of this sketch. 



vip^DWARD P. & HENRY S. LYON. The 
|W) Hedge Lawn Stock Farm is a noticeable 
/*' — '-^ feature in the landscape of Washington 
Township, and is well known to stockmen as a 
place where Hereford cattle are made a speeialt}'. 



The estate is located on section 31, and consists of 
two hundred and forty acres of well-improved 
land, su|)plied with excellent buildings, which in- 
clude everything necessary for the convenience 
and comfort of the owners, and the housing of 
the stock and crops which they raise. The subjects 
of this sketch are associated in iiartnersliip, and 
the two have been carrying on their affairs jointly 
for more than fifteen years. The farm which they 
operate was purch.ased by their father, Caleb Lyon, 
in 1853, and was the familj' homo until the death 
of the father in August, 1881. 

The Lyons come of an old New Jersey family of 
Huguenot stock. In Elizabethtown, Caleb Lyon 
was born in 1808, but was still a child when his 
father, Caleb Lyon, Sr., removed to Schenectadj' 
County, N. Y. The latter w.as a stage-coach and 
carriage maker, and was a pioneer in his business. 
He lived to be more than four-score years old. He 
had married Martha Lyon, a distant relative, who 
also died in the Empire State, at the age of fifty- 
eight years. They belonged to the Presbyterian 
Church, as did all of the old stock. 

The father of our subject was reared in the Em- 
pire State, and under the tuition of his father 
learned the trade of a carriage and stagecoach 
maker. He married Miss Jeanette Mansfield, and 
they continued to reside in the Empire State until 
1850, in the fall of which they came West and lo- 
cated in the citj' of Chicago. There the father 
followed his trade for a time, finally putting his 
family on the Will County farm, but himself con- 
tinuing his emploj^ment in Chicago for some time 
longer. He belonged to the Presbyterian Church, 
and he and his wife were charter members of a 
society in Will Township, this count}^ which they 
assisted in organizing. They were the parents of 
four sons and one daughter. 

LeverettM., one of the members of the parental 
household, gave his life to his country, being 
killed by a rebel gunshot at the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, September 19, 1863. He had served for 
some time as a member of Companj' H, One Hun- 
dredth Illinois Infantry, and held the rank of 
Corporal at the time of his decease. His superior 
otlicers were Capt. Goddard and Col. Bartleson. 
He was twenty-four years old wlien his life was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



309 



cut slioit b3- tlic civil contest. The living mem- 
bers of the fiunily are: William C, Edward P., 
Henry S. and Amelia A. William married Mar- 
gan.'t Buck, and lives in Coffey County, Kan., 
where he is engaged in farming; Henry S. mar- 
ried Miss Margaret Crawford, of New York, and 
has one child, Robert C; Amelia remains with 
her mother and her brother, Edward P. 

Mrs. Caleb Lyon, who still survives and is now 
an active old h\(\y eighty-one j'ears of age, lives 
with her son, Edward P. She was lioru in Scho- 
harie County, N. Y., .Tune 14, l.sOi*. being a 
daughter of Levcrett and Sarah (San ford) Mans- 
field, wlio were natives of New Uaven, Conn. In 
the city of their birlh Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield 
grew to maturity and were married, going at once 
to Schoharie County, N, Y., where Mr. Mansfield 
took up the occupation of a merchant, hotel-keeper 
and farmer in the village of Esperance. In later 
life he and his family removed to Illinois, making 
their home in Princeville, Peoria CouiUy. There 
lie anil his wife died within a few d.a3's of each 
other, the one being eighty-one and the other sev- 
enty-nine years of age. They had been members 
of the Presbyterian Church from earl}' life. 

Edward P. Lyon, of this brief sketcii, was born 
in the Empire State, July 18, 1842, but has spent 
the greater part of his life on the farm which he 
now operates. He married Miss Lottie Rose, the 
wedding ceremony being celebrated at Beecher, 
October 18, 1879. Mrs. Lyon was reared in this 
State, and was graduated from the institution at 
Normal. For some years she was engaged in 
teaching in the public schools of Chicago. She was 
deeply interested in educational and liter.ary mat- 
ters and in all that was elevating and refining. A 
good mother and a loving wife, she was sincerely 
mourned by her household and many friends when 
she was removed by death, December 21), 1885, at 
the age of thirty-six 3^ears. She was the mother of 
three children — Mary M., Edward R. and Lever- 
ett S. 

i\Ir. L)'ou has been for some time associated with 
the Congregational Church, of which liis wife was 
also a member. Ho and all his brothers vote and 
work for the cause of temperance. Mr. Lyon is 
not an office-seeker, but is ever read}' to look after 



the interests of his party in local matters and is an 
able worker in the ranks. He is respected a.s he 
deserves for his general intelligence, his zeal in the 
work to which he has devoted himself, and the 
ufirightness of his character. 




NDUIS A. INGERSOLL. This name is 

Oi [n'oniinent among those of the public- 
spirited citizens of Homer Township, as 
one who has always taken an active part 
in the jiromotion of its best interests. .Judging 
from his home surroundings he is more than or- 
dinarily intelligent, industrious and enterprising, 
having good buildings on his farm, and all the 
other appliances for the successful prosecution of 
agriculture. He has been a School Director in his 
<iistrict for the long period of twenty-four years, 
and most of the time for twenty-five years past has 
officiated as Overseei- of Highwaj-s. He takes an 
active part in political affairs, giving his uniform 
support to the Republican party. 

Mr. IngersoU is a native of this county, and was 
born in Plainfleld Township, November 20, 1831). 
In the spring of 1840, his parents removed to Ho- 
mer Township, where the father secured a farm on 
section 9, and where Andrus A. was reared toman's 
estate. His education was obtained principally in 
the common schools, while his habit of reading and 
observation have conspired to make him a thor- 
oughly-informed man, with progressive ideas, and 
an acquaintance with most of the topics of the day 
under general discussion. He chose farming for 
bis vocation, and with the exception of the lime 
spent in the army, has followed this his entire life. 

During the second year of the Civil War Mr. 
IngersoU enlisted in the Union service, August 6, 
18G2, in Company G, One Hundredth Illinois In- 
fantry, and served until .Tune 30, 1865, being mus- 
tered out on that day. He remained with the 
regiment until November G, 1862, when he was de- 
tailed for detached service as an artificer, being 
thus occupied until October 8, 1864. He was then 
transferred by General Order No. 108. of the War 
Department, to the First United States Veteran 



310 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



VoluiUeer Engineer Corps, with vvliioli lie served 
\iiitil receiving his honorable disi-hargo. He was 
mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., with the rank of 
First Sergeant. Upon one occasion while gathering 
timber in the swamps to be used at Ft. Negle^-, he 
w.as disabled by a shot from the enemy from 
which, however, he soon recovered. 

I'pon leaving the army Mr. IngersoU returned 
to Homer Townshij) and resumed farming. He 
has one hundred and sixty-three acres of good land, 
upon which he has erected substantial buildings, 
and gathered around himself and his family all the 
comforts of life He was married March 28, 1866, 
in Orlaud, Cook County, this .State, to Miss Fannj' 
M., daughter of Icliabod and Ann E. (Reynolds) 
Myrick. Mr. Myrick was a farmer by occupation 
and iliid .'it Morgan Park, 111., August 17. 1872. 
The mother is still living, making her home at 
Morgan Park. 

Mrs. IngersoU was the third in a family of 
eleven children and was born in Orlaud, 111., Sep- 
tember 19, 1847. Her childhood and youth passed 
quietly and uneventfully under the home roof 
where she remained until her marriage. Of this 
union there have born four children, viz.: Anna 
A., Walter .1., Florence and Percy. The two latter 
died at the ages of twenty--two months and four 
days respectively. Mr. IngersoU has served as 
a Justice of the Peace for a [jcriod of fourteen 
years, and was Township Clerk one year. 

Alonzo A. IngersoU, the father of our subject, 
was a native of Vermont, while his mother bore the 
maiden name of Barbara Weaver, and was a native 
of Syracuse, N. Y. The latter came with her par- 
ents to this county in 1833. Her father was Benja- 
min Weaver, and the maiden name of her mother 
was Pliebe Paddock. Upon coming to Illinois 
they settled in Homer Township, where they si)ent 
the remainder of their days. The paternal grand- 
parents of our subject were Chester and Lucretia 
(Burdick) IngersoU, the former of whom was a 
Colonel in the Sauk War. He came to this county 
in 1828. Subsequently he was married in Chicago, 
in 1834, and kept the first hotel in that city, which 
was familiarly known as the Green Tree House. 
Mr. Ingersoll's parents were married in what is 
now the town of Homer, but which was then called 



the "Yankee Settlement," October 8, 1838. The 
father secured land on section 9, Homer Township, 
and on the farm which he built up he and iiis es- 
timable wife spent the remainder of their days. 
Mr. IngersoU met !iis death l)y being struck by 
lightning, March 19, 1847. Tiie mother died at 
the old homestead Oclober 5, 1861. There were 
born to them three children only — Andrus A., 
Anna A. and Phebe P. The two sisters of Mr. 
IngersoU are deceased. 

'?i;iOTLIEB SEOGEBRUCII. One of the 
largest farms in Crete Townsliip is oivned 
by the gentleman above named, comprising 
four hundred and ten acres, and occup3'ing a portion 
of sections 30 and 31. A portion of it is now op- 
erated by the sons of our subject, who, after many 
years of thrifty and laborious life is content to 
allow his offspring to relieve him of some (jf the 
burdens which he has borne. He is the only repre- 
sentative in America of the parental famil}- which 
comprised eight children, and is a worthy descend- 
ant of German parents who lived to a ripe old .age 
and died heartily respected by those who knew 
them. They were farmers in the Kingdom of Lippe 
Schambourg, where the eyes of their sou, Gotlieb, 
opened to the light April 19, 1815. He was reared 
to farm life and became a farm laborer in his own 
land, where he remained until some years after he 
had set up his own household. 

The wife whom Mv. Seggebruch chose in his 
early manhood was Louisa Siegmann, a native of 
Hesse-Cassel, who w.as reared to womanhood in her 
native State After the birth of five children the 
family, in the fall of 1854, left Bremerhaven for 
America, landing in New York after a voyage of 
six weeks. Thence they journeyed to Detroit, 
Mich., t)n a boat, and thence to Chicago, two d.a3's 
later coming to Will County and purchasing eighty 
acres of land. Here Mr. and Mrs. Seggebruch 
have grown old upon tje land where tlu'y first set- 
tled. The acreage has lieen increased and the 
whole placed in a fine condition of improvement 
and tillage, and well stocked with domestic animals 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



311 



find adequate macliinery, while tlie dwelling lias 
been supplied with conveniences and the household 
affairs conducted in the thrift^' manner which is 
earl_v taught to the daughters of Germany. 

The happy union of our subject and his com- 
panion has been blessed by the birth of live sons 
and four daughters. One son, Henry, died when 
seven years old; Caroline is the wife of Henry 
Oldreg, a farmer in Pottawatomie County, Kan. : 
William married Eliza Brjmeier, and operates a 
farm in Ashgrove Township, Iroquois Count}'; 
August C, who lives on a farm in Monee Township, 
this county, married Sophie Miller, who died leav- 
ing three children, after which he married Anna 
Kaurtz; Amelia is the wife of Henry Arkenberg, 
a farmer in Crete: John assists his father in work- 
ing the homestead and resides with his parents; 
Sophia is the wife of Charles Waggoner, who has a 
grocery store on South Butiorlield Street, Chicago; 
Louisa is the wife of Fred Miller, a farmer in Pot- 
tawatomie County, Kan.; Fred W. is still at home 
and assisting in carrying on the estate. Mr. Segge- 
brueh and his sons all belong to the Republican 
party. The sturdy qualities of industrious, upright 
manhood and womanhood belong to our subject 
and his good wife, and they are not only honored 
by their progeny but respected by neighbors and 
Hcqnaintnnces. 




ENUY LANGREDER. 'I'his gentleman 
ranks among the enterprising farmers of 
Washington Township, owning a pleasant 
(,(;£)) and well-improved farm of one hundred 
and twentj' acres on section 31. It has been thirty 
3'oars since he obtained a tract of unbroken prairie 
from the railroad company, and during this inteiim 
he has made of it a fruitful expanse where fields of 
waving grain take the place of the wild grasses 
which formerly covered it. The buildings are well 
constructed and sufficiently numerous and commo- 
dious to answer the purpose for which they were 
designed, and everything about the estate bears the 
appearance of order which those aoqu.ainted with 
Mr. and Mrs. Langreder would expect. 



The [)arents of our subject were Detrick and 
Grace (Avers) Langreder, both of whom were boru 
in Hanover, Germany, and the latter of whom died 
there. In October, 1848, the father, accompanied 
by his three children, set out for the United States, 
leaving Bremen on a sailing vessel which made a 
lauding at New Orleans, La., after a tedious voyage 
of nine weeks and five days. The father and son 
worked about four months in the Southern metrop- 
olis to earn money vvith which to continue their 
journey, and finally the family reached Chicago, 111. 
Two days after their arrival the father died, when 
somewhat past his three-score years of age. He and 
his wife belonged to the Lutheran Church and man- 
ifested in their daily walk and conversation the 
virtues which belong to the Christian religion. 

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch 
was born in Hanover, Germany, July 24, 1828, and 
is the 3'oungest member of the parental family'. He 
was eleven years old when he lost his mother and 
about twenty when he bade good-by to his native 
land. Ilis education was obtained in the F\ather- 
land under the excellent school laws which provide 
all German children with a fair share of school 
privileges. Besides himself, the only survivor of 
the parental household is a sister who is married 
and living in Minnesota. 

After the death of his father the young man 
went to California, where he spent some years in 
the mining regions with the varying success which 
usually attends such experiences. ■ On returning to 
the States he resided in Cook County, 111., three 
years and then, in 1860, became a resident of Will 
County. He was first married in Cook County to 
Miss Louisa Riesperkart, who was born in Germany 
and came to the United States when eighteen years 
old. She died at her home in Will County when 
yet in middle life leaving a large family to whom 
she had been a devoted mother. All her offspring 
are yet living and all are now married but two 
sons: William; Henry, married and lives in Beecher; 
Fred, married and lives in Beecher; Edward, 
Adolph, Louisa and Emma. 

Mr. Langreder contracted a second matrimonial 
alliance, celebrating his marriage to Mrs. Louisa 
Swarica in Washington Townsliip. This worth}' 
lady was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to 



312 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



America alone, following her parents to this coun- 
try. She is tlic niotlier of six cliildreu by her 
present iinicm and two by a former marriage, viz.: 
15erlie, Mary, Lillie, Anna, Carrie and I)ctricl<. 



-OIIN C. BROADIE, a son of one of the 
eai'ly pioneers of New Lenox Township, was 
born at tlie iiomestead wliich he now owns 
and oecnfiies, Sei)tember 12, 1868. He is 
a young man of fine talents and stands well in the 
community, being possessed of the trails of cliar- 
acter which seldom fail to enable a man to become 
prosperous in business and possessed of the esteem 
and eonlidence of his fellow-citizei.s. 

The father of our subject was the well-known 
Robert J. Broadic, a native of Franklin County, 
Ohio, and born near Columbus, February 5, 1829. 
The mother bore the maiden name of Ann Cooper, 
and she was born in Brown County, Ohio, 
February 28, 1832. The latter was brought by 
her parents to New Lenox Township when a child 
three j'ears of age. After their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Broadie settled on section 28, New Lenox 
Township, where the father prosecuted farming 
successfully, and dieil December 21, 1873. The 
mother survived her husband for nearly twelve 
years, also dying at the old homestead, June 7, 
1885. Their family consisted of five children, the 
eldest of whom, a daughter, Lydja J., died young; 
Anna L. also dieil in early childhood; Esther Ann 
became the wife of Dr. G. E. Briukerhoff, and 
died in Xew Lenox Township, November II, 
188.5; John C, the subject of this notice was the 
next in order of birth; Sarah A, became the sec- 
ond wife of Dr. Brinkerhoff, and they are living 
in Oakland, Cal. 

The subject of this sketch has spent his entire 
life at the homestead which he now owns and oc- 
cupies, and which embraces three luindred and 
hfty acres of as fuie farming land as is to be found 
in Will County. I'pon it is a set of neat and sub- 
stantial frame buildings, with quantities of fruit 
and shade trees, while the fields are enclosed and 
divided with good fencing, and in fact Mr. Broadie 



lias all the facilities for carrying on agriculture 
after the mo.st apprt)ved methods. He brongiit a 
bride to the old roof-tiee in 1889, being married 
September 18, that year, to Miss Wary, daughter 
of Addison and I'amelia (Lynk) Collins. 

Mrs. Broa<lie was the fifth child of her parents, 
and was born in Homer Township, this county, 
September 18, 18()9. Her father, Aildison Collins, 
was born in Rochester, N. Y., and the mother was 
born in the same State, near the city of Syracuse. 
They were reared and married in this State, whence 
they came to Illinois at an early day, each with 
their [jarenls, and have since been residents of 
New Lenox Township. Their family consisted of 
seven children, three sons and four daughters, live 
of whom are living. 

Mr. Broadie was reared by his excellent mother 
in the doctrines of the Jlethodist Episcopal 
Church, of which he is now a faithful and consist- 
ent member, and gives to his church a liberal sup- 
port. He is a young man of excellent education, 
having completed his studies in Bryant & Strat- 
ton's Business College, at Chicago, from which he 
was graduated March 1, 1888. Ho and bis young 
wife have begun the journey of life together un- 
der the most favorable auspices and with the kind- 
est wishes of hosts of friends. A handsome litlio- 
graphic view of Mr. Broadie's residence is shown 
on another page of this work. 

^, RENTICE G. STORRS, who is actively 
engaged in general farming and stock-rais- 
ing, paying much attention to breeding 
_ horses, stands among the most clear sighted, 
practical and business-like men of his calling in 
Will County. His farm in Troy, lying along the 
DuPage River, whicli (lows through the eastern part 
of it, thus affording a never-failing supply of 
water for his stock, shows every evidence of careful 
cultivation and constant improvement. 

A native of New York, our subject was horn 
near Platlsburg, Clinton Count}-, November 22, 
18.')4. He remained a resident of the place of bis 
l)irth till 1860. when he started out anew in life, 





Res. AND Farm Property OF JohnC.Broadie,Sec.H8.New Lenox Tp, Will Co. III. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



315 



coming to tin's State to carry on liis calling on this 
fertile soil. lie lived for several years on a farm 
in (Inindy County, and then bought a farm in 
Manhattan, on which he resided until his wife's 
death, when lie returned to the East for a while. 
He subsequently sold his place in Manhattan and 
purchased his present farm in 1882. Here he has 
one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, all 
under good cultivation, and finely situated five 
miles west of Joliet. He is managing his affairs 
with excellent success, doing a general farming 
business and paying considerable attention to breed- 
ing horses, of which he has about thirty of good 
grade on his place. 

Mr. Storrs has been twice married. He was first 
wedded to Mrs. Caroline Ingram, daughter of Wash- 
burn Storrs, and widow of Mr. Ingram, of Platts- 
burg. Their married life was not of very long 
duration, her death occuning in 1857. She left 
two children, Franklin and Harriet. The former 
resides at home with his father, and the latter is the 
wife of Henry Willis,, a milkman of Chicago. The 
maiden name of the present wife of our subject was 
Clara Comstock, to whom he was united in Platts- 
burg, N. Y., she being a daughter of Ezekiel Com- 
stock, of Beekmantown, near Plattsburg. Two 
children have been born of this union, Raymond, 
and a child who died in infancy. 

Mr. Storrs is a fair dealing, straightforward man, 
possessing the confidence and esteem of all about 
him, and his energy, persistence and shrewdness 
have placed him in the possession of a comfortable 
property. In his politics he sides with the Repub- 
lican party. Mrs, Storrs is a devoted member of 
the ;\lethodist Episcoi)al Church. 



j^*\ HARLES S. SEAVER, successor to the firm 
' of Monroe & Seaver, wholesale dealers in 



c 



flour, fruits, produce, cigars and tobacco, 
occupies a prominent business place on La Fayette 
Street, where he has been established since October 
4, 1884. At that date the firm was organized being 
a continuation of the business of G. Monroe & Son, 
wholesale grocers. Mr. Seaver then purchased 



with George H. Monroe, an interest in the business 
with which he remained connected until September, 
1888, and then became sole proprietor. The build- 
ing is a fine brick and stone structure, comprising 
an office and warerooms, a large store and basement. 
It is located opposite the Rock Island depot, which 
was built in 1887, and they do a business approach- 
ing $500,000 annually. In addition to his city 
employes, three salesmen represent his interests on 
the road. Mr. Seaver is an enterprising, go-ahead 
man and forms no unimportant f.actor among the 
business interests of Joliet. 

A native of Orleans County, Vt., the subject of 
this notice was born August 17, 1852, and is the 
son of Samuel Stillman Seaver, likewise a native of 
the Green Mountain State. The latter grew to 
manhood in his native county and was married to 
Miss Martha Wright. He was born in 1808, fol- 
lowed farming and merchandising, and spent his 
entire life upon his native soil, dying in September, 
1H70, at the age of sixty-two years. The circum- 
stances of his death were very distressing he having 
been run over by a train of cars, death ensuing in 
a short time. He was one of the oldest members 
of the Masonic fraternity in the State and under 
their solemn ceremonials his remains were consigned 
to their last rest. The mother being ill at the time, 
survived the shock only four weeks. In addition 
to farming, Mr. Seaver dealt quite extensively in 
live stock, mostly' cnttle and horses. 

To the parents of our subject there was born a 
family of five children, viz.: Clarendon S., and 
Charles S., residents of Joliet; Henry Q., in Geneva, 
Neb.; William W., Walnut Grove, Minn.; and Mat- 
tie E., in Milwaukee, Wis. 

Charles S.,our subject, acquired a good practical 
education in the schools of his native county and 
engaged in the mercantile business until coming to 
Joliet in 1881. In this cit3' he first purchased the 
retail grocery business of G. Monroe & .Son, which 
was located in the Opera House Building and con- 
ducting this until purchasing that which he now 
owns. 

Mr. Seaver was married in September, 1872, to 
Miss Ella A. Parker, of Orleans County, Vt., and 
they are the [larents of one child, a daughter, 
Maude E. Mrs. Seaver was born November 27, 



.Mr. 



I'OKTKArr AM) lUOCKAl'lIK'AL AI.IU'M. 




1851, in W-rnioiit. !iii<l is the ilHUglikT of .luliii C". 
Parker, mi niil re.siclfiil of N'enmjiit. t'lftri'iKlon S. 
ciiiiio tu .liiliet ill 18HI, aii<l has iiiiidc lliis t'ilv his 
lii'>i<U]unrtfr!t since tlinl time. 



•-•#•■:••*- 



'IIGUSTUS C. VAN IIORNK. The iiie- 
clianieal iiml eoiiiiiierciu! iiileicsts of .liiliet 
woiihl lie jHiorly repieseiiletl in this vol- 
iiiiie. Were no nieiillon inatleuf tlie railroad 
husiiiess ami Ihe men who liave 11 in tiielr eontrol. 
Aside from this reason for |)iil)lishi!ij,' liii- hinir- 
rapliy of the geiitleinan above-imiued, it is a pleas- 
ure to leeord the success of the worthy son of a 
learned and honored father. 

The late Cornelius C. N'aii Iloriie was a pioneer 
of Will County, to which he came in l.s.33. and in 
which his name is perpetuatetl \>y \an Home's 
I'oiiit. lie ^aineil an extended reiiutation as a 
teacher, heinj: prolialdy the first in the county :he was 
an early I'ostniaster and when, in IS.")';!, he moved 
iiilo .loliet he was at once chosen Mayor, beinp the 
lirst to occupy that position. lie was a m.'iii of 
tine mental attainments, a lawyer and counselor of 
aliility, ami his character won him the regard of 
his associates. In Irt-Kl he married Miss Mary .M. 
Richards, and they hecnme the parents of three 
stins and two daughters. One of these, William C, 
is now I'resident of the Canadian Pacilic Railroad, 
with headquarters at Montreal, Canada. 

The subject of this notice was born in this 
county, in September, lH-14, his birthplace being 
the town of Frankfort. He attended the public 
sehtiola. and being an apt pupil, advanced rapidly 
in his studies and soon acquired a good education. 
In Ihe year 18G1 he entered the employ of the 
.Michigan Central Railroad, remaining in tli.-it ser- 
vice until .September 7, 1 8(> I, when he became an em- 
ploye of the Chicago A- .Mlon road. Two years 
later he changed to the Kansas City and Northern, 
after which for a brief time he worked for the Clii- 
cngo, Milwaukee <t .St. I'aul. Again he entered the 
service of the Chicago iV Alton road, and has 
labori-"! for it continuously since. From 1871 to 



I8H2 he was an engineer, but at that dale he was 
put in charge of the roundhouse, ami ha."* elllciently 
su|M.-rinteniled it since. 

An im|mrtanl step in the life of Mr. Van Home 
was taken in 187.'), when he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Kmma A. Hull, of New l.enox, 
the daughU'r of an old family in I'laintieUI. She 
is a l.'idy |Hjs.sessing many estimable qualities an<l 
a consistent member of the Richards Street Meth- 
odist Kpiscopal Church. She presides ably over 
the elegant homo that was erected by Mr. \'an 
lloriie in 188.'). Mr. Van llorne belongs to the 
Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of thi 
.Masonic fraternity, lie standi well in the opinion 
of his fellow-ini'n, both employers, employed and 
general acijnaintances. 



II. I', W AKIIIKN. .V favorably locat.d 
ill ill and well-tilled farm of two hunilred and 
Vi^' thirty-eight acres in Lockport Township, is 
owiicil and occupieil by this gentleman, who finds 
enjoyment in his chosen calling and the pleasaii' 
surroundings of his home. Kvery iletail of the 
farm work is under ellicient ovei-sighl, and tilling 
the soil has proved a remunerative vocation. 

In Licking County, Ohio, in the year 1828, a 
child was born, whose simple record is contained 
in these brief paragraphs. His early years were 
spent ill attendance At the common schools, and in 
such home duties .as generally fall to the lot of 
growing lads in town. He is of Revolutionary 
parent.age, being a son of Alvin Warthen, a native 
of Virginia, who died in 183(1. The widowed 
mother survived until 1888, reaching the advanced 
age of ni!iely-two years. .She was a hotel kee|)er 
for sixty-seven years. 

Our subject came to Illinois in 1853 and pur- 
chased a farm near I'lainfield. which he afterward 
solil, buying his present estate November 6. In 
1851 he became the husband of .Miss Charlotte 
Kendall, who. like himself, is a native of the Buck- 
eye StaU;'. and who possesses many of the qualities 
belonging to honored womanhood. To the happy 
Couple have bwn born eleven children, nine of 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM, 



317 



whom are liviii"' and six yet under the parental 
roof. Mr. Wartlien is a Democrat of the old 
school. He is a reliable citizen and an upright 
man. especiall}' charitable, and the doer of many 
kindly deeds known only to their object. 




m/fi 



-0*0.-f5y^><^@ -O^O.. 



ILLIAM STEDT. The sterling traits that 
make the better class of the Germans de- 



\y ¥' sirable citizens are exhibited in the life 



and labors of this gentleman. He is engaged in 
general farming and stock-raising on section 26, 
Washington Township, where he owns eighty acres 
of fertile land. The estate i-* well-improved and 
bears good buildings, all erected by the owner and 
including every needful and convenient structure. 
Success is crowning his efforts and a competence 
waits upon his labors. 

In the Grand ])uchy of Mecklenburg, German}', 
the eyes of our subject first opened to the light 
in the year 1840. His parents, Joseph and Reirca 
(Sass) Stedt, had been born in the same duchy, 
and therein grew to maturity and united tiieir 
fortunes. The husband and father was a sheep- 
herder. In 1856 the parents, with five children, 
sailed from Hamburg, believing that in the New 
World thej' could Qnd larger opportunities than in 
their native land, for themselves and offspring. 
After an ocean voyage of sis weeks they arrived 
in New York, whence they came direct to Illinois, 
settling in Du Page Count}'. They began their 
life in the new home on rented land, determined 
to succeed in their intention to become land- 
owners and people of comfortable finances. The 
father died in that county when sixty-six years of 
age; the widowed mother is yet living, her pres- 
ent home being near West Union, Iowa. She is 
now seventy-seven years old. She has been all her 
life a member of the Lutheran Church, as was her 
respected husband. She is the mother of three sons 
and three daughters, all but one of whom, a daugh- 
ter, lived to come to America. 

The subject of this sketch was about sixteen 
years olil when the family came to the United 
States. His education was therefore obtained 



principally in the land of his birth. He became of 
age in Du Page County, and was there married to 
Miss Anna R. Bold, to whose housewifely skill and 
domestic virtues he owes the joys and comforts of 
his home. Three years after their marriage the 
young couple came to Will County and began 
their life here on an almost raw prairie, which 
now stands as a monument to the enterprise that 
has made it into a fine farm. 

Mrs. Stedt was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, 
November 18, 1843, and came to America with her 
parents when thirteen years old. The family first 
settled in Du Page County, afterward removing to 
Will County, where the father, H. Bohl, died in 
1885, when seventy-six years old. He was a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church, to which his good 
wife also belonged. She survived until the spring 
of 1889, breathing her last when eighty- two years 
old. Her maiiTen name was Mary Burling. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Stedt has been 
l)lessed by the birth of five children, named re- 
spectively: William, Henry, Charles, Herman and 
Mary. The parents are members of the Lutheian 
Church. Mr. Stedt is a thorough Republican. 
Their upright and industrious lives, their kindli- 
ness toward their neighbors and all in need, and 
their desire to aid in the true development of the 
country, gain for them the hearty respect of all to 
whom they are known. 



' • ' -^z 



E^^ 



<ji OIIN THEILER. A stroll through the princi- 
pal business streets of Joliet will reveal the 
fact that that city contains many men whose 
/ enterprise and aliility is manifest at a glancet 
and who, one is not surprised to learn, have a high 
standing in business circles. One of the establish- 
ments which gives such indications is that of 
John Theiler & Son, dealers iu groceries, provisions, 
dour and feed, liquors, wines, etc., and occupying 
Nos. 108,110 and 112 South Bluff Street. The 
senior member of the firm is also the owner of 
Theiler's Hall, which occupies the upper floor of 
the building in which his business is carried. on. 
The birth of the subject of this sketch took 



318 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



place ill Switzerland, i)eccml)er" 8, 1829. Ho ac- 
comiiaiiic'il liis parents to the Iniled Stales in 
1S47, their lirst luinie heiiig in Chicago, whence 
they came to Joliet in IboU. Our subject first ein- 
harketl in life as a farmer, luit in 1858 came 
into the city to begin the business in wliieh he is 
yet engaged, lie opened upon a small scale, en- 
larging tiie establishment as trade increased, and 
in 187.'! building the edifice he now occupies, 
afterward adding to both hall and store, lie is 
agent for the celebrated Itottled beer of the Au- 
heuser Husch Brewing Association, at St. Louis. 

In I\liss Elizabeth Fender, of Joliet, Mr. Theiler 
found the (pialities which he considered desirable 
in a companion, and after a successful wooing she 
became his wife May 9, ISftS. She presides judici- 
ously and pleasingly over the homo, and has care- 
fully reared the children whom she has borne. Five 
sons and daughters comprise the Irousehold band. 
The first-born, Mary, is now the wife of John 
Schcit, of this city; John is the junior member of 
the firm; the other members of the circle arc 
Lizzie, Louisa and Joseph. 

Mr. Theiler in former years served two terms 
as Alderman, and is highly spoken of in the Fifth 
Ward, lie and his family belong to St. John's 
Catholic Church. His honesty and square dealing 
ill all transactions with his fellow-men, his kindli- 
ness in domestic life, and his social characteristics, 
gain for him the respect of his acquaintances and 
an excellent reputation, in business circles. 




OYAL E. BARBER. Among the veteran 
iff lawyers of Joliet Mr. Barberstands a promi- 
nent figure, and has made for himself a fine 
v{^ record during an uninterrupted [a'actice of 
nearly forty-five years. He [jossesses in a marked 
degree the talents and ajiplication requisite to suc- 
cess, and numbers among his clientage a large por- 
tion of the solid residents of this county. During 
his long career in the profession he has disposed of 
a large number of intricate cases, and there are few 
points in common law which ho is not able to han- 
dle in an adroit and skillful inanuer. He is of 



stanch New England ancestry, a native Vermonter, 
and was born in Benson, that Slate, August ;J, 
1 822. 

John and Emma (Perry) Barber, the immediate 
progenitors of the subjci't of this notice, were na- 
tives of Connecticut, and descended from Puritan 
stock, their ancestors being among the early Col- 
onists. The mother was a cousin of Commodore 
Perry, who distinguished himself in the battle of 
Lake fc^rie. J(jhn Barber was a life-long farmer, 
and the parental household included seven children, 
who reached mature years, and three who (iied in 
infancy or early childhood. 

Royal, our subject, was the second horn. In 
1831, when he was a lad of nine years, a party of 
John Barber's neighbors came to the West on a 
prospecting tour, and sent back such glowing ac- 
counts of this section of country that Mr. Barber 
was led to join them the following year. In the 
autumn t>f that year the party chartered a canal 
boat at Whitehall, N. Y., and a week later reached 
Buffalo, where they took passage on the steamer 
•■Henry Clay" for Detroit. There they boarded 
the schooner "Austerlitz," which in one week 
reached Chicago or near there, anchoring, however, 
outside of the bar about three miles from shore. 
The part}^ and the schooner's cargo were thence all 
transported to the shore in the yawl boats. The 
steamer which conveyed Gen. Scott's troops to 
Chicago, in 1832, is saJ.d to have been the first 
craft of its kind which had struck that port. 

Landing near Ft. Dearborn the party encount- 
ered various thrilling incidents. When attempting 
to cross tbe sand bar the yawl grounded, and the 
sailors jumping out got it off quickly and then 
jumjied in again in readiness for the next wave. 
The " Austerlitz" was bound for St. Joseph. La- 
ter the yawl boat was stranded upon the bar at the 
mouth of that stream, overturned and the Captain 
and most of his crew were drowned. 

At the time John Barl)er landed in Chicago, the 
onl^' buildings were a few log houses and Ft. 
Dearbory was enclosed with a log stockade. There 
■was one frame budding which had been erected 
that summer by J. 11. Kinzie, with lumber which 
he had hauled from a sawmill at Plainfleld. this 
i county. The original plat of the village of Chi- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



319 



cago, lying between what is now State and Canal 
Streets, Madison and Kinzie, was laid out tiiat suiii- 
raer. Tlie agent besought .lolin Barbei' to bu}- a 
town lot, and took liiin out to what he said was 
Lake Street, and showed him a lot eighty feet 
front, and two hundred feet deep, wiiicli he offered 
for ^i'lO. Mr. Barlter stepped on to a bog. shook 
hinisfif, and the earth trembled all around him. 
He therefore replied tliat lie was "not going to sink 
any ^')0 in Ihiit mud liole." 

Joiin Barber now hired a team of horses and a 
double wagon, and gathering together his family 
and some goods, forded the south branch of the 
Chicago River, and struck off across the prairie for 
Naiierville, where some of his acquaintances had 
settled. lie made his selection of a farm at what 
later was named Barber's Corners, tiiis county, 
and in Fel)ruary. 1833, moved his family into a log 
house, where the children were reared, .and where 
he and his wife both died. Mrs Barber departed 
this life May 1, 1874. Mr. Barber [lassed away in 
the winter of 1877. Soon after coming to this 
county he contracted rheumatism, which rendered 
him an invalid many 3'ears. This was the result of 
exposure during the cold winters, when engaged in 
getting out rails for his fences. 

The subject of this notice remained on the farm 
until he found that the labor of harvesting, which 
was then all done by hand, made him ill every 
year. So, deciding to abandon farm life, in 1845, 
he came to Joliet, and became the Deputy' Clerk of 
several courts, discharging the duties of these in 
connection with the study of law, until his election 
in 1852, as Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex-oHi- 
cio Recorder. At the completion of his term he 
compiled the first set of abstracts of records, and 
then entered upon the regular practice of law, 
which he has since pursued. With the assistance 
of clerks he managed the abstract department until 
selling out to his son, January 1, 1889. In 1876- 
77 he was Mayor of Joliet, and as School Inspector 
he iierformed much labor in behalf of education, 
holding this ollice nine 3'ears. In 1887-88 he 
erected the Barber Building, one of the most ele- 
gant structures in the city of Joliet. 

Mr. Barber was first married, April 24, 1840, to 
Miss Elizabeth Ellen Crowle}-. This lady died of 



cholera in 1850. Mr. Barber contracted a second 

inarriaL'e, Novcmlier 7, 1854, with Miss Frances 
Cornelia House. Of this union there were born 
five children, one of whom died at the age of three 
years. There are now living two sons and two 
daughters. The eldest daughter. Miss Alice Slill- 
man Barber, is engaged in a mission seminary at 
Beirut, Syria, whither she went in the fall of 1885. 
Before she h.ad acquired command of the Arabic 
tongue she was left in ch.arge of the institution for 
two years. Edward M., tlie eldest son, is now in the 
State of New York; William C. is engaged in the 
abstract business in .loliet; the younger daughter, 
Emma F., is the only child remaining under the pa- 
rental roof. 



^ACOB J. HARTONG is carrying on agri- 
cult\ire very advant.ageously iji Plainfield 
Township, where he owns a farm, which for 
fertility and productiveness is classed among 
the best in this locality. His skill and experience 
in practical farming have proved of inestimable 
value to him since coming to this county, and he has 
done exceptionally well since purchasing his pres- 
ent farm, and is one of our substantial moneyed 
men. 

Our subject was born in Green Township, Stark 
County, Ohio, August 25, 1830, his father being 
an early pioneer of that section of the country. 
Jacob Hartong was a native of Pennsylvania, his 
father, grandfather of our subject, also having been 
i)orn in that State, of German parentage. lie was 
a farmer and spent his entire life there. The 
father of our subject was left an orphan whtn 
quite young, and was reared b}' his elder brother, 
Philip. He was bred to farming pursuits, and also 
learned the trade of a weaver. He was married in 
the Keystone State to Elizabeth Urich, a native of 
that State. After the birth of five of their children 
they lemoved to the wilds of Ohio to hnild up a 
new home in that part of Stark Count}', now in- 
cluded in Summit Count}'. Mr. Hartong bought a 
tract of land in the primeval forests of that region, 
and built a log cabin which afterward became the 
birthplace of our subject. There w^ere but few 



320 



I'ORTRAIT AND KfOGRAlMlICAL AI.BDM. 



si'ltlunients in llml piirl of the StiiU'. IiHliniis still 
liiUJcrt'il nroiiiul Itifir olil haiiiiU. ;iii<l the wdlf nnd 
the tleer, busides oilier kinds of wild yiune, often 
rim l>v the door of their pioneer home. They lived 
in the most jiriniitive nntnner, the mother cooking 
their food licforc the (Ire in the rude llre|iln(e. and 
Muikiufj the cloth for tlu-ir clothes, spinniiiff the 
ll.-ix Mini wool with her own IkukIs. In the years 
tlrnl followed Imnl lahor was Mr. Ilnrton^r's lot, 
lint he thereby improved a desirable farm, 
which he made his home until he closed his eyes 
in death. Hi-* "'fe too pa.ssed aw.iy t<j the life 
bevond from the old homestead. They reared a 
lar"e familv of eliililrcn, seven sons and live daugh- 
ters, to tfood nnd useful lives. 

The subject of whom we write was the eighth 
child in ordt-r of birth, and was reared and edii- 
ciiteil in his native town, lie resided with his par- 
ents until his t wenty-lirsl year, and then married 
and established .m home of his own, and for four 
years managed his father's profierty. During that 
time he bought a farm in .lackson 'I'ownship. .Stark 
('ountv. anil operated it fur two years, when he 
sold it and then liveil on his fatln r's farm until 
ISGI. Ill- then left Ohio, to take up his abode in 
this State, as he was much impressed with the many 
adv!inta<'e3 offered to young men of enterprise and 
abilitv, to pursue farming with liTiancial success in 
the rich farming country of Will County. After 
eomina here he bought a farm on section 15, 
IMaiutield Township, where he resided until ISGH. 
Selling Unit | lace, his next purch.ise was in Man- 
hattan Township, where he dwelt the succeeding 
thirteen years. Disposing f>f that place at a goo<l 
profit, he bought the farm lie now owns and occu- 
pies, which comprises one hundred nnd forty-four 
acres of laud under excellent tillage, and supplied 
with a substantial .set of buildings and all needed 
improvements. In 1 «'.>0 he bought a desirable 
residence in the village, to which lie intcn<ls to 
remove in the spring of IK'.) I. 

Ill 1H.'»II, .lacob llartong and .Mary Heard were 
united in mntrimony. She was a native of Summit 
Coiintv. Ohio, and a daughter of Henry and Kli/.a- 
beth Heard, natives of \irgiiiia, and early settlers 
of Summit (.'ounty. After a pleasant wedded life 
of ten years, death deprived him of her compiiii- 



ionship. and their four children — Mary K.. Marthn 
A. nnd two since deccnsetl — of n goo<l mother. Mr. 
llartong wils married to his present estimable wife 
in l«()l, and by lln'ir marriage they have four 
ehil'lrcn now living — \N'illiuiii II.. Klins (•..Charles 
V. and Martin F. Mrs. Ilartong's mnitlen nann- 
was .Magdaliim 'lardiwr, and she wa.s Ixirn in Wit- 
t4-nburg. (iermany, daughti-r of .Martin and Hen- 
rietta Dewey (Inrdncr. nl.so natives of (iermany. 
Mrs. llartong came to America with her parcnt.s 
when she was live years old. They located in 
Cleveland, and later came to Illinois, in April, 
I8()2. and settled • in l.iwkport Township, where 
Mr. ( l.-irdnor bought a f.arm. They reside* I there 
some years, and then removed to .Itdiet, where the 
father died, the mother dying in l,o<-kport Town- 
ship. 

Mr. ll.'irUing's life has been guided by principles 
of honor and integrity, nnd he is a man of un- 
spotted charai-tcr. He is well dowereil with lirm- 
ness and stidiility. which attributes, together with 
forethought and persistent labor, have been in- 
strumental in bringing about his present prosper- 
ous circumstances. He nnd his wife are memlK'rs 
of the ICvangelical Assocation. Tliev are not of 
those who '•hide their light under a busln-l." and 
in the selfish striving for gain forget their duty to 
others, but they are ever kind and thoughtful in 
their relations with all about them, and no one is 
readier to extend sympathy or iielp to those in 
distress than they. Mr. llartong interests himself 
in the political situation of the day. an<l siiles with 
the Uepiiblican |)arty. 



« IklLMAM .\. .sTUO.Nt;. One would not 
\/sJ/i ''^*^ '" "'"''^^ loi'fJ. without becoming nv- 
"S^ ipiainted with the part that has been playeil 
by Mr. Strong in the progre.-is of this thriving 
municipality. As an able member of a prtuniiient 
business Brin, aa the improver of city real estate, as 
a member of corporations and as a public olllcial he 
has deserved and won the esteem fif his fellow-men 
for his uprijjihtnrss. ability and success. No greater 
proof could be given of the conlidmcs reposed in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



821 



him than is shown in the number of estates that 
liave been left in liis hands for settlement. Among 
these were tlie Bissell, the Moore, the Curry and 
tiie Steel, while others are still held in trust by 
him. 

The parents of our subject were .1. C. Strong, a 
native of Northampton, Mass., and A. C. Wood- 
worth, a native of New York State. In the latter 
State he was born in 1828, his birthplace being the 
town of Waterloo. lie attended the public schools, 
obtaining a good education, and learned in his 
uncle, W. A. Strong's store, the habits and methods 
of successful business men. In the hardware trade, 
to which he had grown uj), he was engaged in his 
native i)lace from 1845 to 1850, when his uncle 
sold out and came to Illinois. He became a part- 
ner with his uncle, W. A. Strong, in .loliet, the 
liiin name being W. A. Strong & Co. until 1855, 
when a new co-partnership was formed with Messrs. 
Brooks and Barrett, and the style became Strong 
ife Co. The business was continued under different 
firm names, but always as a prosperous institution 
until 1805. 

Mr. Strong, of this notice, then retired to become 
President of the .Joliet Oas Company, in which 
position he still continues, and through his good 
judgment the success of the corporation w.as as- 
sured. 

Mr. Strong had faith in the growth of the cit}' 
to which he had come, and purchased one hundred 
and twenty-five acres of land, which he laid out as 
a subdivision. It is one of the most beautiful parts 
of the city, and a residence in Glenwood is con- 
sideied very desirable. The executive and busi- 
ness qualities of Mr. Strong were called into recjui- 
sition by his fellow-citizens, who elected him to 
the Mayoralty and to the Cit3' Council, in both of 
ivhich positions he made a good record. He is 
now a Director in the National Bank, and he was 
for a fevv years engaged in the quarry business. 

In 1855, at the bride's home in Kochester, N. Y., 
Mr. Strong was united in marriage with Miss Char- 
lotte A., daughter of .ludge Buell, one of the build- 
ers of the Erie Canal. Mrs. Strong is universally 
praised by those who knew her. She was strong 
in her convictions and steadfast in her purposes, 
yet possessed rare modesty and sweetness of dispo- 



sition, was charitable without displaj', and withal, 
a devoted Christian. This [jcerlcss woman died in 
Thomasville, fta., March 20, 1889. She had borne 
her husband four children. 

One daughter, Mrs. Budlong, died in .January, 
1885, leaving a child, Alice, whose home is with 
Grandpa Strong. Two sons are in business and 
one daughter at home. The Episcopal Church 
contains a splendid memorial to the deceased daugh- 
ter. To that church Mr. Strong belongs, and of it 
his wife was a meml)er. In a handsome and spa- 
cious dwelling overlooking the cit}', he of whom we 
write is spending his time in deserved ease, afflu- 
ence and honor. 



OHN M. SWIGGART. A large portion of 
the business interests of Joliet is in the 
hands of its young and enterprising men, 
((^// among whom Mr. Swiggart occupies a posi- 
tion in the front rank. He commenced compara- 
tively without means, dependent upon his own 
resources, and about 1884 embarked in the grocery 
trade, locating at the northeastern corner of Easton 
Avenue and Cass Street. He has been in business 
at this point about six years and occupies a fine 
large double store in the Union Block, with two 
street fronts, and in which he has a fine and well- 
selected stock of staple and fancy goods. He owns 
a one-third interest in thi.s block. He gives his 
close attention to his business and has a fair out- 
look for the future. 

A native of Scottsville, Mo., our subject was 
born Januar3' 22, 1850, and is the son of John .1. 
and Mary (Fulk) Swiggart, who were natives of 
Iowa and are now deceased. He s|H!nt his boyhood 
and youth in Hamburg, Iowa, acquiring a practical 
education in the common schools. He came to 
Joliet in 1875, and for eight years thereafter was 
in the employ of the Joliet Steel Company. In the 
meantime he was recognized as a valued addition 
to the community', and after filling various other 
positions of trust and responsibility was, in 1884, 
elected Town and City Collector on the Uei>ub- 
lic.'ln ticket. 



322 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



At tbe close of his term of oflice Mr. Swiggart 

established himself in the grocery trade on the 
southwest corner of Cass Street and Easton Ave- 
nue, and hy a course of fair dealing and courteous 
trc.nluient of his customers, his business increased 
to such an extent that he was obliged to move into 
nioi'c counnodious quarters. Then, in partncrshi|) 
with George Monroe and William McDermont, he 
|)urcliascd the ground occupied by the Union Block, 
upon which they built, and of which they still re- 
tain ownershii). He now has the largest grocery 
in the city, building it up from first principles by 
his own exertions. He is a favorite both in social 
and business circles, a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, having attained to flie Chapter degree, be- 
longs to the IndciH'udent Order of Odd Fellows 
and the Ro3'al Arcanum. In the latter he occu- 
pies the position of Treasurer. 

Mr. iSwiggart was for a time Vice President of 
the Amalgamated Association of Iron and .Steel 
Workers of the Fourth District, and President of 
(he Trade and Labor Council, but thought best to 
resign these positions upon going into business. 
Mr. Swiggart. on the 2M of September. 187.5, was 
wedded to Miss Isaphine Croncli, who at that 
time was a resident of Tluunian, Iowa. Mrs. Swig- 
gart was born .Tanuarj- 21, 1851, and is the daugh- 
ter of lliram Crouch and wife, who are now 
deceased. The youug couple immediately after 
their wedding came to Joliet, of which they have 
since been residents. 

John .1. Swiggart, the father of our subject, was 
born in Ohio, where he w.as reared to man's estate 
and married. Thence he removed to Missouri, and 
from there to Iowa, locating in Hamburg, where 
he and his estimable wife spent the remainder of 
their days. 



/p^EOROE^ 

if (i^ through 
Vyl reveals tl 



,^^ EOROE NAPOLEON POMEHOY. A stroll 
the prominent streets of Joliet 
the fact that it contains many busi- 
ncsi houses of fine appearance, well stocked with 
the best goods and evidently the centers of a nour- 
ishing trade. .Such is the furniture store of the 



firm of Rocky <fe Pomeroy, which was estal)lislicd 
in 1887, and which is now doing a business of 
1:9,000 per year. The careei- of the junior mem- 
ber of the firm has been marked with a determina- 
tion and persistence that could scarcely fail to win 
success. AVhile woiking for others he was faithful 
to the interests of his emplo3'ers, and in serving 
others he learned how to be a master. His busi- 
ness is conducted according to honorable jjrinci- 
ples of square dealing, which, combined with the 
courteous treatment received by the patrons of the 
establishment, redounds to his credit thrf)ughout 
the community, and brings custom. 

The natal da}- of our subject was November 5, 
185.5, and his I)irth|)lace Bay City, Mich. His 
parents were William and Charlotte (Sherman) 
Pomeroy, and the father was a millwright by trade. 
He was originally from the Green Mountain State. 
In the family were seven children, all still living 
but William, who was drowned in the Saginaw 
River. The others are : Mrs. Dr. Nash; C. II., of 
li.ay City. Mich; Mrs. John .Icnkins, of Detroit; 
David and Daniel, (twins ), the one living in De- 
troit and the other farming in Sliiawassee County, 
Mich.; and the subject of this sketch. 

The gentleman of whom we write p.is.sed his 
boyliood upon a farm near Howell, i\Iich., his 
father being at that time the keeper of a tavern at 
whnt was known as the Three Corners. Pomeroy's 
Hotel became a popular and well-known [ilace of 
rendezvous for those engaged in the lumber trade. 
The family removed from the farm to Ann Aibor, 
where our subject attended school four or five 
years. When the father died, Febriiar}- 22. 1874, 
the family became scattered and George went to 
Lansing, doing whatever offerc<l in the way of 
work. Subsequently, after spending a short time 
_in Grand Rapids, he worked on a farm for a 
time, then rcfdizing the highest ambition of his 
boyhood by entering a shop as a clerk. 

After eleven months of this work Mr. Pomeroy 
became foreman of a bakery and confectionery 
shop in Bay City, which he left to take a position 
in a cracker factory that had been |)urchased by 
his brother C. H., .and C. C. Whitney. With them 
he remained three years, attending to the shipping, 
buying, and similar details of the business. In 




\ V 




C^i^7<J2o^^yi^. 



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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



325 



1884 he was nailed to Joliet by a telegram announc- 
ing the exiiected death of his mother. His first 
labor in this city was in a conservatory, his em- 
ployer beiPf^ A. R. Sparr. He next entered the 
employ of George Monroe \- Son, first working on 
a hiiilding they were erecting, and then becoming- 
assistant shipping clerk for the firm. He next 
learned the upholstering trade of E. F. Etmyre, 
for whom he worked nearly a year, leaving him to 
establish a business of iiis own in Kankakee. There 
he remained but eighteen months ere returning to 
.loiiet to continue the upholstering business here. 

In Miss Jennie Rocky, Mr. I'onieroy found 
united the qualities of mind and heart, tiie pleasing 
manners, and useful accoQiplishments which won 
his deep regard and aroused in his breast the desire 
1() make her his wife. His wooing proved success- 
ful, and on September 2(5, 1885, the young couple 
were united in marriage. Mr. Fomeroy is a mem- 
bv'r of the society know as the Modern Woodmen 
(if America. He is identified with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, having full fellowship in that 
religious organization. 



''%)^y- JAMES J. McGOVERN, D. D. The 
.Yj record of the life of this gentleman, whose 
li lyv portrait appears on the opposite page, affoi'ds 
a striking illustration of the results of force 
and decision of purpose in a man, as well .as of the 
power which an energetic and honorable eharatter 
exercises ufjon the lives of others. From boyhood 
he h.as unceasingly applied himself to the gaining 
of knowledge and, as a consequence, is highly cul- 
tured and wields a large influence both from the 
puljiit and with the pen. Although he has been a 
resident of Lockport only about ten 3ears, he is 
nevertheless inseparably associated with the most 
important religious enterprises of Will County in 
the ranks of the Catholic Church. 

Chicago w.as the native place of Father McGovern 
and there he was born March 25, 1839. He spent 
his boyhood in his native city, being among the 
first i)upils attending the Dearborn public school, 
on Madison Street, and afterward studying classics 



in the llniversity of St. Mary of the Lake. When 
fourteen years of age he was sent to Rome, Italy, 
where he entered the Propaganda College, remain- 
ing there ten years, graduating with high honors 
and earning the title of Doctor of Divinity. On 
his return to C'hicago he was appointed Vice-Presi- 
dent of the University of St. Mary of the Lake, 
and Rector of the Theological .Seminary connected 
with that institution. When the university ceased 
to exist he went to Fulton, 111., where he began the 
career of upbuilding for which he h.as since become 
noted. His efforts secured the erection of a beauti- 
ful church and residence, but the energetic priest 
did not long enjoy the fruits of his lalior in that 
city. 

The next location of Father McGovern was 
Piloomington, 111., where the large church building 
which had l)een in course of construction was de- 
molished bj' a cyclone Ajjril 24, 1868. He took 
hold of affairs with the characteristic energy which 
had led to his being sent to this field of labor, and 
not only ri'built the church edifice, but also erected 
a residence and started a boys' pai-ochial school 
which has since become an educational |)Ovver in 
that city. When the new See of Peoria was fiu'med 
he returned to his native diocese and took charge 
of the church in Rock Island, 111., filling the place 
of the Rev. Joseph P. Roles, who went on a tiip 
to the Holy Land. While occupying the temiior- 
ar\' vacancy he was instrumental in the erection of 
churches at Edgingtou and I're-emption, Mercer 
County. 

In 1875, Father Mc(!ovcrn was sent to Lake 
Forest, Lake County, where he built a church and 
parsonage and reorganized the parish, so that on 
his departure to another field of labor he had one 
of the most tlourislung churches in the diocese. 
Lockport became his home in 1880, and here he 
has again founded a school which is rapidly gaining 
in uumeriL'.al strength and reputation. He has the 
second largest church in Will County, a fine parish 
residence that he bought for the church, a devoted 
people, and his influence is unbounded. 

Rev. Dr. McGovern is a man of deep theological 
knowledge, classical information and literary taste, 
and has pleasant ways which gain good will and 
prepossess strangers in his favor. As an author 



:i •_'(•. 



roUTUAIT AND BIOCiKAlMIICAK AMUIM. 



Ill' Im.i gained wido i , In* cliiof work wliicli he 

li'is wrilton lu-iiiK tlio lift- of |{isln»|> McMulU'ii, i>f 
Diivpiiporl, lowu. which iniik.s hi;;li anion;,' liio- 
^riiphicnl wiiliii^^s. ilc has always huvn a lihiTal 
j'ontiihiitor lo tho |>ulilic; and Catholic prt-ss. and 
■nam to wlioiii his voice is iiiiraiiiilinr know iiiiii 
well throii^^h iiis writings. 



♦r^*' 



•>-r#-:- 



<y^ '. 




RANKLIN r. KHEV. Among the younger 
bubiness men of Jolict, honorahlc mention 
/1\ shoulil bo ;,'ivcn lo the above-named ficn- 

tlcnmn, wiio lias been identified with the coal busi- 
ness for a number of years and who has been 
prospered in iiis worldly affnirs by reason of his 
square dealing, excellent jiiilgment, and wise man- 
agement. He does a business of from *8,000 to 
*lit,000 a year. 

The Frey family is traced back to Switzerland 
whence the gramlfather of our subject came to 
America at the age of seventeen years. lie was a 
tanner by trade. To him, at his liome in Pennsyl- 
vania, was born a son, J. II., who after becoming 
a man turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. 
,1. II. Frej- married Margaret Ilartong, who was 
also a native of the Keystone State, and in an early 
day they took up their abode in Ohio. In 18.'i6, 
Ihey came to Illinois, locating in Plainficld, this 
county, whence they removed to Joliet in 1858. 
Mr. Frey had kept the toll gate on the old plank 
road, prior to his removal to this city. To this 
couple nine children were born, their record being 
as follows: Mrs. Fiannali Peddicord lives in West- 
ern Kansas; Daniel K., in Dakota; .'^.•imuel M. died 
in Iowa in June, 1876; ()uri;»sdietl at Camp Doug- 
las, III., in 18fi3, being a member of the Sixty- 
fourth Illinois Infantry; Byron S. lives at Lock- 
port; Adam tlicd in infancy; F. P. is the next in 
order of birth; Mrs. Ilattie M. Mapps, lives in 
York, Neb.; Anna still remains at home. 

The gentleman with whose name we introduce 
this sketch was born in Manchester, Ohio, Septcm- 
lier 29, 18."»2, but passed his boyhood in .loliet, 
having been broiiirbt thither at the age of four 



years. In the common .-iImm.N i > , i 

erbicalion and from his worthy parents the moral 
teaching and liabitM of industry which have been 
practiced in his business and social career, lie 
started out in the coal trade by entering the em- 
ploy of .1. *l. A. King, for whom he worked liy the 
monlli until 1874. when he opened an ollice for 
himself. Since that dale he has continued a 
scari'cly interrupted busines.'i. 

The lirst Piesidcntial ballot of .Mr. Frey was 
cast for r. S. Cirant. and his political allegiance has 
ever been given to the Iie|.ublican party. He was 
nfiminated for Assistant Supervisor in 1890, 
against his protest, as he had no desire to enter 
public life. His talents are made available in so- 
cial and religious matters, and he is Financial .Sec- 
retary of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America, 
anil Treasurer of Krwin Council. No. 1 10. of the Na- 
ti(mal Union. He is also .Secretary of the Presby- 
terian Sunday-school, a position he has held eight 
3-ears, and is numbered among the active members 
of the church. 

The lady whom Mr. Frey wooed and won for his 
wife, was in her girlhood Miss Minnie M. Hicks. 
.She is a daughter of S. ,J. Hicks who now resid»!S 
in Oshkosh, Wis., and is an estimable lady with 
cultured mind, useful knowledge an<t pleasing man- 
ners. The rites of wedlock were celebrated .luly 31, 
1881, and four bright children have come to bless 
the union. They are named res|K>ctfully — Chester 
C, Edna M.. Lulu M. and Klla Kue. 

HOMAS W. ItUOWN. As a sagacious, 
\ practical, industrious farmer, the subject of 
^ this biographical review has pl.iyed an im- 
portant part in the development of the rich agri- 
cultural interest,s of Plainfield Township, and hi> 
well-ordered farm, with its neat buildings and well- 
I tillcfl fields, compare favorably with the finest in 
I this part of the county. Mr. Hrown. though 
I looking after his agricultural affairs himself, does 
not occupy his farm but makes his home in the 
I village, where a few years ago he piirchiiseil a fine 
residence, which is built in a uuxlern and pretty 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



327 



stylo of urcliilectiu'e, and is vvull and taslefully 
furnislied. 

Our sulijcct was boni in Fifeshire, Scotland, 
April 1 I, 18.'W. His father, John Brown, is thought 
to have been a native of Dumfrieshire. his fa- 
ther of the same name, being also a native of Scot- 
land, and of Scotch ancestry. He was a weaver and 
followed that trade the greater part of liis life. 
The father of our subject was reared to agricultu- 
ral pursuits, but for a number of years after mar- 
riage, operated a stationary engine in a spinning 
factory. He continued to reside in the land of his 
birth until 11^53, when with his wife and thirteen 
children he embarked for America in the month of 
August. Landing at New York he came directly 
to Chicago and after a short stay there, came to 
Will County, and settled in Wheatland Township, 
where he purchased a tract of land a few acres of 
which were broken and scTme small buildings were 
on the place. He was actively engaged in the 
management of that farm until his life was brought 
lo a close in 1885, and thus passed away one of the 
worthy pioneers of the county. The maiden name 
of the mother of our subject was Lumsdale. She 
never came to America but died in her native 
Scotland, in 1849. The father married a second 
time. His wife survives him and still resides on 
the homestead in Wheatland Township. Mr. Brown 
was the father of eight children by his first mar- 
riage and five by the latter. 

The son, of whom we write, received his educa- 
tion in the schools of his native shire. He was 
fourteen years old when he accompanied his pa- 
rents to America, and lie commenced life here as a 
farm laborer, working by the month. After a few 
years he returned home to assist his father in the 
management of his farm and remained with him 
until his marriage, when he rented land in Kendall 
Count}'. So well was he prospered that in 1870, he 
was enabled to become a land-owner himself, pur- 
chasing in that year sixty-two acres of land in 
Plaiufiekl Townsiiip and a few years later, buying 
the seventy acres adjoining, and subsequently be- 
coming the possessor of fifty acres more, so that 
his farm now contains one hundred and eighty- two 
acres of unsurpassing fertility wliose improvements 
are of the best. He did not, however, settle on his 



farm but lived in Kendall County until 1888, rtheii 
he removed to PlainHehl to his present fine resi- 
dence. 

Air. Brown has been twice married. In 1859, 
he was wedde<l to Marian Vandervort, a native (jf 
Vermont, and a daughter of John ^'andervort. 
The following four children were born of that 
marriage: Morian Elizabeth, Silas A., Florence K. 
and Dilroy M. Our subject's second marriage oc- 
curred in 1879, when he was united to Miss Han- 
nah M. Smith, a native of Kickapoo, 111. Her fa- 
ther, Daniel Smith, was bom in Kent, England, 
and came to America with his wife and three chil- 
dien. He resided in New York for a time and 
then, coming to Illinois, was a pioneer of Peoria 
County. About 1842, he caroe to Will County 
and bought a farm in Plainfield Township, on 
which he resided until his mortal career was 
brought to a close in 1863. The maiden name of 
his wife was Mary Bachelor. She was born in Eng- 
land and died in Plainfield. 

Mr. Brown is a self-made man in the truest sense 
of the word ; with sound understanding developed 
by intelligent reading and careful observation, 
a stable character and industrious habits, he is 
an influence for good in this community \vith 
whose social, religious, and material interest he is 
associated. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and l)y their conduct 
in the every day affairs of life show themselves to 
be sincere Christians. A citizen of public spirit 
and alwaj's evincing a general interest in the wel- 
fare of the township and county, our subject inter- 
ests himself in politics and is a devoted follower of 
the Republican party. 



70HN H. OHLENDORF, .Tu. The late John 
Ohlendorf was a leading farmer of Crete 
Townshi[) and quite an old settler therein. 
/ He was a native of Hesse, German^', born 
September 16, 1827, and died at his home in this 
township. May 25, 1888. He was the oldest of 
five sons and two daughters born to his parents, 
and grew to man's estate in his native land. He 



r^L'H 



I'ORTUArr AND BIOratA I'll 1 CAT. ALBUM. 



ri'oeivcd .1 jjood |iriu*licnl c*<liiciili(iii in llic Knllici- 
litiiil, wliciu-o, ill IH.')2. he ciiiiio to Aiiioi'icii Willi 
till' other uii'IiiIh'Is of the parentnl fiiiiiily. Stiil- 
iiig from llifiiiorhiivuii in .liini-. they spout seven 
weeks on the itriiiy fleep, fiiiiilly Iniulinj' in New 
York City, ami, im n imiled fiiinily, eoniiiijj west 
to t'hiiajjo, 111. Sooii afterward they all eaiiie to 
to tlii« county. 

John Henry Olili'iidorl, Sr., was reared to farm 
pursuits ill hi^ native liesse. and was also a local 
ofHcer there for some years, lie m.-iriied a lle.ssinn 
lady, Miss Sophia Senile. When lliey arriveil in 
this eounty, he purchased one hundrcil nnd sixty 
nercs of land on sections 31 nnd 35, Crete 'i'own- 
ship, paying; i<l.lOti for the same. It was mostly 
wild land at the time of purchase. There tin; 
parents of our subject liveii for some years, when 
they purchased another farm and ^nvc their ori*:!- 
innl estate to their ehlest son. 'I'hey suhseijuently 
gave their second farm to their second son, and coii- 
tiimcd this process until all Iheir sons were oslali- 
lislied in good homes, when they iiiaile their home 
with their youngest son, August. There the 
father died .July 11, 1H><2. at the advancerl age of 
seventy-eight years. Ilis widow is yet living, still 
making her home with her son. August. She is 
now nearly seventy -eight years of age. She is a 
inemher of the Lutheran t'liurch. of which her hus- 
band was also a member, .and like his, her life ha.s 
been characterized by industry and piet^'. 

Kealizing that it is not good for man to live 
alone, he of whom we write led to the hymeneal 
altar Miss Wilhelmina Arkenlierg. the marriage 
rites lieing performed at the home of the bride in 
this township. She was born in the Kingdom of 
Hanover, Germany, November IG, 1835, and is the 
oiliest child of William and Dora ((lisika) Arken- 
berg. Her father was .-i shepherd in (lerinany, that 
having been the avocation of the family for several 
genernticins. After tiie birth of their four sons and 
two (laughters. .Mr. and Mrs. Arkenlierg emigrated 
to America, sailing from Bremcrhavcn l<j New 
York. They came at once to Chicago and later to 
this county, this being in 1H53. Mr. Arkeuberg 
purchased a farm near Goodenow. Crete Town- 
ship, making of it an estate of considerable value. 
Tlure he brcitlied his last in 1 HhO, at the agi- of 



seventy-two years. Ilis wido»v departed this life 
four years later when seventy-one years of age. 
Both were members of the Lutheran Church. 

The wife of our subject having been seventeen 
years of age when she ac(!oinpaiiieil her parents to 
America, receive<| the greater part of her educa- 
tion in her native clime. \Vith the devotion of a 
true wife, she iaboretl hard with her husband to 
make a home for their family, proving her elUciency 
in household duties, and as a (roiinselor and sym- 
]iathi/iiig helpmate wherever woman's work is 
needed. After the death of her husband, she t<Mik 
up her ri'sideiice in Crete, where she is still living, 
with her youngest child. She is the mother of 
three children — Henry W., whose biography occii- 
|)ies a page in this volume; Amelia, wife of Henry 
Triebold, tlu'ir home being on a farm in Crete 
Township; ami Kegiiia, who is her mother's com- 
panion. She is a member of the Lutheran Church, 
to which her children also belong, and with which 
her deceased hiisb.-ind was idcntilied. The life of 
Mr. Ohlendorf was one of persevering imlustry, 
neighborly kindness, and uiia.ssiiming devotion to 
the principles in which he believed, nnd his death 
removed from the township a citizen whoso worth 
was unquestioned. Besides leaving a good home 
to his heirs, he left to them that best of all inheri- 
tances, n name nnd memory which can be thought 
upon with loving reverence. 




^E0K(;E K. SHAW, one of the most pros- 
perous farmers of I'lainfield, has lieen a 
resident of this township for more than 
thirty years, ami h.as been closely associated with 
its agricultural development, helping to make Will 
County one of the finest farming regions in the 
.State, and during this time he has acquired a 
goodly amount of property and has placed him- 
self among the substantial citizens of the com- 
munity. 

Mr. Shaw is a native of Klizabethtown. N. .1., 
bom February 2. 1HI5, a son of Klijah Shaw, 
who is thought to have been born in New York 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



329 



State. The latter leai'iied the trade of a cooper 
and followed that falling in Cohimbia and IJutchess 
Counties. At his death, in 1822, in the town of 
Milan, a useful and honorable life was brought 
to a close. The maiden name of the mother of 
our subject was Catherine Altiiouse. .She is thought 
to have been born in Dutchess County and spent 
her last years with a daughter in Westchester 
County, N. Y. There were seven children born 
to the parents of our subject of whom tHe fol- 
lowing six were reared: Mary, Jane, CJeorge E., 
Elijah, Pluebe and Helen. The mother of the sub- 
ject of this sketch was married a second time, 
becoming the wife of George Shaffer and they 
reared one daughter, Louisa. 

Our subject was but seven years old when he 
had the misfortune to lose his father and one year 
later he went to live with a farmer, Philip I. 
Zink. He was lired to agricultural pursuits, re- 
ceiving in return for his services his board and 
clothes. At the age of twenty-one he started out 
for himself, with empty pockets and in debt for the 
cloth to make the suit of clothes that he wore. A 
young man of his willingness and capability to 
work found but little difficulty in obtaining a situ- 
ation, and he was soon engaged on a farm in 
Dutchess County, his wages being $12 per month 
for eight months in the 3'ear, and during the win- 
ter season he was obliged to work for $8 i)er 
month. He labored very hard and i)rudently 
saved his earnings, and the following spring in- 
vested a part of them in a tract of three hundred 
acres of wild timber land in Cochecton, Sulli- 
van Count}', in part payment for it giving eight 
months more work. He did not locate on his pur- 
chase at that time but continued working for a 
few years, until he was enabled to buy two hun- 
dred acres adjoining it, and after marriage he 
bought a house and three acres of land in Stan- 
ford, Dutchess County. The following year (1847) 
he sold that place and went to Sullivan County 
intending to settle on his land there, but before 
building, he embraced a fine opportunity to sell a 
part of his land for an improved farm in the 
town of Bethel, the same county, and two ^-ears 
after that he bought the remainder of the first 
tract he had previously purchased. Hearing much 



of the wonderful fertility of the soil of the Prai- 
rie State and the various other advantages offered 
to the pr.aetical, wide-awake farmer, he determined 
to tr}' life here, and selling his farm in New York, 
he came to this State and two years later pur- 
chased the farm where he now resides. Eighty 
acres of this is located on a part of section 35, 
and he has besides another eighty-acre tract on 
the same section, and eleven and one-half acres 
of valuable timber land on section 27. In the 
years of hard labor that followed his settlement 
here Mr. Shaw devoted himself assiduously to 
the work of his farm, and has brought about a 
great change in everj' respect, erecting roomy, 
convenient buildings, suitable for every purpose, 
cultivating- the land after the best methods and 
providing himself with the best machinery, so 
that his place may be regarded as a model in its 
way. 

Mr. Shaw has been married three times. His 
first wife, to whom he was united in 1844, was 
Catherine -E. Schoonover. She was a native of 
Dutchess County, N. Y.,and a daughter of Richard 
and Ann Schoonover. Her death, October 31, 
1850, deprived him of a good wife. He was next 
married, September 11, 1851, to Mary A. Colsen, 
a native of Ireland and a daughter of William 
and Ann Colsen. After a pleasant wedded life of 
nearly thirteen years he was deprived of her assist- 
ance by death Jul}' 10, 1864. To them had been 
born three children, namely: William E., George 
H. and Lewis. William married Martha Kennelly, 
and has three children— Ella, Margaret and Lester; 
George II. married Estella O'Strander and has one 
child, Ethel. 

The marriage of our subject to his [iresent wife 
was solemnized May 16,1809, her maiden name was 
Anna Coon, and she was born in Milan, Dutchess 
County, N. Y. Iler father, Philip A. Coon, is sup- 
posed to have been born in Columbia County, 
N. Y., and his father, John Coon, was a farmer 
and died in Johnstown, Montgomery Count}', N.Y_ 
Mrs. Shaw's father was also a farmer and at one 
time owned a farm in Milan. He came to Illinois 
with Sirs. Shaw and died at her home in 1871. 
The maiden name of his wife was Hannah Link, 
and she was a native of Milan. Her father, John 



:i;5() 



I'OKTKAIT AND lUOGRAl'HICAI- ALBUM. 



I. ink, is .sii|i|)0!<('il til liiivo lifi-ii liorii llii-re, nml to 
linvi- Ihtii u ilfsci'iiiliinl (if (uTiiian nntvslry. Ilu 
I'arrifil un furniiiiL: in thai l<iwii milil liis dralli. 
Mrs. SliHw's miillici- (lii'il in Milan alMuil IH'iM. 

Mr. .Sliaw is .•! slurdv ri'iirrsi-nlalivc of our si'lf- 
niailL' nii-n, as, licj,Mnnin;,' lift' in i«ivcrty, lie iia.s 
workcil his way up to a position of I'oniparativu 
wi-altli all tlirou*r|i his own ffTorls, he haviiii; lucii 
wi'll i'()'.iippi'(l for the slru^'{,'li' with i'niTf;y. ik'lir- 
niination, ami a j;ii<icl capacity for skillful lahor, 
liosiilos being a man of steady liahits. thorough 
I'onseientiousness and unswerving integrity, lie 
and his wife are sincere rtMigious people, and the 
Congregational t'hureli finds in llieni two of its 
most faithful nieniliei-s. lie was a Whig in former 
days, hut since the formation of the Kepulilican 
party has been one of its most consistent sup- 
porters. 

KTKU I'. ADI.KK. This gcnllenian is 
y, numbered among the prominent citizens 
of .loliet, where lie lins been engaged in 
business for a number of years, manifest- 
ing a degree of ability and enterprise that has 
giTen him a high standing in business circles and 
wins for him a nourishing trade. lie is a member 
of the firm of Adler lirolhers, stock dealers and 
shippers, and wholesale antl retail dealers in meats. 
Their market is situated at No. 112 Kxchange 
."street, in the National IJKick; and their liusiness 
of shipping slock to the Kast necessitates the buy- 
ing by wholesale in Kansas City. Mo., and yarimis 
other points in the West. 

The subject of this sketch owns considerable 
land in the townsliip and has charge of the estflle, 
whereon horses, mules, cattle, and hogs are raised 
in considerable numbers. lie is knotrn as a gen- 
eral farmer in a large way, while he Ims also at- 
tendeil to the shipping of the stock of the linn, 
simply overseeing the business. 

Mr. Adler was born in .loliet Township, this 
county, October H, 1812, being a son of Mielmcl 
Afller, whose history will be found in the sketch 
of .I.acob Adler on another page of this Ai.ia'M. 
lie grew to the age of nineteen years on the farm. 




after which he lenrnc<l the traile of a shocmnker in 
the city of .lolie'. After mastering his Irmle, he 
engaged in the clothing busiiu'ss, continuing in it 
several years, but in iMCiM beginning the meat liusi- 
ness. lie bought with his brother Jacob, having 
charge of the market, and since they extended 
their business to include the buying and shipping 
<if stock, he has spent much of his time in Knnsas 
City. .Mo., or in various parts of the Stnte of Kan- 
sas, iiflerested with his brother-in-law, K. (I. Uap- 
|)le. lie has an interest in the building in which 
the maiket is carried on. 

The marriage of Mr. Adler t<iok place at the 
bride's home, in Joliet, in ISC'). She was born in 
Ohio, in l.HI t. to .loseph .ind Kli/.abelh Flick and 
was christened .Mary \. Her father w.as a native 
of Alsace, when it was a department of France, 
and her mother was born in IVunsylvania, her 
maiden name having been .Scuter. The family 
came to this county in 18.'i3, and .Mr. Flick en- 
gaged in the hotel business in the same house the 
family now occupies, lie died in 187^, leaving a 
widow and four daughters, three of whom now 
survive, two being at home. 

To Mr. AtUer and his estimable wife six children 
have been born, three of whom are living. They 
are named respectively: Angeline. l.iz/Jeand I'eler 
M. .1. The parents belong to St. John's Catholic 
Church and stand well in the esteem of their ae- 
quaintances. their characters anil intelligence ren- 
dering them useful and agreeable members of 
society. 



^ IIAKI-KS C. McCLAl (;1IUY, A. H. This 



jli -^ young gentleman, who is now filling the 
^iiJf^ position of Chief Kngineer of the Illinois 
.Slate Penitentiary, at .loliet, is a man of more 
than ordinary ability and strength and nobility of 
character, lie was the recipient of excellent nd- 
vanUiges duiing his boyhood and youth, made a 
good use of them, and possesses a mind well 
stored with useful knowledge and capable of grasp- 
ing with firmness and with acute perception, sub- 
jects brought before him for consiileration. With 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



331 



this, he has firm principles .and agreeable, courte- 
ous manners. 

Tlie subject of this brief biographical notice 
was born at Carthage, Hancock County, April 7, 
1863, while his fattier was in the army. When 
eleven years old he came to Joliet with his parents, 
finishing his education at Knox College and being 
graduated witli the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 
the class of '85. He then entered the machine 
shops of the Ulinois ISteel Corap.any in order 
to acquire the trade of a machinist, which he 
completed in that estr.blishment. He was after- 
ward connected witli the firm of E. R. Brainard 
& Co., in their maciiine department in the peniten- 
tiiry, leaving their employ November 1, 1889, .it 
which time he was appointed chief engineer of the 
prison. He is a member of tlie Lincoln Club, an 
organization of young Republicans, and belongs to 
the Central Presbyterian Church. 

At the residence of W. C. Demmond, of this 
city, June 28, 1888, the marriage ceremony was 
performed which united the subject of this sketch 
and Miss Helen A., daughter of the host. The 
bride was born in this city, whicii has ever been her 
home, and where she has made many friends by her 
o-enial manners, intelligence and estimable charac- 
ter. To her and her husband one child has been 
born, who bears the name of Helen B. 

Maj. Robert W. McClatighry, the father of our 
sul)ject, was Warden of the penitentiary in Joliet 
for fifteen years. He w.-is born in Fountain Green, 
Hancock County, July 22, 1831), and remained at 
home on a farm until 18.")G. He then entered Mon- 
mouth College, being graduated in 1 800, and re- 
maining in the institution one year as Professor of 
Latin. Returning to Hancock County in 1861, 
he settled at Carthage and became editor of the 
Carthage Kopublicaii. In response to President 
Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand men, he 
enlisted, in August, 1862, as a private in the One 
Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. He was 
chosen Captain of Company li, and in November 
following was elected Major of the regiment. He 
particii)at,ed in all the campaigns in the Gulf de- 
partment, which resulted in the capture of Vicks- 
burg, and in all tliose in Western Louisiana until 
June, 1804, when he was transferred to the pay 



department as Paymaster and assigned to duty at 
Springfield, 111. He remained thereuntil October, 
1805, wlien he was mustered out of the service. 

Having been elected Clerk of Hancock County. 
Maj. McClaughry at once assumed the duties of 
that office, which he held until 1869. During the 
next two years he was engaged in the stone quarry 
business in Sonora and furnished stone for the rail- 
road Inidge over the Missi8si[)pi at Keokuk,and also 
for the Government canal at the same place, and 
for the foundations of the new State Ca))itol at 
Springfield. In 1871 he went to St. Louis, Mo., to 
take charge of the St. Genevieve quarries, but the 
following year, his health failing, he returned to 
Monmouth, 111., and entered the office of Judge 
Glenn, to attend to a portion of his business. There 
he remained until August 1, 1874, when he was 
appointed Warden of the penitentiary of this 
place. He was married, in 1802, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Madden, of Monmouth, and has five children 
living. 

^^- 



nICHOLS D. DYER. Tlie flourishing city 
) of Joliet contains many business houses in 
; whose management great tact is displayed, 

and in which a trade is carried on that gives circu- 
lation to thousands of dollars per annum. One of 
these flourishing establishments is that of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, who is a dealer in dry-goods. 

Fifteen years after the Pilgrims of the "May- 
flower" had landed on Plymouth Pock, the first 
record of William and Mary Dyer, who were first 
cousins, is found in Boston. Like many others in 
that day they had left the refinements of an Eng- 
lish home, to brave the discomforts of the Western 
wilderness in order to enjoy the blessing of relig- 
ious liberty. William Dyer was led by the elo- 
quence of Roger Williams to espouse the cause of 
the Baptists, whereui)on he was disfranchised and 
like many others compelled to leave the colony. 
His wife walked out of a meeting of Puritans in 
comjjany with Mrs. Hutchinson. The banished 
Dyers bought tlie little isle — Rhode — Island — then 
called Aquidunk or Isle of Peace. Of the new 
colonv who settled '-Little Khody," William Dyer 



832 



POKTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



wns solci'tcil ns Clerk, snlwi-qui'iilly bncoiiiiiig Uc- 
ftudiT. C'k'ik of llu- As.seiiililv ami Alto m'y-<M'ii- 
(•r:il. His wifi- titiil mlliiTi'il to tin- (^imkLT iK-lii-f 
iilllioii^li o|i|(Osc<l to till' spirit of iiiloli-rHm-f 
cliiuafti-ribiiiv; that IkmIv, ami osiiwiallv. tin- im- 
JII-.1 law of baiiislimi'iil. UeslU'ss uiiil»-r it aiwl 
tiniily liciicviii^j .hIiu liail a iiiissioii to perforin, she 
ri'turiu'd to Massarliusitls to sociire a reforiDaliou. 
Ill this she f'liled. ami was thereforr a iiiarlyr to 
her reli';ioiis heiief. ami was liroii^ihl to tliej^allows 
for exeeiilioii as one sowiiij; the seeds of sedition, 
\t\ ilireelion of Cov. Kiidieolt. 'riiniiigh the inler- 
veiilKiii of a son she was spareil, only to ajiaiii re- 
tni'ii to the same mission anil liecoine a martyr l<» 
her faith, t^iiilen numl)er of the proireny of these 
Puritans have lieeome noted in American history. 
N. J). I)\cr, of whom we write, is one of llie lineal 
deseenilanls. 

Thi' sulijeel of thjs hio^raphieal nutiee was Ixirn 
in l.exinijton, Ohio, .lanuary II, l«ll. lie is the 
i'ij;hth in !i family of five sons and four daughters, 
liorii to Daniel II. and Phila ( Heaversluek ) Dyer, 
natives of NCrmunt. and is llic only snrvi\ or ex- 
cept his sister, Mrs. I'hila .M. Watson, of losva City, 
Iowa. I'ntil thirltHMi years of ajre lit^ w.'is with his 
p!irelit{< in his native villajje, after whuh In- aeeoni- 
panied them to Callaway (.'onnty, .Mo., where his 
father followeil farming. 'The !:id was e<lnc!ited in 
the coinmon schools and, his father having lost his 
Mifsouri property, in his youth liegaii working liy 
the month in Iowa, lie continued his laliors on a 
farm there untd the winter of I 800, when lie taught 
school near Plainlichl. 111. In IHC-J, he entered the 
Comniis.sary Department of the army at Pilot 
Knol), Mo., under his uncle, C'ol. George Dyer. 

Six months later young Dyer went to Farmiiig- 
l<»ii. Mo., and raised a company of Union refugees, 
wh(»m he acconi|)anied to St. Louis, joining Frank 
P. Hlair's brigade as a .Second Lieutenant, 'i'hey 
were sent to join .Sherman, anil took (tart in the en- 
gagement at Chickasaw IJayou, where the Pnion 
forces were sadly defeated. They then went to 
Arkansas Post, where the tide turned and they 
captured nil the artillery. After wintering at Mil- 
liken's BencL where a portion of their time was 
spent in digging the canal in ^lie vain endeavor to 
make the Mississippi run up hill, thev were scut to 



Vickshiirg mid bore nn nctive part in the Hiegc of 
that cit\ . 'riiere Mr. Dyer acted as Capl,-iin. Prior 
to this he had lieeii made an aide on Gen. Carr's 
stafT. with the rank of Lieutenant, but hud declined 
the appnintincnt becniise the lH>ys hnil insisted that 
as he had started out with them he should remain 
in their company. The next prominent point at 
which the young soldier wiw found was .lackson. 
.Mi.ss., after the capture of which he took part in 
other conilicts, among them being the noted eiignge- 
incnt at Lookout .Mountain, where iiiuny of our 
brave boys fought above the clouds. Following 
this came the battles at Uinggold. Dallas, Peach 
'Iree Creek :ind Hig Shanty. ISreaking down in 
health while en route to Atlanta. Captain Dyer was 
dischargeil .S.-plcmber 4, lf<lil, on a surgeon's cer- 
tilicate of disability. 

'i'he succeeding two years were spent li\ Mr. 
Dyer in recovering his health, and he then engaged 
in the hardware business in Chicago, continuing it 
a year, lie then went to Iowa, where in the town 
of Atalissa. Seplcinber 12. IMt'.T, he w.as united in 
marri.'ige with Miss Amanda .M., daughter of 
Thomas Lewis. The same year he went to St. 
Louis, Mo., where he receivcl the appi*iiilnient of 
Deputy City Collector, the place being secured for 
him by fJov. Fletcher, and hehl .a little over n 
year. On account of his wife's health they re- 
tunied 111 Iowa, where he was engaged in the mer- 
cantile business until iHj.j. at which lime he 
reiuove<l lo.Ioliet. His wife was reiiKjved by death 
.lune '20, 1870, leaving one child, George L., who 
is now with his father. .Sinc-e coining to .loliet .Mr. 
Dyer has followed Ihe diy-goods business. 

On May (>. 187:!. Mr. Dyer contracted a second 
matrimonial ailianee. taking for his companion 
Miss .luliette Hardy, with whom he live<l happily 
until December 27, 1K7G, when she brenlhed her 
last. She w;is a daughter of Otis Hardy, iif .loliet. 
The union was blessed by the birth of one child, 
Florence .1. On April 10. 1878, Mr. Dyer was 
again married, his bride being Miss Amelia A. 
Hardy, who has borne him two chililren, now liv- 
ing — F.mma Phila and I^Iarion A. 

The first Presidential ballot of .Mr. Dyer was 
cist for Abraham Lincoln, and his allegiance h.-u 
has always been given to the Hepiiblican party. In 




f*^ 







// 



C^i^'^yi/^ylj^.^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



335 



llic infancy of lliat political organization liis fatlicr 
and lirotlieis dosireil to vote for (Icn. Fremont, 
but dare not do so in the sectif)n of Missouri in 
wiiieh tliey lived. Mr. Dyer belongs to tiic(iran(l 
Aimy of the He|)ublic. 



-m-- 




ATKICK W.DlINNK.l'astorof St. I'atrick's 
Church in .loliet, allhougii comparatively 
^ young holds a high position in the ranks of 
the ('atholic |)riesthood as one who is do- 
ing r.;nch to advance the interests of the church in 
various ways. To him are due the great improve- 
ments around tlie edifice in which his charge 
meets. Personally he is a genial, wlioJe-souled 
man, very companionable, and not only dearly 
loved by his [wople but liigldy respected by the 
community in general for his good qualities of 
mind and heart. His intellect has been thoroughly 
cultured and iiis mind is stored with learning. In 
charitable work he is ever ready to lend a helping 
hand and the members of his • own charge are 
treated with the greati^sl consideration regarding 
llu'ir physical needs, as well as the wants of their 

^OMls. 

Father Dunne is of mixed ancestry, his father, 
Kdward Dunne, having been a native of Ireland, 
and his mother, Mary Finn, of Prince Kdward Is 
land. Edvvard Dunne came to Prince Edward Is- 
l.md in 1819, and 1851 went to Watertown, Wis., 
where he built the first church and first bridge in 
that place, the latter being over the Rock River. 
He had been reared to carpentering, his six broth- 
ers following the same trade or conibining it with 
ship-carpentering. The seven Dunne brothers 
came to America, and two — William and Patrick — 
are now living in Chicago. T'he yoimgest brother, 
Dennis, was a man of wide reputation and in'gh 
character, wlio became X'icar General of the Chi- 
cago Diocese. He departed his life in 1868. The 
father of our subject died in Joliet, July 2, 1888. 
His last work was remodeling St. Patrick's Church, 
for which he had drawn all the plans and specifica- 
tions and which he personally sni)erintended. His 
widow i.s .still living, making her home in Chicago, 



where a numljcr of her children reside. To Kdward 
and Mary Dunne nine daughters and six sons were 
born, ten of the number being yet alive. These 
all live in Chicago except Patrick and his sister 
Catherine who is with him in .Joliet. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Walei- 
town, Wis., March 4, 1852. His education was 
begun in the College of the Christian Brothers in 
Chicago. In the spring of 1868, lie entered St. 
Charles College, at Kllicott City, Md., from which 
institution he was graduated in 1874. Owing to 
sickness his studies were abandoned for a year, af- 
ter which he renewed them in St. Mary's Seminarj' 
at lialtimore. In that institution he remained four 
and a half years, completing the line of studies 
which fitted him to enter the priesthood. On De- 
cember 22, 187,'J, he was ordained and sent to St. 
Patrick's Church, Chicago, where he arrived two 
days later, celebrating his first mass at midnight of 
that same day. Father Dunne became the Assis- 
tant Pastor of St. Mary's Church in -loliet, Feb- 
ruary lo, 1880, retaining that |)osition until 
.January 29, 1886, when he was appointed to that 
which he now fills. Here he became the suc^eessor 
of Father Walter Power, who died Januarj' 27, 
and whose pastorate had extended through seven- 
teen years. 

In 1889, the Golden Jubilee of St. Patrick's 
Church was celebrated, the event being the grand- 
est that Joliet had ever seen in connection with 
Catholic church work. T'he occasion was one that 
will long be remembered, not only by those who 
adhere to the Catholic faith but by all who wit- 
nessed it. The Pontifical High Mass was celebrated 
by Bishop Burke, of Cheyenne, and Arch-bishop 
Riordan, of San Francisco, the latter a cousin of 
Father Dunne, delivered the sermon. 

A lithographic portrait of F'ather Dunne appears 
in connection with his biographical sketch. 



Vwp^RKDIiRICK IIASKMAN. Among the young 

f—^ farmers of the county a high place is meri- 

/1\ ted by the gentleman above named, who 

successfully operates a tract of land in Washington 



33U 



PORTRAIT AND HIOORAIMIIOAL ALBUM. 



Towiislii|». Tlii« fsUiU- <•< iiipiisis two IiiiiuIiimI 
lu-res of cxiTlliMil IhikI mitli-r i-iiri.-fiil iiiid iiiU'lli- 
jji'iil tillngi-, Hiiil liiis l>t'i;ii lilt; lioiiiu of our »iilijc<-t 
from his infniuy. For six yeiirs lie Inis bcoii tlie 
owner of llie fnrin lliiil wjks piirclmsfd 1)> lii.s fnllier 
in a rnw statu, iiml \>y liini unit liis sons broiiylit to 
H flno loiiililion of improvi'ineiit and culliviilion. 
I'lie work hegiin by the parent is iilily eonliniu-il 
by the sou, wlio is inlelli},'enl. imhistrious and 
tlirifly. Ho was born near Kii;;le I^ake, in this 
township, August 12, 1H02, anil is tiie youngest 
child of his parents and the only one bt)rn in Amer- 
ica, lie was but a year olil when lie came to his 
present home, where he grew to manhood, was 
educated and bctran his own career. 

The father of our subject is .lohn Ilaseman, who 
was bom in Sliambourg, Lcipsic, Germany, .lanu- 
ary 2.'), 181 I. He married theilnughtor t>f a neigh- 
boring family — Miss Mary I'auls — who like him. 
self had bi-en reared un<ler the care of e.\cellent 
parents. After their uiarriaire Mr. and Mrs. John 
llaseiiian lived on a farm iii the Katlierlaiiil until 
after the birth of seven children. 'I'liey then set 
sail for .\iiicric:i, leaving Hreuierhaven, May 1, 
18(10, and landing in New York City Iwcnty-threc 
d.iys later. The family came to Chicago, 111., and 
thence to Kagle L.ake, this county, where they 
rented a farm, upon which lliey lived for three 
years, anil where our subject first saw the light of 
day. 

In 1803 the fatlier purchased one hundred and 
twenty acres on section 8, Washington Township, 
the iie.vt year adding an eighty-acre tract adjoin, 
ill"'. UlMjn this he put up good buildings, recliiim- 
ing the land from its primitive state and making a 
comfortable home in which to spend his declining 
years. lie is still living, making his home with 
our subject, and is smart and active for one of his 
years. lie lost his companion in March, 1881, she 
being then sixty ye.-irs old. .She was a lifelong 
meniber of the Lutheran Church, and conscien- 
tiously endeavored to fulfil the duties which de- 
volved upon her as wife, mother and member of 
society. Her husband belongs to the same church, 
and he too has endeavored to act well his part in 
life. 

Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Mnsc 



, man we note the following: Anna marrieil IK-iiry 
Walker, and died jit the birth of her first rliild; 
Henry married .Sophia Meyer, and died leaving 

I four children; Carolina became the wife of Will- 
iam .Meyer, and died leaving four children ; .lohn, 
Jr., who is now living on a farm in Will Township, 
this county, married Louisa Winsenburg; Engel is 
the wife of Charles Laiige, a farmer in Washington 
Township; Mary is the wife of William N'oltner, 
and they occupy a farm in Lake County. Ind.; 
Sophia married George A|>king, who is a farmer 
in Crete Township this county; Fred is the young- 
est son and child. 

The latter married Mary Thurner. who was born 
in Eagle Lake Village, December 18. 18C2. She 
received a good education, and acquired an excel- 
lent knowledge of the domestic aria and the kindly 
olfiees in which womanhooil excels. .She is the 
mother of four childieii, namely: Lena, Alviiia, 
Albert and Autli}'. She and her husband belong 
to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Hitseman, of this 
notice, is a sound Hepublican, :is are his father and 
brothers. 

The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
John (). and Kngel (Nieders) H.iseman, who spent 
their entire lives in Germany. They were consis- 
tent members of the Lutheran Church. The hus- 
band w:is a shoemaker by trade, and followed that 
occupaticui from his youth until his death, which 
occurred when he was about sixty-three years of 
age. 



\f()lLN FAHKNKR. M.I)., a rising young 
l>hysician and surgeon of .loliel, obtained 
his medical education in Chicago, 111., in 
/ the Bennett Meilical College, from which he 
w."« graduated in 1882. Immediately afterward 
he entered u|)on the practice of his profession in 
Joliel, where he is rapidly building up an extensive 
business. He obtained likewise an excellent liter- 
ary and classical education, with the Benedictines 
of Chicago. He is a member of the Illinois Eclec- 
tic Medical .Society. Close application to his 
studies while he had the opportunity, made him 
thoroughly acquainted with the duties of his chosen 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



337 



calling, wliilc he keeps himself posted upon the 
uielhods which are constantly being brought to tlie 
atlfntion of tlie profession. 

Dr. Fahrner was born on the otlier side of tlie 
Atlantic, in the town of Marienl)a(l, Austria, Feb- 
ruary 11, 1851, and is the son of Dr. Valentine and 
Mary Ann (Tauber) Fahrner, who were of German 
birth and ancestry. Valentine Fahrner, also a 
[iracticing physician of good repute, followed his 
profession in his native land several years, then 
came to America, in 1854, locating first in Chicago, 
lie followed his profession there until 1868, then 
roturnc<l to his native land. Finally he came back 
to America and located at Mokena, 111., where he 
sojourned two years. In 1871 he took up his resi- 
dence in ,Ioliet, and followed his practice in this 
city until his death, July 7, 1879. The wife and 
mother had preceded her husband to the silent 
land, her dcatli occurring May 28, 1873. They 
were tlie parents of throe children only— our sub- 
ject and his sister, Mrs. Lehner, of this county; 
Anna died aged twelve years. 

Dr. Fahrner was marriedDccember 28, 1875, in 
.loliet, to Miss Jlagdalena Kachelhoffer. Mrs. 
Fahrner was "oorn in Joliet, and by her union with 
our subject theue have been born seven children, 
viz.: John, Pius, Angela, W.alter, Alphonse, Char- 
lotte aiid Frederick. Their home is at No. 609 North 
Nicholson Street. Dr. Fahrner has his office at 
No. 200 North Center Street. 

Politically, the Doctor is a sterling Democrat, 
and he and his family are members of St. John's 
Catholic Church. 



► ^ ■' S ' l "** 



^f■ UDGI-: SOLOMON SIMMONS. No cili/.en 
of Plainfield has read more extensively, 
,, thought more deeply, or is belter posted 
i^j/i than the gentleman above named. His judg- 
ment is keen, and after once arriving at a conclu- 
sion he is very positive, and only serious thought 
and study of (uos and cons will change his ideas. 
Frank and open-hearted, all know the meaning of 
his words and actions and respect him accordingly, 
lie is liberal iu his religious belief, has never even 



touched tobacco with his fingers and has always 
I)eeii an ardent advocate of temperance and a be- 
liever in iirohibition, although not a third party 
man. 

Judge Simmons was born in Claverick, Colum- 
bia County, N. Y., March 18, 1812, and is a son of 
Solomon and Rebocci (Murray) Simmons. The 
father was born in Germany, January 31, 1762, 
and was one of nine sons and daughters born to 
William Simmons and his wife. The grandparents 
of our subject came to America about the time of 
the Revolutionary War, and the grandfather died 
in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, N. Y., at the great 
age of one hundred and five years. He owned a 
tract of land there on which he had been engaged 
in farming and to the same pursuit his son Solo- 
mon was reared. 

The father of our suliject was in his teens when 
he came to America with his parents, and in the 
Empire State when forty years of age he was mar- 
ried. His first purchase of real estate was a farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres at Rhinebeck and 
upon this estate he settled after his marriage. He 
purchased one hundred and thirty acres in Colum- 
bia County but lost it by a defective title. He 
continued to reside in Dutchess County until 182C, 
when he removed to Penfield, Monroe County, 
making that his place of abode until he was re- 
moved from the toils and cares of earth in Sep- 
tember, 1831. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Simmons 
comprised five children, viz: Daniel and Jacob 
(twins), Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Solomon, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. The mother married the second 
time and spent the latter years of her life in Pen- 
field, lireathing her last there in January, 1833. 
Her father, John Jlurray, served in the Revolu- 
tionary War and died in the service; he is believed 
to have been born in Ireland. 

The gentleman of whom we write was fourteen 
years old when his father removeii to Monroe 
County, N. Y., and there he began working on a 
farm at $5 per month. When sixteen years old 
he became a driver on the Erie Canal, following 
the tow path six months. For five years he con- 
tinued in the employ of the canal company, soon 
being placed in charge of a boat. In 1833 he went 



338 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



to Ohio and bought :i tiai't of titnl)cn- hind in 
Geauga County, noar liainhridge. There he Iniilt 
a log house; he began cuiting down the trees, grub- 
bing out the stumps and otherwise [jrepaving the 
soil for cultivation. During the year he cleared 
quite a tract, after which he sokl the place and 
bought another wliieli already liad quite a large 
clearing upon it. 

In 1836 Mr. Simmons began boating on the Ohio 
Canal, but after following that (jccupalion two 
seasons again turned his attention to the improve- 
ment of a farm. In 1839 he explored the north- 
ern part of Illinois, purchased eighty acres in 
Kane County' and a claim to eighty more of Gov- 
ernment land. It was his intention to remove 
hither that fall, but money due him could not be 
collected, and other misfortunes happening, he sold 
the land and remained in Ohio until 1845. Then, 
with his wife and children, he started westward, 
making an overland journey to Illinois, arriving at 
I'lainfield September 19. He purchased a tract of 
wild land in DuPage Township and two years later 
eighty acres of improved laud near Wheatland. 
To this estate he added until it amounted to two 
hundred and forty acres. This he operated until 
18G3, when he sold it, purchasing another farm 
which consisted of one hundred and ninety-two 
acres and cost $50 per acre. This valuable [)iece 
of property was his home until 1880, when he sold 
it and took up his abode in Plainlield. 

It will thus be seen that the persevering efforts 
of Judge Simmons resulted in the accumulation of 
a comfortable fortune and the ease to which he is 
entitled is made possible by his finances. For a 
time he followed in the footsteps of his father and 
voted the Democratic ticket, but on removing to 
Illinois he joined the anti-slavery forces and has 
been a Republican since the formation of the party. 
He has filled various offices of trust, and in every 
position has acted wisely and well. In 1853 he was 
elected County Judge, in which capaeiL\- he served 
one term. For six years he represented Wheatland 
Township on the County Board of Supervisors. In 
1862 Gov. Yates appointed him enrolling officer 
for Will County, and President Lincoln subse- 
quently appointed him to a similar position for the 
Sixth Congressional District where he superin- 



tended the draft. In looking back over a long 
life. Judge Simmons would no doul)t see wiiere he 
has made mistakes, ; s who can not, but he would 
have the pleasure of realizing that his aim has ever 
been towar<l that which is noble and that the ex- 
ample of his life is one woithy to be followed. 

On Jaiuiar}- C, 1833, the rites of wedlock were 
celebrated lietvveen Judge Simmons anil Miss Mary, 
(laughter of 'J'ifnay and Mary (Griswold) Nettle- 
ton. Mrs. Simmons was born in I'enfield Township, 
Monroe County, N. Y., possessed many virtues and 
made a happy home for her husband and children 
until called from thcra to the land beyond. She 
breathed her last April 28, 1886, deeply regretted 
by a host of friends. She had borne her husband 
ten children, whose record is as follows: Oliver is 
now living in Petrolia, Canada; Andrew, in Plain- 
field Township, this county; Henry E. was born 
January 20, 1850, and died in Kansas Ci!y in 1883, 
Solomon W. is living in Joliet; Olive, the second 
child, died in 1810 when but two years old; 
Mahala died in 1858; Mary married George Pickel 
(see sketch); Rosetta is the wife of C. II. Carson, 
M. D., of Kansas City; Louisa, wife of C. W. 
Cropsey, Kansas City; Laura was the wife of Willis 
Braiuard, of Fairbury, Neb. She is deceased. 

(if^ AMIIEL FEWTRELL. Many of the mas- 
ter mechanics who give tone and solidity 
to the manufacturing industries of our 
country were born, reared, and educated 
in their special pursuits, in busy England. Among 
the number of such, Samuel Fewtrell, Superintend- 
ent of tlie rail dci)artment of the Illinois Steel 
Works is a notable example. Beginning at the 
early .age of nine years in a rolling mill in his na- 
tive land, and continuing for forty years, step by 
step advancing in his chosen vocation, he has 
passed through varied experiences. His busy 
life is well worth recording and should inspire 
others to more [jcrsistent effort. To have a pur- 
pose in life and to work for its attainment is half 
the battle. 

Samuel Fewtrell was born April 20, 1837, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



339 



is a son of Joseph Fewtrell, a miner who was en- 
gaged at different times in iron, stone and coal 
mines. On the 15th of Noveinl)er, in the year of 
1858, in a large chapel in Wolverhampton, Eng- 
land, he (vas united in marriage with Ann Biddle, 
wlio has siiared his joys and reverses, his iiome and 
its cheer. To them have been born eight, children, 
six of whom are living. The eldest, who was 
clu'istened Tom, is engaged in the steel works with 
his father. Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Hewlett, Mrs. El- 
len .1. McCormIck, Jessie Edith, Ada Florence and 
William Henry, are the other surviving members of 
the family circle. 

In the year 1871, attracted as thousands of others 
have been, by the wonderfid stories of America's 
resources, [lossibilities and rich promises to the in- 
dustrious, INIr. Fewtrell came hither, locating first 
at Ellmira, N. Y. Vividly does he remember his 
landing in New York among strangers, with but 
twentj'-five cents in his pocket and seeking a new 
liom(> with strange associations. He expended the 
small sum which he possessed for stamps ami papeij^ 
to acquaint those left behind with the fact of liis 
safe arrival, and making his way to Elmira, he at 
once began the course of perseverance that has 
ever marked his life. A few months thereafter we 
find him in Lockport, N. Y., and March, 1873, in 
Joliet, HI. 

When he arrived in this city Mr. Fewtrell had 
$7 in his pocket and a freight bill of #17 confront- 
ing him. lie resolutely went to work as helping 
heater in the old iron mill. AVhen the mill shut 
down in 1S74, he went to California, where he re- 
mained about a year, and thence to St. Louis, Mo., 
where he worked a few months in the Tudor mills. 
He next returned to Joliet, but in 1877 went to 
Colorado, where he assisted in starting a mill at 
Pueblo, known as Fox's mill. He spent a few 
months in the raining district, where he was in- 
troduced to many new phases of life and learned 
a different vocabulary from that to which he had 
been accustomed. Paradoxical as is the thought, he 
can now refer with pleasure to many unpleasant 
experiences through which ho passed. 

While in England Mr. Fewtrell was never far- 
ther than forty miles from his home, but once 
breathing the free air of America, he imbibed its 



spirit of restlessness to the full and in his travels 
we can trace him soutii as far New Orleans, north to 
North Dakota, and west to the Pacific, and once on a 
visit back to sunny England. His wife partaking 
the same spirit has three times crossed the briny 
deep, each time taking with her four children. Al- 
though in his native land Mr. Fewtrell had received 
wages of |i4 per day and in New York he received 
but |i'2.25. yet he preferred the new home and has 
never regretted becoming an American citizen. 

Mr. Fewtrell is a Repulilican in politics and so- 
cially a member of tiie l{o3'al Arcanum. He is an 
earnest, energetic citizen, whose life affords a 
briglit example of what may be won by persistent, 
patient effort. 



-^-*~^-- 



Vi^ ICHOLAS YONKER. One of the finest 
I jj farms in Florence Township is that owned 
lk\,Z^ and occujjied by the gentleman above 
named who has high standing as a man of per- 
sonal worth and abundant means. The estate is 
thoroughl3' improved, the buihlings being unex- 
celled in the townshii),and the two hundred and forty 
acres of land made productive by the best means 
known to modern husbandmen. It affords pleas- 
ure to note these facts .as the result of persistent 
zeal and unflagging industry on the part of Mr.Yon- 
ker, vvho was a poor boy. getting his start in life 
by working on a farm by the month. When he 
landed in this State in 1851, he had but -^9; now 
he is numbered among the wealthy agriculturists 
of the county. 

The stock from which Mr. Yonker traces his de- 
scent was German and the family had resided in 
Switzerland for generations. In that famed coun- 
Iry he was born P'ebruary 2, 1833, his parents be- 
ing Nicholas and Mary (Marte) Yonker, who spent 
their entire lives in that, their native land. They 
were the parents of six children named respect- 
ively: Nicholas, Benedict, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna 
Mary and Anna. 

The subject of this notice was reared in his na- 
tive land, which he left on becoming of age, to trj- 
his fortune in the United States. Coming to lUi- 



fl40 



I'OKTK.Mr AM) lUor.RAnilCAI. ALIU-M. 



aula III' s|)onl two aii<) ii Imlf y(*:ti'8 in Mukoiin, Ihis 
comity. !ifl«'r whicli hi' ri'lunu'il to tlii' Innil of liia 
liirtli. I't'ii iiioiitliN later lie ciiiiiu ajiniu to Anicricn 
anil .s|u>!it llut following ycnr in Wilniinuton, tbis 
county. His next place of resilience was Milton 
'rownHliip, will-re lie lalioreil live years. >;oing 
llience to IVotone 'l'owiislii|) for a sujoiirn of two 
\enrti. In I Hf'it'i lu' niaile settlement on section I I, 
I'lorencc 'rownsliip, where he still lives siirroiiinleil 
liy the comforts to which his iinliistry entitles him. 

The riiarriiii;e of Mr. Yonkeraml Miss .Vnna K. 
Weylaiiil was celcliraleil .laniiary 7, I H;")!). at the 
liriile's home near Wilinin'.;tiin. ."^hc w;is born in 
Switzerlanil anil is the cluinjliler of Iteiieilict W'c}'- 
Inml. Iler eliaiaeler anil all;iininent.s 1,'aiii the re- 
spect of those to whom she is known and many 
friciiils testify to her worth. The happy iinidii 
h.is resulted in the hirlh of eight sons and daugh- 
ters, of whom we note the following. Alliert mar- 
ried Miss Isaliella dales and is the father of two 
children — Alpha and l'',lmer; he resides with his 
father and is engaged in farming. (jJcorge and 
Krcilerii-k arc deceased. Mary hecame the wife of 
William Craiiimeycr, a farmer of .lackson Town- 
ship, and they have one daughter — Louisa. Frank 
is dead. Sarah. Anna and (Hiie arc still lingering 
hy the parental fireside. 

Mr. Yonker is a licpiihlicnn of the strongest 
type, lie and his family belong to the Kvangclical 
Church and endeavor to consistently cany their 
Christian belief into their daily practice, winning 
thereby, the respect even of those who disbelieve 
the grand Irntlis of the (Josiicl. 

IL=: oKATK) X. MAUSIl. i'his hale and vig- 
orous old man has spent a long business life 
in .loliel, b}' whose citizens he is highly 
honorcil and respected, lie came to this 
ciiv in December, 1S;?.'J, Mr. Woodruflf having been 
here a little longer time, but no other resident of so 
early a date now living here. Allhongli nearly 
four-score years old he carries on a business in real 
estate- and loans, his ollice being in .leflerson 
.Street, opposite the Court House. He is a descend- 



ant from the Marsh family Hint settled on theCon- 
neeticnt Uiver in 16.3.'>, gradually working up the 
stream until in 1710 his ininii'diatt! ancestors lo- 
cated in Montague Township, opposite Deerlk-ld. 

On a farm lli<-ri- tjuarliis .Marsh, the father of 
our subject, was born ami there the son al.so opened 
his eyes to the light on the same farm. After 
reaching man's estati-. i juartus Marsh married Miss 
Sarah Moll and reared a family nf six iliildren. lie 
was employed as a fanner, first in his native St«te, 
and from IH2K to Ih:<.'> in Monroe County, N. V. 
The family then came to Illinois, making the jour- 
nej' in the customary way, by canal and lake to De- 
troit. Mich., and driving the n-st of the w.ay. This 
foiinty was not then organized, but the father set- 
tled in what is now Crete Township, where he livtil 
until called from time to eternity in I x.OO. The 
mother survived her companion about thrt-e years. 
Of the .-Hins and daughters of this worthy couple, 
Mary .\iiii ami .lonaihan died in this county; Ed- 
win. Ilcmy and Francis now live in Kans.is. 

When the Marsh family c:tme to this county 
.loliet was a village of one hundred inhahitanti. 
Here the subject of this notice engaged in the cab- 
inet business, having learned that trade in the Em- 
pire .state, lie had been born in Franklin County. 
Mass., Novi-mber li). IK, 2, and was therefore hut 
little past his majority when he began his career in 
the city that has known him so long and well. 

When the Rock Island Kailro.ad was built in IN.'vi, 
Mr. Marsh took the |)ositio!i of Ticket and Freight 
Agent, which he held for thirty-two years, or until 
ISHI. when he consiilercd himself too old for far- 
ther service in that capacity. For a time he had 
also transacted the express business. From April, 
Iftfi.T until 18(10, he had been rostma-iter. going out 
under .lohnson's administratinn. When he resigned 
the position that he had held for more than a quar- 
ter of a century, he embarked in the business he 
now carries on. being too active in mind and body 
to wish to abandon the ranks of wiirkers in some 
capacity. 

In Monroe County, N. Y.. .Mr. .Marsh was united 
ill marri.ige with Miss Mary Kile of that county, 
who died in 181(1. leaving one son, William 11. The 
young man gave his life to lii!< country's cause, 
dying a sohlier's ileal h, with his f.-icc Ut the foe, in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



341 



front of Vicksbiirg, anrl leaving to bis sorrowing 
father the consolation that comes from a knovvlcdge 
of (Inty done even at the cost of life. 

The second wife of our subject was in iicr girl- 
hood Miss Mary L. Pond, she also being of Monroe 
County, N. Y. The union has been blessed l)v the 
birth of a son, Frank E., who is representing the 
Fourth Ward in the City Council. He married 
Miss Jennie K. Foster, a native of New York, but 
whose home was in Delavan,Wis.,at the time of their 
marriage. Young Marsh is a well-known grain 
dealer of this citj'. 

A man so highly respected as Horatio N. Marsh, 
could not be without opportunities to fill a public 
ofHce and he has served as tiie representative of the 
Fourth Ward for five 3'ears. His legitimate affairs 
have been sulHcicnt to occupy his time fully and 
politics have bad but little place in his career. He 
belongs to the Presbyterian Church, his probity 
and life-long honesty are recognized by all, and his 
genial nature makes him popular wherever lie is 
known. 



E^^ 




ANIEL BAILEY and his good wife are 
))] among the oldest pioneers now living in 
'^ Will County. Coming here more than 
forty j'ears ago, the}' have witnessed the 
great change wrought by the hand of man in 
bringing it from a state of nature to its present 
condition as one of the richest and most highly 
developed counties in Northern Illinois, and they 
may well take pride in what they Lave done to 
aid in producing this wonderful result. Mr. Bailey 
is a farmer and stock-raiser, one of the most pros- 
perous of that class of people who have had the 
upliuiiding of Channaiion, where he has had a 
home since he came to this county, and where he 
has a large farm from whose broad, fertile acres 
lie derives a handsome income. 

]\Ir. Bailey is a native of Pennsylvania, from 
which State his parents took him to a new home 
ill the v.-ilds of Ohio, near Cincinnati. He was 
the fifth child in a family of nine, and when still 
a bo}' he came to Illinois with his father and 



mother, who located twenty-one miles west of Dan- 
ville, in 1848. In 1850, our subject came to his 
present pl.ace, which then comprised one hundred 
and twenty acres of wild prairie, which he had 
purchased of Jasper Wilson. He put that into a fine 
state of cultivation by hard and persistent labor, 
and in time bought more land, purchasing some canal 
land and now has five hundred acres, the most of 
which was bought in the raw state, and is now under 
e.Kcellent improvement. Mr. Baile}- is one of the sub- 
stantial, moneyed men of Channahon, he having at- 
tained this position by his extraordinary industry, 
quick judgment, and in the judicious management 
of his interests. He and his family are well known 
and greatly respected in this community, which 
has been their abiding place for so many j-ears, 
and their kindness, thoughtfulness and genial hos- 
pitality, have won them a high place in the regard of 
the many who know them. Mr. Bailey is a Dem- 
ocrat in politics, but votes for the man. in the lo- 
cal elections. 

Mr. Bailey has been twice married. He was 
first wedded to Rebecca Boardman. Her parents 
were from the Flast, and Dr. A. Comstock was her 
stepfather. Mrs. Bailey died, leaving one son. 
Alexander. He is now living in Missouri and is 
married, and has tliree children, two sons and 
one daughter. 

Mr. Bailey was married to Mrs. Jolin Brown, his 
pi'tsent estimable wife, forty-two j'ears ago. She 
was the daughter of Ransom and Sarah Zarley, 
natives, respectively, of Ohio and Kentucky. They 
were among the earliest pioneers of the county, 
coming from Pike County, Ohio, where Mrs. 
Bailey was born. She was married when verj' 
young to Mr. John Brown, of Onondaga Count}', 
Y. Y. Her husband came to this State with 
M.aj. IJourland, who had married a Miss Brown. 
This was in the jear of the land sale and he 
bought land for other members of the family, pur- 
ch.asing nine and one-fourth sections in Jackson 
Township. Her husband died in that place, leav- 
ing her a widow with three children, Sarah, 
Mary and William, who are all living in Jackson. 
Sarah is the widow of Frank Dooley. She lives 
near her mother and has eight children, five girls 
and three boys. Mary is the wife of Seth Gibbon 



342 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and tbey have three children, two sons and one 
daughter. William is married and has Ave chil- 
dren, four sons and one daughter; he owns .and 
manages the old John 15rown homestead, which 
his father bought at the Government land sale so 
manj' years ago. IMrs. Iiaile3''s marriage has been 
blessed to her and our subject by the birth of two 
children; the eldest of whom is Galney, and Ella, 
wife of Henry Kipp, of whom see sketch. Calney 
Bailey resides on the homestead and assists his 
father in the management of his farm land. He is 
an enterprising, progressive, young man and is 
well educated. He first attended the district 
schools, and then pursued a fine commercial course 
at Jennings Seminary. He was married in Sep- 
tember, 1886, to Miss Hattie Barnes, daughter of 
Mathew and Mary J. (Purdy) Barnes, natives of 
New York; they were married there and came 
here in the winter of 1857, and still make tlicir 
home in Jackson Township. 

Mrs. Bailey's parents located on a farm about 
two miles southwest of Joliet, and the place is 
still in the hands of the family. Mrs. Bailej' can 
well remember the incidents of llie Sank War when 
the Indians came Ihrougii Ihis region and chased 
them from liicir homes. Tiiis was in the spring of 
the year when the .settlers were putting in their 
crops with their clumsy tools and ox-tearas. While 
thus working the^' received word that the Indians 
were on the warpath, and dropping their inipic 
nients on the field they immediately started with 
their families and in ox-teams for Danville, all 
the people in the county leaving excepting three 
families who were foolhardy enough to sl.ay be- 
hind and wei'e all killed by the savages, excepting 
two young girls who were taken captives but were 
afterwards recovered from the Indians. 

Among the families thus leaving their home were 
the Scotts, Mooies and Crutcherfields. Mr. Zarley 
and his family went as far as Iroquois, where the}' 
met the soldiers going in pursuit of the Indians 
and they returned with them as far as where Jol- 
iet now stands, and the soldiers putting up a block 
house on the west side of the river, they remained 
with them there for awhile. When the soldiers 
were ordered to join Scott, the Zarleys returned 
to Danville, and stayed there until the following 



September, when all the families went bask to their 
homes, the men folks having gone there previou.sly 
to see that everything was all right. During their 
stay in the block house in Joliet, they had consid- 
erable fun over a false alarm which was sent in to 
tiy the soldiers, and it found them in a poor con- 
dition to receive the enemy. At the time Mr. and 
Mrs. Zarley put their children under the feather 
bed in the wagons and told them to lie still, and 
the old gentleman took his gun and awaited the 
c()ming of the Indians. Mrs. Hailey and her sis- 
ter.5 are the only survivors of the scare who took 
refuge in the block house where Joliet now stands, 
she being about ten years old .at the time and her 
sister but a baby. 

That winter the pioneers of the county suffered 
with hunger as they neglected to Lay in sutlicient 
sup|)lies. Mr. Zarley went to Danville and got his 
sup()lics for the winter, and his neighbors, the 
Scotts, Moores, Bilsons, and others borrowed of him 
with the expectation of paying liack wl;en Ihey went 
for their load, but an early snow came .and pre- 
venteil them from going, and more severe siiou 
storms occurring, no one was able to get to Dan- 
ville, so that provisions were very scarce. Mrs. 
I>ailey s.ays she can well reaiemlier the look of sor- 
row ui)()ii her mother's face as she heard her cliil- 
dren crying for bread, almost starving. They had 
a little corn which they jiounded up and each one 
was given a small allowance. They also had a few 
potatoes that vvere bilked in the ashes and distrib- 
uted amongst the .almost starving children, the 
older ones, Mrs. IJailey and her elder brother, gen- 
erously allowing the younger ones to have their 
share. After that winter the pioneers got .along 
v.cry well, as there were plenty of deer, prairie 
chickens and other g.ame, besides fish of a super- 
ior quality in the rivers, the settlers catching them 
with a spear in the old days. The Pottawatomies 
living in the country then were friendly and John 
Zarley and his elder brother used to go hunting 
and fishing with them. While the war was being 
waged with the Sauks, thej' kept track of the set- 
tlers' cattle and helped to get them together on 
their return, as they were nearly as afraid of the 
Sauks as the whites were themselves. 

The Zarleys were great Methodists going to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



345 



meeting' as often as opportunity offered, often 
going a long distanee. Tliey made a square Ixix 
and jMit it on tlie two front vvlieels of an ox wagon, 
in this tliey put two s|)lit l)ottom chairs and drove 
to meeting behind a pair of oxen. One of the 
young ladies who often accompanied tlieni tn the 
leligious services, was a Miss .loliet Brown, for 
whom tlie city of Joliet vv.as named. 

-«»-w+|.<si^::^ijf-j&>-+>+ f»- 



^1 UGUST KHUIIARDT. Tlie le.ading me 
(©tLHI cantile establishment of Ueccher is tin 



ler- 
caniiie establishment ot uecciier is that 
of August Ehrhardt, who carries a very 
full line of goods, well selected for the 
needs of country trade. The business was begun 
in 1880, prior to which time Mr. Ehrhardt had 
lieeii engaged as clerk for August Schiffer, of Monec, 
in whose employ he had gained a thorough knowl- 
edge of the business. Mr. Ehrhardt is also Post- 
master, having received his appointment under 
I he present administration. He is well and favor- 
alily known as a man of upright charactei", more 
than ordinary intelligence, and an abundance of 
I'lKigy in whatever he umJertakes. He is active 
in hical politics, voting the Republican ticket at all 
times, and his fellow-citizens have called for his 
services in various local offices. He and his good 
wife belong to the Lutheran Church. 

JNIr. Ehrhardt comes of good old German fam- 
ilies, the home of both ancestral lines being in 
Saxony. His father, Christoph Ehrhardt, was 
reared as a farmer and after his marriage took up 
for himself that occupation. His wife was Miss 
Sophia Werner, who was reared in the same neigh- 
borhood as himself. To thera were born two sons 
and two daughters, with whom they set sail from 
Iiiemerhaven in Jul)-, 1851, on the sailing vessel 
"Susannah." After a tedious voyage of eight weeks 
landing was made at Baltimore, whence the family 
came to Chicago. The father chose a location in 
Monee Township, Cook County, and there the fam- 
ily lived on a small farm for some years. The 
parents then settled in Blue Island, where both 
died, the father passing away in 1872, .at the age of 
seventy-six years and the niollier surviving until 



I 1889, she being then seventy-eight years old. 

I Both were life-long members of the Lutheran 
Church in tlu' tenets of which they reared their 
children. These all survive, are married and have 
families. 

The subject (jf this sketch is the eldest member 

: of the parental family and was born in Saxony, 
Germany, April ;50, 1810. He received a good 
education in his native land during his early boy- 
hood, and after accompanying his parents to 
America, .attended schools in this State, acquiring 
an excellent knowledge of the English language. 
He w.as living in Will County when he became of 
age and w.as occupied with agricultural pursuits 
until after the breaking out of the Civil War. In 
1 802 he was enrolled in Compan}' D, P^ighty-second 
Illinois Infantry, his company and regiment being 
under the command of Capt. Miller and Col. 
Hecker. He was mustered into service at Camp 
Butler, and in October went to tlie front, first 
meeting the enemy at Chancellorsville. The next 
heavy engagement in which ho participated was at 
Gettysburg, and he afterwards bore his part in the 
terrible conflicts of Lookout Mountain and Mis- 
sionary' Ridge. He w.as one of the gallant sixty 
thousand who marched with Sherman from Atlanta 
to the sea and back through the Carolin.as to Wash- 
ington, and with other members of Hecker's regi- 
ment was known to officers and comrades as a 
faithful and plucky soldier. He escaped injury 
and was able to report for duty every day until 
the last gun was fired, when he was honorably dis- 
charged at Chicago .and mustered out of service 
at Camp Douglas. Coming at once to Monee, this 
county, he began his clerkship, which he continued 
until he established the business in which he is now 
engaged. 

The lady to whose fine char.acter and housewifely 
skill Mr. Ehrhardt owes the joy and comfort of 
his home life, w.as known in her maidenhoocl as 
JNIiss Louisa Klein. She was born .June 2G, 1843, 
ill Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, her pjirents, August 
and Madeline (Boehl) Klein, being natives of the 
same province. In 1846 they left their native land 
to make a home in the Xew World, sailing from 
Breinerhaven accompanied by four children. After 
some weeks they landed at New York City whence 



HG 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



they journe3ed by river, canal and lakes to Clii- 
cago. Later they located at Blue Island, and slill 
later settled on a farm in Cooper's Grove, where 
they remained some years. They then purehased a 
farm in Monee Township, Will County, where 
they erected a comfortable dwelling in wliich they 
lived until after the death of Mrs. Klein, which 
occurred when she was forty-five years old. Mr. 
Klein subsequently went to Missouri, dying there 
when about seventy-six years of age. lie and his 
wife belonged to the Lutheran Cliurch. Their 
daughter, now Mrs. I^hrhardt, being scarcely more 
than an infant when they crossed the briny deep, 
was reared in Cook County, III., and there ob- 
tained her education. Her happy union with our 
subject has been blest with the birth of two chil- 
dren — Arthur and Carl — who have been educated 
in the public schools and who are .slill living under 
the parental roof. 

As a rei)resentativc citizen of Will County, we 
are pleased to present on another page of the 
ALBUM a lithograi)hic portrait of Mr. Ehrhardl. 



\^^OBLE JONES. The tastes of men give 
I jjy ''®'' '"^ varied wants and occupations. Some 
/1\/Xfe find their enjoyment in the bustle of the 
busy haunts of men, and some amid the less ex- 
citing scenes of rural life, while others combine 
the two. The latter is the case with the subject of 
this l)iographical notice, who sjjends his days 
among the bidls and bears of the Chicago Board 
of Trade and in the turmoil of the great city, while 
ihe bonis not occupied in efforts to increase his 
store of worldly goods are given to rural pleasures 
and domestic joys "far from the madding crowd." 
His home is in Mokena, wliencehe goes to Chicago 
every morning, returning at night, as regularly as 
clock work, never having been left in thirteen 
years. For the past decade he has been a member 
of the Chicago Board of Trade, and has become 
the largest receiver among the heavy dealers so 
prominent there. His shrewdness is unquestioned, 
and minor dealers who could get a "lip" from Noble 
Jones would consider themselves verv fortunate. 



The Jones family is of Welsh descent, and the 
more immediate progenitors of our subject w-ere 
natives of New England. Mis grandfather, W esley V 
Jones, was born in A'erraont, whence he removed 
to Connecticut, in which State his son W(sle}',the 
father of our subject, was ))orn in 1800. The 
.same 3-ear the elder Jones removed to Canada, 
making a settlement in Barnstone Township, County 
Standstead. He owned and ojierated a large farm, 
and the son was reared amid rural surroundings. 
He learncul the trade of a blacksmith, following it 
in Canada until 1837, when he removed to Arca- 
dia, Wayne County, N. Y., and in that town con- 
tinued his occupation several years. In 1844 he 
came to^Will County, III., locating in Homer Town- 
ship, where he sojourned but a year ere removing 
to Orland Township, Cook County. There he 
puirchased and improved an eight}' acre farm, upon 
which he resided until his death, in 1880, engaged 
in the peaceful vocation of a farmer. 

The mother of our subject was Abigail, daughter 
of William Barnes, and was born in Hillsboro, 
Mass. Her father, who had previously kept an 
hotel in Boston, removed to Barnstone, Canada, 
duiing her early life, and engaged in farming there. 
The homes of (xrandfalher Jones and Grandfather 
Barnes were but a mile apart, and when, in 1X82, 
our subject revisited his birthplace, he was able 
from the descriptions given him to locate both 
places. Grandfather Barnes and his wife were 
brought to Illinois in 1854, and both died at the 
home of his father. Mrs. AVesley Jones was the 
mother of six children, he of whom we write being 
the youngest. Cj'rus died in New York; Wesley 
is now living in Wetmore, Kan.; William is farm- 
ing in Frankfort Townshi|), this county; Wi-ight 
lives in Portland, Ore.; Abigail, Mrs. Cross, lives 
in Wetmore, Kan. The mother passed awa^' In 
Mokena in 1881, at the advanced age of eighty 
years. 

Noble Jones was born in Barnstone, Canada, 
November I G, I Sot, and was therefore about three 
years old when he accomjianied his parents to 
Arcadia,' N. Y. The journey was accomplished 
with a team and wagon, and during the few years 
which followed the little lad enjoj'ed the privi- 
lege of attending the common schools. The re- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



347 



moval to Illinois taking place when lie was ten 
years old, is well remembered by liim, and the lide 
on the canal to Bufifalo and on a steamer to Chi- 
cago were enjoyed as none but a lieart3' boy could 
enjoy such a trip. The city which is now the 
scene of Mr. Jones' labors, presented an uninviting 
appearance when the family reached it, consisting 
as it did of a few unpretentious dwellings and 
places of business, around which stretched the low 
ground which well deserved the name of mud hole. 
From Chicago the family' came to Will County 
with teams, and here our subject passed one year. 

Cook County then became the home. of the 
Jones family, and our subject was obliged to 
go tiiree miles to school. The old-fashioned log 
schoolhouse with slab Ijenches and puncheon floor 
was the scene of his educational efforts, and the 
schools were kept up by subscription. Like other 
farmers' sons young Jones was early set to work, 
soon presenting the appearance of the "barefoot 
liii\- with cheek of tan" who may be seen on many 
ii larm. When thirteen years old he began driv- 
ing a bie.aking team, consisting of seven 3'oke of 
oxen. Three j-ears later he found work as a team- 
ster for the Uf>ek Island Railroad Company, which 
w!is then i>utting its line to Mokena. He received 
$1.25 |)er da}' for himself and te.am, a day's work 
being twelve hours. 

In (lie S|iring of 1852, when eighteen years old, 
Noble .lonos and his brother Wright rigged up a 
mule team and started to California. Making 
their way to Council Bluffs, they joined eighteen 
others in a caravan which traveled along the north 
bank of the Platte Eiver to Ft. Laramie, thence 
along the North Platte, taking Sublet's Cut-off, and 
thence through the South Pass to the Golden 
Slate. Three times the train was attacked by the 
Pawnees, who were very hostile at that time, and 
all considered it wonderful that they escaped being 
massacred. At Loupe Fork and the two follow- 
ing camping places, only the bold front the}' pre- 
sented to the savages ijresented so dire a catastro- 
phe. As their own animals were wild, and gun- 
shots would have stampeded them, they did not 
dare shoot, but depended upon their appearance 
of preparation and fearlessness, whicli fortunately 
proved sufHcient to save their lives. The only 



weapon possessed by our subject during these try- 
ing scenes was a long range ritle. 

The train arrived in Sacramento seventy-three 
days after leaving Council Bluffs, and Mr. Jones 
found work upon a farm, beginning his labors at 
$75 per month, and receiving $125 before he 
abandoned them. His only experience in mining 
was during three days, when he was visiting in the 
mountains. After remaining on the slope two 
years Mr. Jones returned via the Nicaraugua route, 
the steamer "Sierra Nevada" carrying him from 
SanFrancisco to the Isthmus, and the "Star of the 
West" being his home during the Atlantic voyage. 
The last named vessel was the first boat fired at 
Charleston during the late war. Mr. Jones was 
working on a farm six miles from Sacramento 
when that city was burned, and also when it was 
"drowned " by tlie overflow of the Sacramento 
River. 

Mr. Jones completed his journey from New 
York to Mokena by rail, the road to the latter 
place having been finished in his absence. For a 
short time he carried on his father's place, then 
bought eighty acres of raw land in Frankfort 
Township, upon which he broke ground, made var- 
ious improvements and settled down to farming. 
He devoted himself to that vocation two years, 
meeting with an ortlinary degree of success, and 
he then built a steam mill in Mokena, and for two 
years eiTgaged in flour and saw milling as a member 
of the firm of Cross & Jones. This venture did 
not prove successful, but on the contrary swal- 
lowed up all the previous earnings of Mr. Jones, 
and he therefore abnndoned it for another field of 
labor. 

In 1858 Mr. C. Rowley engaged our subject to 
go with him to Pike's Peak, Colo., to start and 
carry on a sawmill, agreeing to pa^ him $50 per 
month for his services. When the two arrived at 
Atchison, Kan., Mr. Rowley concluded to start 
the lousiness on the Missouri River at that point 
instead of going to the destination which they had 
had in view. Mr. Jones therefore became Super- 
intendent of the sawmill at Atchison, having charge 
of the sawing and rafting of logs and every other 
detail of the business. He was joined by his wife 
and child, and continued to reside in the Garden 



n4H 



PORTilAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Stale until 1863, when he retiirnerl to Illinois. 
For ;i twelvemonth lie carried on iiis father's fiirin, 
juul then, tixkiiig upliis abode in Mokena, he beg.an 
buying grain and sliipping it to C'iiicago. Du/ ing 
the next two years he was fairly successful, and he 
U:en opened an establishment for the sale of agri- 
cultural implements. 

Tlie new venture of Mr. .lones proved to be one 
in which his good judgment and business tact 
founil room, and during the next twelve years he 
made money. He closed out his large trade at the 
rigiit time, in 1878, and going to Chicago, engaged 
in llie commission business and secured a member- 
ship on tlie l?oard of Trade. So successful have 
been his operations that his name has become well 
known to all who are interested in the working of 
the Board. His son and son-in-law arc with him 
as assistants, and six other men are employed by 
him in his ofliee. His dwelling in Mokena is a 
commodious one, furnished in a style suited to his 
means and the cultured tasies of the occupants, 
and supplied with every means for the added cul- 
ture and enjoyment of the family. 

The lad}' with whom Jlr. .Tones was united in 
marriage, was born in Solon, N. Y., and bore the 
maiden name of Clarissa B. Farley. Her father, 
Benjamin Farley, was an carl^' settler in I>ockport, 
111., following the trade of a carpenter .and joiner. 
Mrs. Jones was orphaned when a young girl, and 
early began to make her own way as a teacher. 
She was educated in Indiana, and in that vState 
began her wedded life, her marriage riles being 
celebrated July 25, 18.55, in the town of West 
Creek. She is a gifted and .accomplished woman, 
whose charming hospitality is never forgotten by 
those who once enjo^' it. She is the mother of six 
children, of whom four survive — Charles H., the 
first-born, died in 1877, at the age of twenty years; 
Edward S. makes his home in Chicago, being with 
his father in business; Emma married Walter Mel- 
calf, and their home is in Normal Park, Cook 
County ; Belle and Bertha .are still at home. The 
sons and daughters have had fine advantages, and 
their minds and manners do credit to the care 
which has been bestowed upon them, and afford 
good ground for parental |)ride. 

Mr. Jones was President of the Board of Trus- 



tees at Mokena for three years and then resigned 
the office. In 1856 he cast a Presidential ballot 
for John Chailes Fremont, and since that date has 
been an active supi)orter of the Republican i>arty. 
He possesses agreeable manners, a jovial and 
friendly nature, and is one of those fortunate men 
who, when business hours are over, can thoroughly 
enjoy the comforts and luxuries by which they arc 
surrounded, and the ma}iy pleasures which their 
abundant moans can |)rocurc. Mrs. Jones is a con- 
sistent member of the Methodist Ei)iscopal ('hurch. 



-J^^^ 




GEORGE W. DUN LAP, the son of a pioneer 
of Will County, who has himself done much 
^^4^1 pioneer work in the improvement of his fine 
farm on section 36, AVheatland Tovvnship, may well 
be classed among the pioneers of this part of Illi- 
nois. He is a native of Sullivan Countv', N. Y., 
and was born April 3, 1845. He is a son of AVilsou 
and Plueba (Ilolliday) Dunlap, natives of New 
York State. The father's family is of Scotch origin. 

In 1853, the parents of our subject emigrated to 
this county and his father farmed here as a renter fvr 
a number of j'cars. He finally settled on a farm of 
his own in DuPage Township, and subsequently 
removed to Plainfield and resided there a number 
of years. Later he and his wife retired from active 
life to the home of his daughter, Jlrs. Albert Tyler, 
of Wheatland Township, and he is still an inmate 
of her household and is now in his seventy-sixth 
year. In the month of June, 1888, his faithful 
wife, who h.ad borne with him the labors of their 
early ye.ars and had shared with him the joys and 
sorrows of a long wedded life, was removed from 
his side by the hand of death. By that marriage 
he became the f.ather of seven children, of whom 
the following four survive: Eugene, residing in 
Lockport Township; Mrs. Tyler, of Wheatland 
Township; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Walker, of 
Iroquois County, and our subject. The father is a 
stanch Democrat in politics. 

George Dunlap, of whom we write, w.as a young 
lad when he came to this county and here he was 
reared to a stalwart manhood under the influences 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



349 



of iiioneer life. His education was conducted in 
the district schools of the early daj's, and he gained 
a thorough knowledge of farming in all its branches 
under the guidance of his fatiier. and has always 
followed tliat calling. 

In the month of August, 1<SG2. Mr. Dunlap was 
married to Mrs. Affa Eaton, widow of Henry Eaton, 
of Wheallanil .Township, and a daughter of .1. 15. 
King, of DuPage Township, of whom a sketoh ap- 
pears in this Album. Of their union four children 
have been born, of whom three are now living: 
James W., Ida, Affa and Emma J. By her first mar- 
riage with Henry Eaton, Mrs. Dunlap had one 
daughter, Alice. 

]\Ir. and Mrs. Dunlap are higlily regarded in this 
community for their great personal worth and in 
their home, comfort and hospitalit}' abides. ]Mr. 
Dunlap carries on his affairs with wisdom and in 
his dealings with others is honest and fair. He is 
sincerely religious and the Methodist Episcopal 
Cliurch finds in him one of its mffst consistent and 
conscientious inenibers. His strong temperance 
views shape iiis polities and lie is identified witli the 
I'rohibition |iarty. He has served as a School Di- 
rector, and all things that will in any way advance 
the educational interests of the township or elevate 
society, find favor with him. 




ILLIAM BREDEMEYEli. It would need 
l)ut a casual glance over his estate, even 
fiom one unacquainted with the relative 
value of soils and unaccustomed to farm life, to 
recognize the fact that the above-named gentleman 
is a thorough agriculturist. The one hundi'ed and 
sixty acres in the southwest quarter of section 1:3, 
Washington Townshii), are so well improved and 
kejit in such excellent order as to attract the atten- 
tion of all passers-li}' and lead all to agree in their 
verdict regarding tlie owner. Mr. Bredemeyer was 
one of the early settlers in this vicinity, but having 
come to stay he put forward his best efforts to make 
of his home one of the best farms in Noi'thern 
Illinois. 

Before outlining the life-history of our subject 



it will not be amiss to devote a brief space to that 
of his ancestors. His grandfather, Christopher 
Bredemeyer, and his father, William, Sr., were of 
old German stock and born in Algesdorf, Germany. 
There father .and son vrere engaged in farming, and 
both were noted for their great strength and massive 
frames. William Bredemeyer was over seven feet 
in height and of proportionate weight. He lived 
to be more than four-score years old, while his father 
reached the advanced age of ninety-three years. 
Both were life-long members of the Lutheran 
Church. William Bredemeyer, Sr. , married a lad}' 
who became the mother of two children, our subject 
and his sister Mary, who lived and died in Germany. 
The mother was possessed of remarkable physical 
stiength and a disposition and character worthy of 
remembrance by her posterity. When in the prime 
of life she -w.as stricken by a fever and after a short 
illness breathed her last, leaving our subject mother- 
less before he was eight years old. 

The subject of this biograpieal notice was born 
.lune 9, 1824, in Algersdorf, Ciermany, and passed 
his boyhood and youth in his native land. In 18ir>, 
while he yet Lacked some months of having i cached 
his majority, he left Bremerhaven on a sailing ves- 
sel bound for New York. After a voyage of six 
weeks a landing was made and the young man con- 
tinued his journey to Chicago, 111. He s[)ent ten 
years in Cook Count}', always engaged in farm 
labor, and at the expir.ation of that period obtained 
from the Government the land which he now owns 
and occupies. A decideil change has taken place 
in its aspect and surroundings since ho took posses- 
sion of it in 1851, and the change is highl}- credit- 
able to him who has made the desert blossom as the 
rose. 

In Cook Counly Mr. Bredemeyer made the ac- 
quaintance of Miss Sophia Reesen, an industrious 
and worth}' young woman who was gaining a live- 
lihood as a domestic. Her good qualities won his 
regard, which was reciprocated and they became 
man and wife. Mrs. Bredemeyer was born in 
Repen, Germany, February 17, 1827, and began to 
earn her own living when quite }'oung, having lost 
her parents. In 1846, she crossed the briny deep 
alone to make a home for herself in a foreign land. 
She is the mother of fifteen children, three of whom 



3.')0 



I'oKTUAir AM) nioci; AriiicAi. aiium. 



(lifd in infiiiii'v mikI llu- mhi. llciuy, al llic a^-r ol 
twi'iily-six vt'ars. Tho liviiiy mi'iulifis i>f tin- fiiiii- 

ily iiK- Willia Ir.. a farmer al Uunisville. CIny 

C'liuiity, Minn.; .Inliii. wlm niarrictl n lixly of Miii- 
iU'!tutn an>l i* liviii);; in Clay ('(iiinly; Si)|ilii!i. wife 
of Wiiliiiin lli'clil. (I faiinur of llie sninu coiinly; 
('liri!<to|ili. wliii is fanning; in tlic same connly ami 
ill llml Slate niarrieil a native of Saxony; Fietl, 
who is still nt home ami helps to innniige tlie fniin; 
Mary, wife of .'olin Meyer, of Crown Point, Iml., 
anil •» traveling' .-Hle.-.nian ; Christ, wl.o i.s iinmar- 
rii-<l anil worUini; in Chieajjo; Louisa anil Ilernian. 
Hi home; Amelia, who is living in Chicafjo; :inil 
Kmma, al huun. All the chililren are self-sii|i|iort- 
inj; anil inherit the industrious haliils and thrifty 
ways of their parents. 

Mr. IJredinieyer is a believer in and a supporter 
of the prinei|)les of the Deinocratie pai ly. Me and 
his wife belong to the Lutheran Church. 



-^= 






i|(_^ t)N. .\M(.)S SAV.\<;i;. Few words are 
ill needed in introdueinjj Mr. Savage to the 
yy peoiile of Will County, as his name has 
been familiar to the great portion of them 
for many years, lie has long been identified with 
the best interests of this section and luis fairly 
earned his title of Honorable by services in the 
Illinois Legislature, where he acquitted himself 
with his usual good judgment and erticiency. lie 
is a man of line t^dints and that solid strength of 
character which has gained him the esteem and 
contideiu-eof all with whom he luus had dealings. The 
frieml t>f progress and education, he h.-is carried 
out his ideas, especially in his own family, giving 
to his children the advant.-igcs which will fit them 
for taking their positions in life as good and use- 
ful members of the community. The home of Mr. 
Savage and his surroundings indica'es in a marked 
manner the <pialilies of character which have 
shown eons(>ic\iously in all the relations of life. 

The subject of this notice is the offspring of ex- 
cellent ancestry, suppi:seil to have originated in 
Kngland. His father, Deacon Levi Savage, was 
born in Washington County, N. \ ., .lanuary '2k, 



liini. :iiid hi> niulher, wim Imre the maiUiii ii:iiiie 
of .Mileiida Sireelor. was a native of the same 
county a.s her husband and le.s.i tlinn n month his 
junior, her birth taking pla<-e February VO, of the 
••.anie year. rhe\ were reared in their native 
county and married al< Iran ville, January 27, 1822. 
Soon afterward they sellleil in ClinUin County, 
that Sl:ile, but only remained lhe|;e Ihrint yeors, 
returning then to Wiishinglon County where they 
resided about i-ight years. 

In .Iinie. I H:i:t, the parents of .Mr. Savage came 
to ihi.' couiitN, locating near .loliet, where Ihcy re- 
mained until the spring of 1S:<4. The father then 
took up land o.i section 2X, Homer Township, 
fniui wliicli he constructed a comfortable home- 
stead where he sojourned until his death, which oc- 
curred February II, I ««.'>. The mother is still 
living and :dtliough having arrived at the advanced 
.age of ninety-two years, retains her facidties to a 
remarkable degree. 

Deacon .Savage was a man possessing strong 
trait.s of character .•md was not ejusily turned from 
his convictions when he felt a.ssured that he was 
right, lie was a stanch Abolitionist, totally op- 
|)osed to the "peculi.-ir institution" of slavery and 
for many years w;js a Deacon in the Congregational 
Church. His home w!us the resort of many noted 
characters, where his hospitality and genuine kind- 
ness of heart made everyone feel welcome and at 
home. The household circle included eight chil- 
dren, five of whom lived to m.atiire years. Han- 
nah >V. died unmarried when about forty years of 
age; Helen L. was the wife of Dwighl Haven, a 
sketch of whom will be found on another piigo in 
this voluinc. F.mily is the wife of William H. 
Lar.fear of Homer Township; Kdward is a resideiil 
of Sioux Falls, S. D.; Amos, our subject, is the 
youngest born. The elder children died when 
i|uile yt)ung 

Mr. Savage of whom we write w.is born in what 
is now Homer Township, .hine IS, i.S;tG, and 
therein he has spent his entire life. His Imyhood 
days were iinmrfrked by anything especially no- 
ticeable, he attending the district schoid an.l as- 
sisting his father in the lighter labors of the farm. 
He chose agricidlure for his voi-ation in life, as 
best suited to his tastes and capacities, being 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



351 



thoroughly imbued with the sentiment th;it tliis 
calling |)ro))eily canifd on, was second in dignity 
to none on the face of tlic eaitli. IIo remained a 
ineiiiher of the parental household until his mar 
riage, which occurred at Lcniont, Cook Count}', 
this State, Kebrnacy 25, ISGl, the luide l)eing Jliss 
Mary L., daughter of Asaliel and Catherine ((ied- 
des) Sl.ate. 

After his return from the array the young peo- 
ple eomnienced their weilded life together on their 
own farm in Homer Township, and Mr. Savage 
opeiated successfully as a tiller of the soil while at 
the same time he grew in favor with his fellow citi- 
zens, interesting himself in the enterprise's calcu- 
lated to inoniote the general good of ttie commun- 
ity. His first public service was as Supervisor of 
Homer Township, to whii'h he was elected in 
April, 1801, and which ollice he resigned in order 
to proffer his services in the preservation of the 
union. He enlisted as a private August 5, 18G1, 
in ('om|>any (t. Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, anil 
not long afterward was given the comuiission of 
Second Lieutenant which was succeeded July 20, 
I S(;2, b}' his promotion to a First Lieutenancy. 
Still ailvancing, he was presented July 11, 1«GI, 
with a Captain's commission and served in this 
capacity until October 28, following, when he was 
obliged to accept his honorable discharge on ac- 
count of disability. His first experience in actual 
service was in rei)elling the raid of Stonewall Jack- 
son upon the Baltimore it Ohio Railroad, in Janu- 
ary, 1862, where one hundred men of the Thirty- 
ninth successfully resisted the attack of two rebel 
regiments, the Third Arkansas and Thirty seventh 
\'irginia. He was also at the battle of AVinchester, 
(Hearnstown) March 23, 1862, where the favorite 
chieftain of the rebellion was driven from the field 
with the loss of guns and many prisoners. He was 
sent with his command to join the Arm^- of the 
Potomac at the time of the "seven daj's' fight" ; 
was in the expedition against Charlestown and 
engaged in the siege of that city from April to 
December, of 1863, and led his company over the 
parapet of Ft. Wagner. 

Mr. Savage, in 1864, was in the campaign .against 
Richmond, in the Army of the James, leaving the 
front only when disabled and when his regiment 



had been reduced by the casualties of battle and 
bj' disease, from a total of s<!ven hundred and fifty, 
to about one hundred and fifty men in the short 
•space of two months. I'pon receiving his discharge 
he retuiued to his farming interests in Homer Town- 
ship, but has never laid aside any of his patriotism 
or his activity in assisting the projects set on foot 
foi- the lienelit of the people. lie has taken an 
active part in p(jlitical affairs and it is hardly nec- 
essary to state is a stanch supporter of the Repub- 
lican party. He has been for many years a prom- 
inent member of Oooding Post, No. 401, G. A. 
K. and was once elected to the commandership, 
but declined. He is independent in his religious 
views, a man who does his own thinking, who 
seeks to force his opinions upon none, but who 
abides by his convictions with the natural tenacity 
and strength of his character. 

For over a quarter of a century and since No- 
vember, 1864, Mr. Savage has served continuously 
as Township Treasurer. His leisure hours have 
been employed with instructive reading, and few 
men not following the profession of law arc bet- 
ter acquainted with its underlying principles. His 
council is frequently sought in matters of impor- 
tance and largely in the settlement of estates with 
which he is often entrusted. In 1860, he took the 
stump for Abraham Lincoln, in Will and DuPage 
Counties, rendering signal service in behalf of the 
Republican candidate for President. In 1867, he 
was appointed to fill a vacancy as Supervisor of 
Homer Township, and from that time was contin- 
uously elected to the office until 1872, when he 
withdrew to take his seat in the legislature. He 
was Chairqian of the Board of Supervisors for two 
years and otherwise rendered eflicient service 
in the various matters which were constantly 
coming up for consideration. Mr. Savage has 
taken an active part in every Presidential cam- 
l)aigu since 1864. During his eight separate elec- 
tions as Township Supervisor, he was placed in 
office five times wilhout a single dissenting voice. 
He was elected to the State Board of Equaliza- 
tion in 1876, and served eight years. 

Notwithstanding his public services, Mr. Sav- 
age has distinguished himself as a progressive far- 
mer and has invested a large portion of his cap- 



352 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



iliil ill vMliKihlo hinds, owning tliroc hundred and 
sixty-fuur acres in this county, besides land in 
Dakota. He makes a specialty of live stock, buy- 
ing and selling extensively and utilizing a large 
|)orti()ii of his farm in Homer Township for feed- 
ing purposes. He is a prominent member of the 
Old Settlers Association of this county. His domes- 
tic life furnishes a [licture pleasant to conteniphiLe, 
with his family of intelligent children growing up 
around him and ociii|iying honored positions in 
society. The eUlest daughter, Helen E., was born 
December 8, 18G4, and is the wife of Frank A. 
Rowle}', of Homer Townshii); Frank M., was born 
July 19, 1867, and married Miss l^nima Haley of 
Homer Township; ,Iohn H., was born June 25, 
1870. and is pursuing his studies in the Englewood 
High School; Wiliiard A., was born September 11, 
1872. and Mary A., May 13, 1874. The two 
j'ounger children aieat home with their parents. 
The parents of Mrs. Savage died in South Car- 
olina when she was quite young. Her father was 
born in New England and her mother in New 
York State. Mrs. Savage was born near George- 
town, S. C, June 22, 1837, and came to Illinois in 
1851. 



<iCX- ' 



I^ANIEL FIDDYMENT. It is a pleasure to 
))] gaze upon the varied landscape that com- 
^ prises the beautiful farm of this gentleman, 
and to note the care with which every detail of its 
management is overseen, the natural features of 
hill and valley being unmarred by neglected build- 
ings, tumble-down fences or unsightly fields. The 
estate comprises one hundred and ninety-two acres 
of land that is well adapted for stock-raising, and 
in that branch of agriculture Mr. Fiddyment is 
quite extensively engaged. 

The parents of our subject, William and Hannah 
(Knivett) Fiddyment, vrere natives of "Merrie 
England, "and there their son was also born, his na- 
tal d.ay being October 6, 1838. The parental family 
consisted of three sons and one daughter, and they 
were reared upon a farm, the father being a tiller 
of the soil. In 1859 the}' determined to cross the 
briny deep and seek a better opening for their en- 



ergies in the United States. Bidding adieu to the 
land of their birth, they reached New York after 
an ocean voyage of seven weeks, and came to Lock- 
port, HI., by water, traversing the Hudson River, 
Erie Canal, (^Jreat Lakes, anil Illinois and ISHchigan 
Canal. 

I""or some time the elder .Mr. Fiddyment was en- 
gaged in the business of distilling, but he finally 
.settleil on the homestead now occupied by his 
widow and her son Daniel. He of whom we write 
began his personal < areer as a farmer, and has ever 
continued in the vocation to which his early sur- 
roundings and tastes led him. That it is one 
to which he is adapted by nature, no one will 
doubt who visits his pleasant and remunerative 
farm. The reputation that he bears among the 
tillers of the soil of this vicinity is that of an able 
agriculturist and an honest man, and this is agreed 
to by all who know him. 

An important sle|) in the life of Mr. Fiddyment 
was his marriage, in 1861, to Miss Margaret Wads- 
worth, a native of Vermont. This lady possesses 
the strict integrity and regard for duty that char- 
a'jterizi! the New England women, and with it the 
housewifely skill and kindliness to those in need of 
attention that are also prominent traits in their 
character. The union has been blessed by the 
liirth of five children, but three have been removed 
b}' the Angel of Death. The survivors — Olive and 
Daniel — yet linger at the family fireside. 

Perhaps the most remarkable feature in a life 
marked by uprightness and strict attention to his 
personal affairs, is the fact that Mr. Fidd3ment has 
never been engaged in a lawsuit, either as princi- 
pal or witness. His wife belongs to the Methodist 
]''|)iscopal Church, at Lockport, and is numbered 
among the reliable members. 

A fine view of the home of our subject and its 
surroundings, will be found on the opposite page. 



-h 



-^ic- 



-^ 



OSEPH KAPS. Among the citizens of for- 
eign birth, residents of Plainfield Township, 
who have been factors in promoting its 
1^^/i farming interests and by sheer force of per- 
sistent and intelligent labor have placed themselves 



t 




m,Ki!,/k>»^m. 



Residence of Joseph Kaps , Sec.28. PlainfieldTp.Will Co.Ill. 




Residence of Mrs. Hannah Fiddyment, Sec.I.LockportTp.Will Co.Ill. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



355 



anioiin; tlie most sulistanlial members of the com- 
iimiiity. is the .subject of this biogi'apliical review, 
;iii(l his faiiii is one of tlie tliiest and liest manasjeil 
in tliis vicinity, lie was born in Shieisien, ( uTniany, 
near llie lioiinilai'v line between tliat !\inu(h)ni and 
Poland, his birth taldng place October 1, hs;!|. 
His fallier, Chrisloplier Ka|)s, was a native; of llie 
same place, while his father, whose given name 
was .b)hn Mieliael, was born in Austria. After at- 
taining manliood the latter crossed the border and 
became a cilize)i of (ierniauy, and there married 
and reared a family, spending the rcot of his days 
there as a farmer. Tlie fatiier of our subject 
learneil the trade of a weaver and followed that 
occu|iation besides tilling the little plot of eight 
acres of land that he owned. lie resided in his 
nati\e place until 1S,")4. and in that year with his 
wife and two sons started for this land of proniiLH', 
setting sail Noveml)er 19, from Bremen in the sail- 
ing vessel •'Alfred' and landing December 25, on 
the shores of America. He located in Cleveland, 
Oswego County. N. Y., and was a resident of that 
place till .luly, 1855. In that month he came to 
Illinois and located in Aurora, Kane County, and 
lived there ten years. At the expiration of that 
time he came to Will County and spent his last 
years in the town of Troy, dying there in 1875. 
The mother of our subject departed this life in 
1872. The father was twice married and reared 
two daughters b}- his first marriage, i\Iary coming 
to America and dying here subse(iuently unmar- 
rie<I. There were four children of the second 
marriage, two of whom were reared to years of 
maturity, our subject and his brother John. The 
latter settled in Troy and later in Plainfleld, where 
he died unmarried. 

.loseph Kaps attended school steadily until four- 
teen years of age and acquired a sound education. 
He then took up farming as his life work, carrying 
it on in the land of his birth till 1854. That year 
marked a turning point in his life as it was then he 
emigrated to this country. He started out in a 
foreign land with no other capital than with which 
natuie provided him and he Brst made money by 
working for others. He was thus engaged for four 
years, and then rented land and in 1867 made his 
first purchase of eighty acres of wild prairie in 



Troy, this county. He greatly improved the land 
and tilled the soil there until 1880, when he sold it 
at a good advance and |)urchased his i)rescnt place 
of residence on section 28, I'lainfiehl Township, 
three miles from the village, seven and one-half 
miles from .loliet, the farm being beautifully lo- 
cated on the banks of the Dul'age River. It com- 
prises two hundred and fifty-one acres of land of 
unsu)-[jassed fertility- and productiveness. He has 
it under the best of cultivation and has erected 
commodious buildings and has it amply provided 
with all the conveniences for carrying on agricul- 
ture to the best advantage. • 

The prosperity of our subject is due in a measure 
to the fact that he has been assisted in his labors bj- 
the active co-operation of a cajjable wife to whom 
he was united in marriage in 18()5. Her maiden 
name w.as INLuy Scipolt and she was tiorn in Ger- 
many, and came to America with her [lareuts, Jo 
seph and Marj' ]\[. Seipolt. Their pleasant home 
circle is completed by the seven children born to 
them: Matilda, Mary, Francis, Henry, Joseph, 
Clara and John. The faniil}' are members in high 
standing of St. John's Catholic Church. 

It may I)e seen from the perusal of this sketch 
that all that our subject has an<l is he owes to hini- 
self, that he is in fact a self-made man. He is well 
endowed with decision of character, tenacity of 
|iurpose, and an active mind, and these with his in- 
herent ca|)acity and traits of thrift and sagacity 
have pushed him on to success in his calling and 
the accjuirement of a desirable property. He is 
alive to the value of a good education and gives 
his chihlren advantages in that direction. A man 
of his standing is a good citizen and is a help to 
any conimunity. 

The pleasant home and fertile Gelds belonging to 
our subject are well represented in the accompany- 
ing lithographic view. 



RANKLIN E. BARBER was born in this 
i^> county in pioneer times, coming of a good 
old pioneer family, and, reared to a stal- 
wart, enterprising manhood, under the peculiar in- 
fluences that obtained here in the days of bi§ 



3:.<'. 



I'OKTKAIT AN1> BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Voulli, III- !<U|>|>»'tl to llif froiil U> lake liis |i!iil in 
till' fjri'Ml work of ii'iUiiiiiiin Uiif siilioii of llio ; 
loiiiitrv fn'Mi il.- I'riinilivf wililni.-.*. niul lins fver I 
simi- Ijoiiic nil hoiioralilc inul in suslaiiiiiiy iiinl 
inishinf; foiw;iiil iLsi-xU-nsivf iiyiitiilluuil iiiK'H"»»s 
lis :in lulivf f!inii<T nn<l sKMk-iiiisi'i- in Diil'iigf 
Towiisliii' 

Tin- !<uli)«it 1.1 llii.> iiulicf was horn in lliis 
.oiinly. Aii;;ii!*l 'ii'i, l«:i."». lli- wi:s a son of .lolin 
mikI Kmuia ( IVriy) Biiilu r. nnlivis ii'S|)fctivi'ly of j 
\ irnioiil and MaJsailiUMais. In IXM llu-y cmi- 
■'lalril from Niw Mn^'lanii with llieir family lo 
this pall of lllinui!., anil Mr. i'.ai lici lMmi,'lil land 
ill this I iwiiship. on siction 2. when (he (iovcrn- 
iiient sail' look placi-, piirfliasinj,' holh (Jovi'rnmi'iit 
anil canal land, payiiij; *1.25 for llie forimr and a 
lii;;lii'r price for llii- lallor. His land coii.sisU-d of 
piairie ami linihcr, and lir tiiriu'd the first furrow 
and i-ivcted a lo^' lionse and lou; harii, making a 
dwillinji of till' foniivr for a iiiimln-r of years. 
Ilu losiditl here till his death. Deremher \'.K I.sTC. 
wliieli removed from mir midst a represeiit:ilive 
pioneer and a highly hoiioialile useful eili/.en. 
■|'lie mother of our .siihjeel had preceded him in 
ilealh. dying on May '■^^ •'^''- ''"^y "''^''^' "'^' !'"• 
enl.s of a large family, of children, of whom four 
are known lo survive, namely: Hoyal K., of .loliel; 
Caroline, wife of L. H. .Vndeison, of Michigan; 
.lane, wife of Millon Klsworth, of Wheaton ; and 
Franklin K. The father was a man of consider- 
aide prominence in llie county, and served for a 
time as Deputy Sheriff. He was in early life a 
Whi". lint he afterward cast in his foriune with Ihe 
Uepuhlican party. He w sis successful in life, linan- 
cially. and left a comfortahle esUile. Like all pio- 
neers. Ills early life here was one of sacrifice and 
often of privation. 

The subject of this liiographical review was 
reared in this township, ami received the prelilni- 
iiaries of his cdiicalion in the local schools, and 
suliseipicnlly attended the High School at .loliel 
for a short lime. Since llien he has advanced his 
tdiicalion liy oliservation and hy rending, as he is 
a "teat lover of g«.>od hooks. He was trained to 
ihe life of a farmer, and olilaincd a sound, prac- 
tical knowledge of his calling, which he sldl pur- 
sues very profilaldy. He owns over two bundrefl 



acres of excellent farming land, which is well cul- 
tivated and yields liir;;e harvests, and is amply 
provided with siihslantial huildings for every pur- 
pose. 

To the one to whom he owi-s so much of the 
comfort and coxiness of a good home, lie was uiitUil 
ill marriage Septeiiiher 2. JHCT. the niaiileii name of 
his hiide heiiig Adelaide X'alenline. They have 
live children, namely: Knima. wife of C. H. Tot- 
son ; Ktla K.. Kdward. .lessie and Kraiikie. 

.Mr. It;irlier hears a tine reputation in his old 
home :is lieing a practic.-il man. of slnnch principles 
and stahilily of purpose, whose word is never 
doiihted; one in whom his neighbors pl.ace im- 
plicit Irusl. who. ill short, is a crtilil to his native 
county and is beuring worthily the mantle of his 
pioneer sire. He h.as been Townshi|> Clerk, and 
has held the ollice of Constable, Politically, he is 
cinsseil with the most, earnest sup|)orlers of the Ke- 
piiblican party. Heligioiisly, he and his wife are 
Presbylerians. !<lroiig in the f:iitli, and are among 
the most /ealoiis members of the church of that 
denomination in this phice. 

♦ ^ • •• ••-:: ;>#^i-er - 

tillN CAVANAIGH, The estate which 
, , this geiitleinan has secured is :i moniiineiit 
I U) his ability as an agriculturist, and a con- 
clusive proof that persistent eflforl will be 
rewanleil. It comprises three hiindred and 
eighty-eight acres on section •"t.^i. .lack.son Town- 
ship, and it needs but a glance to assure the 
p:isser-by that here comfort abounds, while thrift 
is seen in every deUiil of the work which is car- 
ried on. The esUite is thoroughly improved, the 
buildings l)eing especially noticeable for their size, 
number and convenience. 

In County Sligo, Ireland, alxuil lt<2t>, John 
Cavanaugh opened his eyes to the light, and in 
the Kmerald Isle he remained until he was almost 
twenty years oUI. He then went lo Kngland. 
where he remained until the fall of 18,")1. when he 
determined to seek a wider field for his energies in 
the land across Ihe sea. Taking pas.sage for 
America he landed in New York, whence he went 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIIOAL ALBUM. 



357 



to Albany, scijoiiiniiif;' in Uml city three or four 
iiuintlis. lie Ihcii tu(il< u\< his rosiiieiicc in tin.' 
western part uf llieKuiiiie State, making Herki- 
mer Connly his hoiu'o for some two years. His 
ne.\t removal was to Will County. 111., where he 
luis sinee lieen a resirlent. and where he has de- 
voted his attention to agrieultine. 

One of the most imiiortant. e\'ents in the lifr ot 
Mr. Cavanan!,^h was his choice of a i-om|)anion, and 
he lias no leason to regret his selection. His wife 
bore the maiden name of Kai.e Mahei-, and was 
born in Countv Kilkenny. Ireland. November 15, 
l,s;!,S. She was about twenty-three years old 
when filie left her native isle for yVineriea, and at 
the time of her jnarriage she was living in Wil- 
mington, this county. The family of IVfr. and 
Mrs. L'avanaugh includes ten living children and 
two deceased. The latter are .lames E. and 
Matliew; the survivors are William, JHchael, 
Thomas 1'., (ieorge, Edward, Marj', Liz/.ie, Mag- 
gie .1., .hilia and Katie A. 

The active intellect and (juick wit which are 
pidverbial to natives of the Emerald Isle are not 
lacking in our subject and his estimable wife, and 
the religious element of their characters is satisfied 
with the worship of the Catholic Church, in the 
faith of which they are devout believers. Mr. 
Cavanaugh has been Commissioner of Highways, 
t.'iking the interest which all dwellers in the coun- 
tiy shouhl ill the improvement of the roads. 



-^•■ ^ • t ' l ' l ' l" - 




^|^«i^ UARLES H()l^/. This gentleman is num- 
bered among the leading citizens of Bcecher, 
and indeed of Washington Township, of 
which he has been Clerk for si.xtcen years. He 
has held other local oflices and has a high rejiuta- 
tiou as an efficient public servant, and he is like- 
wise regarded as one of the most successful far- 
mers of this part of the county. He owns a line 
estate of one hundred and twenty' acres near the 
village and an excellent residence which he occu- 
|)ies within the limits. 

Meeklenburg-Sehwerin, Germany, claims Mr. 
Holz as one of her sons and that duchy was the 



ancestral home for generations. Henry Holz, the 
father of our subject, was a sliocmaker who fol- 
lowed his trade in the Fatherland until 1858, when 
with his wife an<l family he emigrated to America. 
'I'hey s!iilc(l fruiii Ihiiiiburg to New York on the 
•'North America" which made the passage in thirt}-- 
(ive d.ays. The family journeyed direct to Chi- 
cago. 111., and thence to Du Page County, from 
which the iiarenls subsc<piently returned to Cook 
Count\-, locating in Proviso Township. There 
the father died,. July 21, 1878, in the sixty-seventh 
year of his .age. He was a Republican, a member 
of the Lutheran Church, and a good man who 
was respected by all who knew him. His wife, 
Mary (Miller) Holz, came to Will County after 
his death and died at the home of our subject in 
the winter of 188(1. She was then seventy-three 
years old. She was a life-long member of the 
Lutheran Church and was a devoted mother, lov- 
ing companion, and excellent neighbor. 

The parental family consisted of two sons and 
four daughters, the subject of this sketch being 
the second in order of l>irth. He was born No- 
vember 29, 1827, and was nearly of age when his 
parents came to this country. He reached his 
majority in l)u Page County where he continued 
to make his home until 1865, being occupied as a 
farmer and an improver of lands. Ijion leaving 
that county he took up bis abode near Beecher and 
here he has gained a competence and secured an 
excellent reputation. In his early life he learned 
the tr.ade of a shoemaker, but he has not followed 
it since he came to America. 

The estimable wife of Mr. Holz w.as known in 
her maidenhood as Minnie Oelerking. Their mar- 
riage rites were celebrated in Cook County and 
neither has had cause to regret the union. Mrs. 
Holz W!is born in Hanover. Germany, January 9, 
1842, received a good education in the land of her 
birth, and was so instructed by her good parents 
as to grow to womanhood possessed of a line char- 
acter and much useful domestic knowledge. She 
was nineteen years old when her parents came to 
this country and she lived in Du Page County 
until her marriage. Her union with our subject 
has been a childless one liiit they have become the 
foster parents of three children: Henry died when 



I'olMHAll' AND HKKUtAlMlICAL ALHUM. 



sfvi'li vi'iirs ol<l ; l.tmissi ami IJush arc >lill »villi 
Uu'ir fosU'i- imli'iils, iiii(lti wliosu ciiii- ntnl liiiiiiiii;,' 
lliov Imvf lii'ou wi'll n-aiiil ami eiliiialffi in liolh 
Kiifjlisli ami (i.riiiMii mIumiIs. Mr. niiil Mi>. ilnlz 
ami till- (laii;;liU'is liuimig to Uif LuUiiTaii Cliuicli 
ami liavo many fiionds among llioir assoi-ial*- mcin- 
lii-rs, as well as in all tiicks in wliitli liii-v inovo. 
Tlif paivnis of Mcs. lloi/. woiu lUniy and 
Sopliia (llarlmann) Ofii-ikinK, who wlml- lioin 
ivaitil anil maiiii'd in llii' Kinjitlom of llanoviT. 
Till' falliiT followc'l till' liiisinc'ss of Imyinj,' up 
liiiltiT. f}.'!,'-. iliiikons. clc.. ami si-liing llii'in in liio 
lai-^;rr lilies, iloin;; in this way u linu commission 
liiuli'. Oni' son ami live daugiiti'is were horn to 
llio good conple 'lefore tliey cmigraleil to Amer- 
ica. They sailed fiuni IJremerhaven in IK(!(), 
landing in New York seven weeks later, and com- 
in<; at once lo the I'rairie Slnle, took np their 
aliode on a farm, in Dn I'age County. There the 
parents lived for .some years. Iiul suhseipienlly 
l.ecame residents of I'.eecher. Here Mr. ( (clerking 
died in Ocloher, 1872, at the age of si.vly three 
vcars. lie was an honest, hardworking man, a 

ji I Uepulilican in politics, and a sound mcndn-r 

of the Lutheran Church. His widow survived 
him several years, hreathing her last .May 21. IKTi!. 
She was a good mother, and a kindduarU-d neigh- 
hor. ever ready to assist liiose in need. With one 
exception the nieridjcrs of llie parental household 
are still living. 



-S-+S^3><:S=f+-f" 




OHRANCK DIUKI.L. One fundamental 
idea has been retained us a comoion basis 
for the priiici|)al forms of Ciovernment. 
In the theocracy, the patriarchal system. 
a:id llie democracy, the principle that the jiidici.ary 
slanils first in iuiport.-ince, has ever been recognized, 
and, a.s a logical sequence, to bccliosi-n to discharge 
that function carries with it a signal honor. l)or- 
rance Dibell was invested with this dignity by be- 
ing elected, on the 3d of November. 1885, Judge 
of the Ninth .ludicial Circuit, consisting of Will, 
(Irundy, LaSalle and Ibireau Counties. IJorn Feb- 
ruary IG, 1811. he was forty-one years of age at 



the lime of his election, tlins U-ing the youngest 
cf those who have been calleil to that ollice in the 
circuit mentioned. 

.Ind^'e Dibell is the .son of Ihc Kcv. .1. li. Dibdl. 
a n;itive of Kingsvdle, Ashtabula County, Ohio, 
and l.oui.sa (Ward) Dibell. who.se birthplace was 
Kllington, Tolland County. Conn. His own birth- 
place was NN'ooster, Wayne County, Ohio. His 
parents lived in Homer and New Lenox Town8lii|)s. 
Will County, III., from 18.j(l. The father was a 
liaplist miidsler whose sacred calling w:is teruun- 
aled by death .Scplendier 10. lH8,j. His lbirty-(ive 
years of ndnistration in this county are rich in 
tributes to his faithfulness in the service of his di- 
vine Master, .\fter his death the mother, with her 
daughter, •lulia Louisa, took up her abode with her 
son Dorrance. in .loliet, where she resided until her 
death October 17. 18h.j. 'i'be daughter .lulia was 
killed by the cars in that city .September 20, 1889. 
.Imlge Dibell was a lad of but six years when his 
parents settled in the I'niirie State and he grew lo 
maidiood on his father's farm, attending the public 
schools in boyhood anil subsei|m'ntly prosecntini: 
his studies in the Iniversity of Chicago; beginning 
his personal career as a teacher In? wjls afterward 
emploved as a telegraph o|H'r:itor at liacine. Wis.. 
and Wheatland and DeWitt. Iowa. At the latter 
place he began the study of law with the Hon. 
.lolin C. Policy, further |iursuing his professioii.-d 
researches with Messrs. OofHispeed. .Snap|( it Knox 
and I'arks .V Hill, all of .Foliet. 

On the ".'.Sd of August. \>*'0. the young student 
was admitted to the bar and formed .-i partnership 
Willi the Hon. Charles A. Hill, now member of Con- 
gress from the l-'.ighth District. The firm name wa^^ 
llilliV Dibell, and the connection begun Scplember 
3. 1H70, was not dissolved until November 13, 
1880, when the election of Mr. Dibell to the bench 
severed the oldest law partnership in the county. 
The firm enjoyed a large and iniportunt practice, 
both mendiers holding high positions among the 
legal fraternity on account of their acumen and 
their skill in conducting ciises. 

During the years of his active practice .ludge Dib- 
ell WIS a member of the City Council, and assisted 
in establishing a great number of the Iiest im|)rove- 
ments of the cily. lie was in the council when the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



359 



change was made from the special cliarter to incor- 
poration under the general law. Tlie first judicial 
term of the Judge is drawing to a close and it is 
well within bounds to say that liis record will stand 
with the jinrcst and ablest. 

One who has known Judge Dilicii long and inli- 
nialely ."says of him: '-Judge Dibell is a large- 
brained, broad-minilcd, generous-spirited man, who 
comni.'uids tiie affectionate esteem and confidence 
of all wlio know him. Like most students, he i.s 
iKil ill :iiiy sense a society man, but his equable 
temper and amiable disposition iiavc made liiui a 
prime favorite with his neighlxus and friends. 
The exacting demands and large rciiuircments of 
Ills profession have not dulled his taste for general 
literature. Ho has gathered a large and valuable 
miscellaneous library, not for ornament, but for 
Ids own use and enjoyment. The great poets and 
ilramatists are represented there, and the specialists 
of science, philosophy and politicnl economy, have 
not been neglected nor overlookeil. l<;ven theol- 
ogy is not excluded, as is too frequently the case 
among lawyers. Tn short, to legal learning he adds 
a cultivated taste and a large store of general in- 
formatifm.'' 

The mariiiige of Judge Dibell and .Miss .Sarah M. 
Suapp was celebrated in IH72. The chosen com- 
panion of our subject is the ehlest daughter of the 
Hon. Henry Sna|)p, at the lime of her marriage 
representing this district in Congress. The only 
living child of Mr. and Mrs. Dibell is ('liarles Dor- 
ranee, who^vvas born iMarch lit. 187.'). Not only is 
Mrs. Dibell devoted to the interests of her home 
but she has the culture and disposition that wins 
friends, and her place in society is an assured one. 



EBENKZKR C. STKPHKN. The man wli- 
has a brain to conceive and a hand to per 
I form various kinds of handicraft, may we 



IBENKZKR C. STKPHKN. The man who 

per 
I'll 

be gratefully |)rouil of his ability to add to the 
means iiy which others can increase their conven- 
iences or opportunities. The gentleman with whose 
name we introduce this notice comes of a family in 
which the mechanical talent is consi)icuous, several 



members having shown high degrees of skill in va- 
rious lines of construction. His Grandfather Gar- 
d(!n was a mill, cart aiul plow wright, and his 
Grandfather Stephen was also a first-class mecluniic. 
So, too. was his father, Joseph Stephen, although 
the latter studieil for the ministry and devoted 
himself to the cause of the Master during a great 
part of his life. A fuller account of the lives of 
Joseph Ste[)hen and his wife, Jane ((iarden) Ste- 
phen, will be found in the sketch of David S. Ste- 
phen on another page in this Alhum. 

The subject of this notice was born in Aberdeen- 
shire, Scotland, July 25, 1838, and accompanied 
his parents to America in 1813. The voyage and 
journey to Northern Illinois are recorded in the 
sketch of his brother David, aiul it is unnecessary 
to repeat them here. The lad was reared upon the 
farm until ISf!;!, having the advantages of the 
common schools, and when a very young m.an 
taught for one term in Green Garden Townshi|). 
He inherited the mechanical skill of his ancestors, 
and without having t() serve an apprenticeshif) was 
able to do almost anything in mechanics. 

In 1863 Mr. Stephen opened a machine ami le- 
pair shop in pavtnershii) with his brother, David S.. 
and has continued in the business for twenty' seven 
years. The fraternal connection was finally dis- 
solved in 1889 and our subject has now the bidk of 
the old business. He is proprietor of a saw, plan- 
ing and feed mill in l""rankfort and does all kinds 
of general woodwork, repairing and manufacturing. 
He also deals in farm imi)lcnionts and machinery 
and in hard-wood lumber and coal. lie has a fine 
set of machinery and tools, and the reputation 
which he has earned as a first-class mechanic is well 
deserved. Tiic buildings which he occupies were 
erected by himself and are situated upon a five- 
acre tract of land owned by him. He also owns a 
cozy residence. 

When a young man, Mr. Stei)lien learned the 
rudiments of farming and was actively engaged in 
it, acquiring in this way a |)ractical knowledge of 
all that pertains to agricultural life. Such was his 
taste and natural ability that while tt-aching lie 
spent Saturdays working in. the shop and was able 
to wood two plows per daj'. thus making $7. Such 
industr}' and zeal merited the smiles of Dame For- 



;ir,it 



rORTKAir AND IM()< I IJAl'l IICAI- ALHIIM. 



lime, mill it is a plriisiiri' to Ins friciiils to kii<»w 
lliiitlif lins <;iiiiu-<l n ('iiiiifurtAlilc rninnciiil .stAiiilin<{. 
Mr. Slc|ih(ii li:is tin |iiiliticiil tupirntiotis. |irercrriii<; 
the <|iiicl of his home to llii' tiiinult of piililic life, 
hill is I'ViT roaily to list- his iiilliii'iic<- iiml il<-|io!iil 
his voto ill favor of ltr|iiihn(-:uiisiii. 

Thf iiiiuriiiHi' rites of Mr. Slfiilii-ii ami Miss 
I'liiiiiin .1. ll(>ii|it were celelirati-il in Friuikforl, 
I )iM-i'iiilicr ;M . 1 Hi;7. The ('huriiiiii;L; hridc wms horn 
ill Kllliifihaiii Coiinly, Mieli.. ami well eiliionlcd by 
wnrlliy parents. The latter wi-re e;irly selllers in 
■lackson, Mifli.. whi're they locateil in IM.Ttj. The 
union of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen has hecii hieased 
hy the hirlh of five children: <ieor};c (J. is a me- 
fhanie and eiisja^ed with his fjither; Ida M. is a 
j,'nidii!ite of the Frank fort schools aiid now ie:ieliing 
.'il Ilailley. IloMicr Township, haviiig lie|;im her 
pniri'ssiiiiial liiliors wlicii l>ul sixleni years ()ld;.lo- 
srph A. is deceiised : licilxil Iv and .Inhii (). are 
still at iiitine .-ind niioi'iiipied. except in useful 
studies aii<) |>iirsuils. 



Gi:()U(;r. \V. KI.AtiC. Ihe family name 
(if tills gentleman will ever lie held in rever- 
riite In \\'lll ('(lunty as that i>( one of its 
early pioneers, who was for iiuiny years proliii- 
iiently eoniueted with its iiitcrest.s, and of great 
assistance in developing its resources and laying 
the solid foundation of the prosperity that it eii- 
j lys to day. And It is with pleasure that we place 
hefore the readers of this volume a review of his 
life and of that of his honored representative of 
the present. The latter, a native of the county, is 
now one of its leailing agriculturists, owning and 
successfully managing a large and valiialilc farm 
in l.ockpiut and Dul'age Townships, where he has 
a fine residence and elijnys :ill the comforts and 
luxuries of life. lie wa.s an oflicer in the late war 
and did gallant service with his regiment until ill 
health compelled him to resign his commission and 
retire to private life, taking with him the respect 
«if his fellow oflicers und the men who served un- 
der him. 

Mr. Klagg was horn in I'lainfield Township, 



Jul}' i.'», \H'M. Iteiiheii I'lagg, his father, was n 
native of New Hampshire, (iroton, in (Irafton 
County, iH-ing the place of his hirtli. lie was 
there bred to the life of n farmer, and thence 
went to \'crmonl when a young man and there was 
engaged in tliecoo|H'r's trade. Two years latt-r he 
inside his way to llaltiinore, Md., where he ae- 
rjuired the trade of a stone-mason. After two 
years stay in that city he returned to Vermont and 
at one time workeil its a stone-mason in Knslon. 
In IH.'Kl, he came to Illinois, traveling hy Lake 
Champlain, Chaiii|-.laiii A- Krie Cnnal to KiifTalo, 
and from thence hy the lakes to Chicago. That 
city was then composed of two log houses and 
Indian huts, and there w;is a trading post there. 
The captain of the boat wanted him to build a 
warehouse, thinking it might come in use, thimgh 
no oneel.se seemed to agree with him. Our sub- 
ject's father did not like that .section of the country, 
.'IS he thought it too swampy for farming purposes, 
and he hired a team to take lilm to Walker's (Jrove, 
n little below the present site of I'lainfield. At that 
time there were but three f:imilics living in the 
vicinity, and where I'l.-iinlicld and .lolict now are 
there was not a house, and Will Cuiinty then 
formed a part of Cuok County. All the laud was 
open for .settlcmi'iil .-md he had his cluiice in mil- 
lions of acres, and as he was told he could not live 
on the prairie he claimed a tract of timU-r in the 
northeastern cpiartcr of section 20. of what is now 
I'lainlield Township. At that time lieer and nil 
kinds of wild game were plenty, which was for- 
tunate for the carl}- settlers as bread stuffs were 
scarce, tlit nearest flour-mill being in Indiana. Mr. 
Fhigg's settlement was made there bcfiire the 
I IJlack Hawk War aii<l I here were freiiuenl Indian 
I scares, therefore, tlii' h.'indfiil of settlers built a 
stockade of logs and all gathered in it. and at one 
time lived there three monllis. the men taking their 
guns to the field to be ready for the enemy at a 
j minute's warning. Once it was thought the In- 
dians were going to make n raid and all the set- 
tiers here went to Ft. Dearborn and stayed there a 
few days until it was thought safe to return to 
their homes. Mr. Fl.agg built a log cabin on his 
fjirm and conimenced its clearance. .Sim in aft<'r 
coming here he took n contract to build the race 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



361 



for Walker's mills in which was sawed tho lumlx'i- 
to build the llrst frame house ever croctod in 
Chicago, and Mr. Flagg drew it there witli an ox 
IcMin. After residing on tliat claim a short time 
he sold it .and tooii up a tract of prairie land on sec- 
lion 10. .Tiid at once began tlie work of improve- 
ment. He first built a log caliin for the .accom- 
modation of liis fanuly and afterward erected a 
more sulistantial residence, and at tlie time nf Ids 
death had improved a valuable farm. 

November!), ISO'.), this worthy and highly rc- 
si)ccted pioneer, departed this life. The maiilen 
name of the wife who shared his labors and en- 
abled him to attain success in life was Betsey Ken- 
dall. She was born in Hebron, Grafton County, 
H. II., April G, 180r). Ilcr father. .Inhn W. Ken- 
dall, was formerly a resident of Hollis. N. 11. and 
removed thence to Hebron, where he liought 
a farm, and besides carrying on agriculture he 
worked at his trade of a cooper in that place un- 
til his death. The maiden name of his wife was 
Betsey Flanders and she was also of New Hampshire 
origin, and there spent her entire life, dying on 
the home farm in Heliron. Mrs. Flagg's death oc- 
curred February 'J."). 1872. She was the mother 
of eleven chiblien. .'is follows : .lolin W. K., Sarah 
F., Samanllia.l'i'udcnce, Frank, George W., Lorain, 
Henry, Willinm II.. Mary and Lucy. Samantha 
was the first while child born in this county, and 
she died here February 25, 1872, aged foity-one 
years and five months. In his early life Mr. 
Flagg was a folhiwer of the Whig party, Init later 
identified himself with the Iie|)nblican at the time 
of its organization and remained true to the party 
until his death. He was distinguished .as being the 
first Justice of the Peace ever elected here, Judge 
Caton being his opponent. 

Following is an item iiublished in the Chicago 
7V///»'.s after Mr. Flagg's death, which is of interest 
and importance. "In the winter of 18.31, the 
Methodist circuit riders of the great west held a 
conference in the settlement of Chicago, and 
among the other supi)lies contributed to their com- 
fort during their session was a dressed hog from 
the old town of Plainfield, in Will County, thirty- 
six miles south-west of the place of meeting. This 
animal was the property of Reuben Flagg, a good 



farmer residing near Plainfield, who has recently 
passed away. He started with the dressed hog on 
a sled and succeeded in getting lost, somewhere 
just outside the present city limits. Not arriving 
in time a delegation of ministers was sent out from 
the conference to lind him. This tlu;y were for- 
tunate enough to do, all being much rejoiced, it is 
said, at the sight of the wandering farmer ami 
especially of the fat i)orkcr on the sled. \ow the 
question is whether this dressed hog shipped from 
Phiinfield to Chicago in 18.11, is not the first sliip- 
ment of the article to this market on record, the 
initiatory arrival (/f a produc^t which in 1871, ag- 
gregated two million, live hundred and twcnt}'- 
eight thou.sand, one hundred eight head." 

(ieorge W. Flagg, of whom these lines arc writ- 
ten was reared on a faini and educated in the dis- 
trict schools, of this his native county. He early 
displayed the patriotism that made him a good sol- 
dier and before the war became a mcml)er of the 
Plainfield Light Artillery, and at the time of the 
first call for tr<iops, in April, 1861, he was Second 
Lieut Miant of his company, vvhich offered its ser- 
vices to the government and was sent to Cairf), 
and was there organized as Company K, Tenth 
Illinois Infantry, and mustered in for three months. 
Our subject served until the expiration of his 
term of enlistment, and in September, 18GI, again 
volunteered for the defence of his country, enlist- 
ing in Company K, Eighth Illinois Cavahy, and 
was mustered in as Second Lieutenant. He was 
with his regiment until 18G2, when he resigned on 
account of ill iiealth and returned home to resume 
farming on section 31. of Du Page Township and 
lived there until 1872. In that year, .as his health 
w.as not good, he went to Grcelej-, Col., and there 
engaged in livestock business for five years. At the 
expiration of that time he returned to Will County 
and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits 
here. He owns five hundred acres C)f as fine farming 
land as is to be found in the county, located in 
Du Page and Lockport Townships. He has a 
handsome and substantial residence which he oc- 
cupies in Plainfield, and is managing his large agri- 
cultural interests with more than ordinary success. 

In 1861, Mr. Flagg and Marava Colegrove 
united their lives and fortunes. She is a native of 



W4 



PORTnAIT ANH UKK ; i: A I'l 1 1( A 1. A1.IU7M. 



Wlit'iillaiid 'r<>«vii!<lii|). Will ('oiiiily, iiinl n ilitii^litcr 
of Li'stc'i- <;. mill l.iuTctift ( Iny:or»(>ll) ('oli'f;nivc, 
iif wliotii »t'i' ^kctc•ll. Two cliilili'i'ii Imvc rrsultfil 
friiin this initrringf, (ioor^p K. nml .Ici'itinc I-°. 
Clu'sler lii[,'fi><>lf. Ilio Kntiiilfatlior i>f Mrs. Fin^jr, 
k<-|it llif llr.tl liiilcl Hint wns (i|iom('iI in llif i-ily of 
Cliiciigo. 

Mr. Finjig's loyal cunrsi' wlicii oni I'liuiiliy ";is 
tl)ivnl«MU'il Willi mill, :ui<l lii.s !(trnii,'lilforw!iril. 
niiiiily roiiiliu-t ill till llio nITnir.s of life. Imtli lir- 
forc iiml siiici' that tiiiic. mark him as a man who 
is an honor to thf <'iti/<-nslii|i of his native coiinly. 



„;'w.' 



CIIAUI.Ks I'AI i.l. |Mo|)ri.-tor of the Na- 
tional Hotel at .lolii't. coiint.s his rrienils liy 
the score amoiii; the traveling; pnlilie, anil 
wliuever is so fortunate as to sojourn oiiei' umh'r 
his liiis|iitaMi> roof, repcat.s the ex[)erinicnt at the 
earliest o|)|>ortuuity. 'I'he National is coinfortaMy 
e(|ui|i|>ecl with nil the reiiuisitcs ftir rest and re- 
freshmont. "Mine host" exerts himself to he 
eourteoiis mill ohlisiiii,', ami is evidently o|(erating 
witii a tliori>u<>;li understanding of his Inisiiicss. 

'i'lie snhjeet of this noliec, a. native of the King- 
dom of Saxony, was liorn May 2H, I8;J7, and is the 
son of an old soldier of the (lerman army, llenr}' 
I'aiili, who died in <!ermany, in IS7.'J, at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-two years. lie had distiii- 
Suished himself for hravery and fidelity to duty, 
and for many years was in the enjoyment of a 
(tension from the (government. 

In accordance with the laws and customs of his 
ii.ative country, ^Ir. I'aiili w.-is placc-d in school at 
an enrl^- age and pursued his studies several years, 
acipiiring a good education in his native tongue, 
lie remained a re^^ident of his native place until a 
nriii of twenty -eight years, and then resolved to 
seek his fortunes in America. Accordingly, in the 
Slimmer of IH(i."i he set out for the New World on 
a steam vessel named New York, which in due time 
l.'Uideil him safely in New York t'ily. Thence not 
lung afterward he repaired to St. Louis, Mo,, and 
from there migrated to lOlwarils ('muilv, Kan.. 



where he sojourned two years, lie afterward fol- 
loweil cigar making in Detroit, Mich., three <jr four 
j'ear.f, from IH77 to IKMI. In the spring of the 
latter year he enme to .loliet, where he pursued his 
trade of a cigarmaker until purchasing the hotel 
of which he is now proprietor. 

I I on liecomiiig a voting citi/.en Mr. Paiili iilen- 
tilied himself with the Denutcratic party, lie is 
eiiiinently social in his instincts, helonging to the 
Old Soldiers' Society, a (tcrman order nourishing 
wherever there is a large niimher of (lerinaii 
soldiers, lie also helongs to the .■sharpshootiTs and 
the N'oe.al Minstrel .Society of .loliet. 

Mr. I'aidi took unto himself a wife and helpmate 
in Octoher, IKMO, heiiig wedded to Miss Lena An- 
liardt. This lady was horn of parents who were 
natives of ( Germany, and who are now deeense<l. 
< K this union 'here are no ehildreii. .Mr. I'auli's 
mother hole the maiden name of Doretta Bock; 
she is now clecciieil. The National Hotel is a solid 
stone liiillding, containing seventy two rooms and 
thftroughly eipiipped for the purposes to which it 
is adapted. It was the lirsl hiiildinLT of the kind 
erected in Joliet, and although an old timer, is in a 
perfect sUite of preservation and goml for many 
j'ears to come. 



-k9 



\^A.S(>N L.WILSON. Amrmg the live real- 
estntc men of the nourishing little city of 
! .loliet. is found .Ia.soii L. Wilson, who was 
'^^ born in this city, Novemher II, 18.'>8. lie 
is a son of (!eorge and Martha (Katon) Wilson, 
holli of whom are natives of .Mjinchester. N.II. The 
fwther started out in life as a farmer, hut lenrned 
the carpenter's trade, which he suhseqnently fol 
lowed. In I«.i2 he left the (Granite Slate to liiid a 
home in the prairie lands of the Mississippi Valley. 
Iiringiiig with him his family, which then com- 
prised two children. These were .lolin, now cashier 
of tlie rolling mills, and Mrs. .lennie Mcliuire, 
also f>f this city. After Mr. and Mi-s. Oeorge Wil- 
son hocamc resider.ls of .loliet four children were 
I'oin to them. Two of these, Georjic and Katon 





■■■V 




^t-^t^-p^nJ^ 




^i^^^ 



/>^\X^^t-<^S> 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



365 



are deceased; "he living are Charles, a grocery 
dealer in .Toliev and our subject. 

'I'lic geii11<'inaii of whom wo write received a 
good c'oiniiioii-siiioo! education and began liis act- 
ive life MS a I'lerk in :i grocery store, in which lie 
remained ahuut four years. lie then became a 
clerk in the local oflicc of the Alton U'ailroad, 
spending eleven years in tiie employ of tliat lail- 
road corporation, four of wliich were passed in 
Chicago as chief clerk of the local office there. He 
returned to .loliet as agent of the Chicago & St. 
Louis, now tiie Santa Fe Railroad, continuing in 
tiiat capacity 11 Vi^ years. In 188',) he entered upon 
the sale of real estate, which lie still pursues, hav- 
ing in December of that year formed a pnrtncrshiii 
with Henry H. Mctiuire. 

In Miss Laura A'andenburg, a cultured and lov- 
able young lady of this city, Mr. Wilson found 
the qualities of heart anil mind which he desired 
in his life companion. After a successful wooing, 
the rites of wedlock were celebrated between them 
July 22, 1S82. They have three living children, 
named respectively: (Jeorge, Blartha and Anita. 
Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of AV. L. \andeiiburg, 
originally of the Empire State. Mr. AN'ilson af- 
lili.ates with the Masonic fraternitj'. He possesses 
decideil business ability, is well informed regard- 
ing the world's progress, and is reputed honest, re- 
liable and straightforward in all his dealings. 




l/ILLIAM DAVIDSON. It is frequently 
said that the pedestri.an learns much more 



of the country than he vpho travels by 
l)ublic conveyance, as be is brought much closer to 
the jieople and has a better opportunity to observe 
their habits and to learn their characteristics, and 
also sees, as rapid transit will not permit, the nat- 
ural beauties or blemishes of the landscajjc. Did 
time and space allow of a detailed account of the 
experiences of the subject of this sketch, much of 
interest might be learned regarding the ap|>earance 
of various sections some years since and the man- 
ner of life of the citizens. Although his experi- 



ences were not always agreeable, yet his labors in 
life were beguiled by many scenes both entertain- 
ing and instructive. The stubborn determination 
which is so characteristic of the race from which 
he sprung and the feeling which has been so thor- 
oughly* embodied in the well-known expression of 
one of England's most noted men, that "England ex- 
pects every man to do his duty," has characterized 
his life labors and led to his success and present 
assured financial standing. 

The remote ancestors of our subject were Danes, 
but for many generations they have been num- 
bered among the English race. He of whom we 
write was born in Tallantire, Cumberland County, 
England. October 28, 1827, and is one of six sons 
and two daughters born to Robert and Esther 
(Howe) Davidson, who were natives of the same 
county. The f.ather was a farm laborer. Thiee 
sons and a daughter came to America, .loscith and 
William making the voyage in 1850. 

An old Englishman had been sent from Connec- 
ticut to the Mother Country to secure one hundred 
and fifty quarrymen, and under an engagement 
with him the two Davidsons came to the Ignited 
States, Joseph paying his own fare but William 
being brought b3^ the company. The latter from 
early boyhood had longed to cross the ocean and 
rejoiced in the opportunity presented to him. They 
landed in New York April 24, 1850. and began 
their labors in the Connecticut quarry the follow- 
ing da}'. Previous to leaving his native land young 
Davidson had been railroading for six years and 
prior to that time had been a farm hand. 

Mr. Davidson worked ninet3-nine days in the 
quarry, paying his passage money and quitting the 
employ' of the com|)any when thej- owed him $40, 
which they have never i)aid. Borrowing $7 from 
his brother, he went to Philadelphia and thence to 
I.altimore, from which point he started on a tramp 
with his kit on his back. He went to Little York, 
Pa., and had worked six weeks when tlie quarry 
stopped and he tramped three hundred miles, re- 
turning to within a mile of his starting point. 
There he worked on a canal six weeks, after which 
he w.alked to Dalton, Ohio, where he engaged to 
lay tr.ack for the Ft. Wayne Railroad. Nine 
months were spent in the employ of that company, 



5560 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



during which Mr. Davidson put in the switches 
and side tracl<s from Pittsburg, Pa., to Massillon, 
Ohio. Ilis next change was to Michigan C'il.v, Ind., 
wiiere lie took a joli of spotting tics on the New 
Alh.uiy iV Salcni Railro.ad. The little money whicli 
lie shoiihl have made was hist, a.« his contract w.as 
but a verbal one, anil his eniiiloycrs thongiit he was 
maliing too inncli for an old country man. 

After this hard treatment Mr. Davidson left the 
company and coming to Cliicago in 18.')2 was ill 
for two weeks, after which he went on llu^ Illinois 
Central Railroad at ICankakce, before tiicrc was a 
house at that point. He got out all the stone used 
on the road from there to Cairo, working at it 
about four years, after which he took up his abode 
in Jolict, where he has resided for thirty-four \ ears, 
lie came here with Robert Cunningham and the 
tiist work he did in this place was to get out stone 
for the Universalist Church. He began work in 
the quarry of which he now owns a share, his cm- 
l)lo3ers being Wilson Bros, of Chicago, whom he 
served eleven years as a foreman. He and W. A 
Strong then bought the Swalm quarry, and after- 
ward the Wilson, carrying on the two about four 
years, when our subject bought his partner's inter- 
est, besides other property. In 1869 he sold a 
fourth interest to his brother and, in 1885, taking 
in Heiu-y Kerber, organized as a joint stock com- 
pany. The output has been from |100 to $150,000 
per year. 

Mr. Davidson has been four times married. His 
first wife, Jane Sterling, was a native of Canada 
and was of Scotch descent; slie died about three 
years after their marriage. Mr. Davidson con- 
tracted a second marriage with Ann Finney, a lad^- 
of English birth; she was a widow with six chil- 
dren, the youngest of whom was two years old at 
the time of her second marriage. She bore Mr. 
Davidson two children, one deceased, while the other 
a daughter, Etta J., is the wife of John Pierce 
and resides in Colorado Springs, Colo. After the 
de.ith of Mrs. Ann (Finney) Davidson our subject 
took unto himself as a wife and helpmate Rlrs. 
Melissa Dewe}-, who lived twenty-one years after 
their union. No children were born of this mar- 
riage. Mr. Davidson married his present wife, a 
most estimable lady, in the fall of 1885. Her ! 



maiden name was Amelia Hegboni, and .she is of 
Norwegian birth. 

In connection with this sketch we present a lith- 
ographic portrait of Mr. Davidson. Politically, he 
is a strong Republican. His character as well as 
bis business energy entitle him to respect, and he 
is numbered among the most relialjle citizens of 
the city in wliich he has resided so many j^ears. 



-i*- 



'^jr^==v 



gaged since 1875. 



/OIIN KllCI',senior member of the tirni of Kiep 
Bros., IS with his partner conducting a well 
regulated market occupying No. 117 Chi- 
cago Street, Joliet, where he has been en- 
Mr. Kiep is one of the native- 
born citizens of Joliet, and first opened his eyes to 
the light November 24, 1858. His father, Philip 
Kiep. a native of Germany, emigrated to the United 
States, in 1856, when a 3'oung man, coming ininie- 
diately to the young town of Joliet, and in due 
time was married to Miss Helen St. Julian. 

The mother of our subject was a native of 
France and born in 1834. She was thus four 
years younger than her husband whose birth took 
l)lace May 1, 1880. They were married in 1857, and 
Philip Kiep sometime afterward opened a board- 
ing house which he is still conducting. He and 
his excellent wife are still living, being hale and 
hearty and in the enjoyment of a comfortable sup- 
ply of this world's goods. There was born to them 
a family of nine children, six sons and three 
daughters, all of whom with the exception of P. 
Robert, the fourth child, who works in the Elgin 
Watch Factory, are residents of Joliet. The others 
were named respectively: John, Joseph, Frank L., 
Philip D., Josephine, Mary and Theresa, and one, 
Philip, dead. 

The sul)ject of this notice attended the public 
schools of Joliet and when starting out in life for 
himself entered the employ of W. C. Wood, who 
was engaged in the insurance business. Later he 
was variously occupied until 1875, when he estab- 
lished his meat market in partnership with James 
McParilin in 1881. In 1884, selling out he went to 
California where he remained until April the fol- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



367 



lowing j'ear. He was married in Joliet, June 24, 
18.S,"), to Miss Mary A. Rappal. Soon afterward, 
in ooiui):iny vvitli liis brother Joseph, he established 
the (irescnt market which is one of the most ira- 
poitant institutions of the kind in the city, doing 
a large business. He has miale as fine displays 
(luring the holidays as an}' market man in the State 
of Illinois, priding himself at this season. He is 
a line judge of good meats and is fully appreciated 
by his patrons who comprise the best people of the 
city. He gives very little attcntiim to polities, 
with the exception of voting the Democratic ticket 
at the general elections. 

Mrs. Mary A. (Rappal) Kiep was l)orn June 13, 
18G4, in Joliet and is the daughter of Michael and 
Antoinette Rappel who were early settlers of the 
township and who are still living; they are pleas- 
antly located on a farm two and one-half miles from 
the court house. The two children born to Mr. 
anil Mrs. Iviep were named respectively Loretta 
and Ambrose. l>eing a descendant of a people be- 
lieving in compulsor}' education, Mr. Kiep designs 
giving liis children the best advantage in his 
power. He is a Catholic in religion, belonging to 
St. .VIoysius Society in Joliet. 



\IL^ ERMAN N. DOESCHER. Crete Town- 
sliip is not without its share of the fine 
farms for which the State of Illinois is 

®) noted, and on one of these lives Herman 
Doeseher, a successful farmer and stock-raiser. 
Tills estate of two hundred and eight}- acres of fine 
land near Endor has been the home of our subject 
for fourteen j-ears, and to his efforts is due its 
present state of improvement. He began his res- 
idence in this township in 1851, buying one hun- 
dred and twenty acres in the southern part, upon 
wliich there was but little improvement. He has 
since improved the farm and increased the acreage, 
and made a small fortune b}- his persistent efforts 
in agriculture and stock-raising. 

In the town of Hanover, Germany, April 28, 
1833, he of whom we write opened his eyes to 
the light of daj-. He is the second in a family of 



eight children, one of whom was born in America, 
and was about nine }'ears of age when the family 
emigrated to America, a settlement being made in 
Lake County, Ind., where he grew to manhood. 
There he completed his schooling, becoming pos- 
sessed of a practical education, while under the 
careful training of his estimable |)arents,he af:quired 
right [irinciples and useful habits. At Hanover, 
in that county, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Amelia Meier, who has been his efficient 
comi)anion and sympathizing helpmate for many 
years. 

Mrs. Doeseher was born in Hanover, Germany, 
November 3, 1834, and there re.a/ed to womanhood. 
She lost her mother in Germany and subse- 
quently came to America with two of her brothers 
to join their father, Henry INIeier, at Hanover, Ind. 
The latter afterward went to Iowa, and died at 
Jefferson, Greene Count}', when about four score 
and five years of age. His life work was that of 
farming. Mrs. Doeseher was married about a 
year after her arrival in this country. .She is the 
mother of twelve children, seven of whom died 
young. The survivors are Alvina, Lizzie, Bertha; 
and PJdwin and Julius (twins), all at home. Mr. 
Doeseher has been Highway Commissioner some 
years. In politics he is a stanch Republican. 
The entire family are attendants at the Lutheran 
Church, and are regarded with respect by their 
fellow-citizens as worthy representatives of their 
nationality and the families from which they are 
descended. 

The paients of our subject were Herman and 
Johannah (Steffen) Doeseher. The father was born 
in the Kingdom of Hanover, and bred to the trade 
of a rope maker, carrying on a rope-walk at Breraer- 
baven for a number of years and until he came 
to America. The mother was born and reared 
near Hamburg, and was of pure German blood. 
After the birth of all of their children but one, 
they set out from Bremerhaven on a sailing ves- 
sel for the United States. After a voyage of 
seven weeks landing was made in New York City, 
whence the family at once journeyed to Lake 
County, Ind. This was in the fall of 1842. The 
parents purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
land in Hanover, whete they began their farm life, 






:jG8 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and where they lived for about fort}' years. There 
the mother died in 1881, nt the age of seventy- 
eight years. Her liusbaiid afterward went to En- 
dor, 111., and died at tlie home of his son Ciiarles, 
December 2, 1887. He had reached the advanced 
age of eight\'-four years. He had been successful 
in worldly affairs and in gaining tiic esteem of 
his fellow-men to whom his honesty and kindli- 
ness were well known. His wife was an excellent 
neigiibor, ever read}' to perform deeds of kindness 
and both liad many friends, imrlicularly among 
the German residents of liic coiinly in wliii-li (hev 
lived. 



— «- 



#-|^ 



^^!=^EORGK Pir'KKL is numbered among the 
lil j__, industrious, lliriftj' members of the farm- 
^^sSl '"g eonununity of i'lainlield 'I'ownsliip, 
where he lias an exeellent farm, that is under 
good tillage, is providcil with comfortable build- 
ings, and yields a good income. Our subject is n 
veteran of tlie late wai', in wliieli he suffered all 
the hardsliips and privations of a soldier's life 
for the sake of his country. He is a native of 
New York, born near the town cf Albion, Orleans 
County, Jul}' 3. 18:59, a son of John Picke!. He 
was but four years old when he was deprived of 
the care of his father by his premature death. The 
mother of our subject married a second time, be- 
coming the wife of William McQuenn, who was a 
veteran of the War of \>*\2. and took part in the 
battle of Plattsburg. In 1848, the family came 
to Will Count}', and here our subject was reared 
amid the pioneer influences that olitained here 
thus early in the settlement of this section of the 
State. Joliet was then but a village and the sur- 
rounding country was but sparsely settled, giving 
but little indication of its present prosperous con- 
dition. Our subject attended the public schools 
and obtained a fair education, and when very 
young entered upon his career as a farmer, gain- 
ing a good practical knowledge of agriculture, and 
he continued to pursue that calling till he entered 
the army. He had been watching the couise of 
the war with patriotic interest, and August 8, 18C2, 



in the very prime and vigor of a stalwart man- 
hood, he being then but twenty-three years of age, 
he proffered his services in tlie defence of the 
Stars and Stripes, and was enrolled as a member 
of Company E, One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, 
and served faithfully from that time until his hon- 
orable discharge in June, 18()5, with thi' exception 
of the time when he was languishing in rebel pris- 
ons. 

At the battle of Perrysville the regiment was 
held in reserve, but it took .an active and gallant 
part in the battles of Stone Piver and Chieka- 
manga. In the latter engagement l\Ir. Pickeland 
his comrades were captured, and for more than .'i 
year suffered the horrors of life in rebel prisons. 
After two days in Libby Prison, Richmond, they 
were taken from there, and were then transferred 
to Peraberton Prison, where they remained until 
December, and were then taken to Danville. In 
the month of April, they were dispatched to 
Andersonville. were confined Ihere seven months 
and after that taken to Florence. S. C, and from 
there to Gohlslxnough, N. C. thence to Wilming- 
ton, and were there paroled after being in the 
hands of the enemy seventeen long and weary 
months, when the}- must have often des|)aired of 
ever seeing home and friends .again. Mr. Picktl. 
though naturally of a vigorous constitution, suf- 
fered extremely and became so emaciated that 
whereas he had weighed two hundred and five 
pounds just after the battle of Stone River, when 
be was released from captivity he only weigheil 
one hundred and sixteen pounds. 

After our subject and his comrades were paroled 
they were ordered to St. Louis, and thence* 
went to Camp Butler, Springfield, and were mus- 
tered oui of the service. After his terrible exper- 
ience in [)rison, on the march and on the battle- 
field, Mr. Pickel returned to Will County, and as 
soon as able resumed his farming operations, that 
had been interrupted when he laid aside the har- 
vesting instrument to take up sword aiul rifle. He 
followed agriculture in Jackson Township until 
1878, and then bought his present farm, which he 
is managing with good financial success, and he is* 
a shrewd, skillful farmer. His land is well tilled, 
his buildings are suitable and convenient, and he 



r 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



369 



has CTOOfl iDachinery to work his farm, and does 
what he can to promote the higliest interests of 
Ills adopted township, and as a practical farmer is 
contributing to Its material prosi)erlt3'. 



',_ ON. ABIJAII CAGWIN. The growth 
)J) and prosperity of any city depends very 

^' largely upon the efforts of a comparatively 
small number of her residents, to whose faith 
ill the future of the place and wise judgment as to 
methods by which to secure a rapid development, 
other citizens owe the benefit which accrue to them. 
Ill the city of Joliet an important part in the 
iilibuildiiig and otticial worlc of both city and 
couiitv has been taken by the gentlein.'.n whose 
name stands at the head of this sketch, and wlio 
merits the good will of the citizens for labors which 
have resulted beneficially' to all who then made or 
now make it their home. 

The birth of Mr. Cagwiii look place in Verona, 
(.)iieida County, N. Y.. May 10, 1807, and lie lived 
ill his native place until he was nineteen years old. 
He had learned the trades of tanning, currying and 
shoemakiug in Rome, and going to Brockport, 
Monroe County, he built a tannery, continuing in 
business there until 1835, when the tannery- was 
destroyed by fire, entailing a severe loss. The 
people of the community were very anxious that 
the owner should rebuild and offered him material 
assistance, but he thought it would not be for the 
best, although very grateful to them for their good 
feeling and generosity. Some leather had been 
left uninjured by the fire, and this he made up 
into harness, which he shipped to Chicago, having 
made up his mind to come West. 

Mr. Cagwin left his old home in tiie Kmi)ire 
State in company with one Hiram Janes, but took 
on his own account a stock of goods, which he 
peddled on the way through to Peoria, 111. He 
visited a brother in Pekin, and then, having de- 
termined to settle at Joliet, which was then in 
Cook County, he loaded up the goods which he 
had left in Peoria and set out for this place. He 
bought a house and lot on the west side of the Des- 



plaincs River and sold out his goods at auction. 
Just before his settlement he undertook to cross 
the river in a boat, but came very near being car- 
ried over the dam by the current and drowned. 
He was within twelve feet of the verge when he 
was rescued by having a bed cord thrown out to 
him attached to a pole, which he finally succeeded 
in getting hold of. 

In 1835 the land sale took place in Chicago, and 
Mr. Cagwin purchased eighty acres southeast of 
Joliet, after which he returned East and bought the 
necessary equipments for a sawmill, which he 
shipped to Chicago, and brought with a team from 
that place to Joliet. He had some time before 
[lurchased one hundred and sixty acres of timber 
land, on which he purposed to begin the lumber 
business. On his return from the East he pur- 
chased a horse in Detroit, Mich., completing his 
journey from that point on horseback. He began 
getting out timber for his mill, doing what he 
could until the following winter, when on horse- 
back he went back to the Empire State, returning 
in the spring with his family, which consisted of a 
wife and four- children, the journey being accom- 
plished by teams. In the party were four other 
adults. 

Settling on the land east of Joliet, Mr. Cagwin 
began in earnest to build the sawmill, which was 
soon completed and in running order. Such mills 
being few in this section at that date, madesawmill- 
iuga lucrative business to those who were engaged 
in it. Mr. Cagwin did well, and in a short time 
was able to pay for all his land and purchase sev- 
eral lots in Joliet. He operated the mill until 
about 1839, when his excellent judgment and 
discrimination were recognized bj' his election to 
the position of Judge of Probate, which office he 
held four years. During that time he lived in the 
city, where he built several stores and other edi- 
fices, and in various way displaced his public 
spirit. The first warehouse in Will County was 
erected bj' him during his term of office, it being 
the one now owned by E. Bush. Joliet was the 
home of Mr. Cagwin until October, 1880, when he 
removed to his present residence east of the city 
limits on section 11, Joliet Township. The land 
which he occupies consists of ninety-three acres. 



370 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



valued al :s>5()0 per acre, anil on it is a full line of 
exoelUMil buildings adapted to various iiur|)Ose8, 
the family residence being a model of rui;d archi- 
tecture. Kor a long term of j'ears Mr. Cagwin was 
engageil in l)uying and shipping grain, and he is 
to day extensively known as the veteran grain 
dealer of this section. 

The marriage of the lion. Mr. Cagwin was cele- 
brated at Brockport, N. Y., many years ago, his 
bride being Miss Hannah Scribner, a native of 
Poultney, Vt. .She is a worthy woman, possessing 
more than ordinary intelligence and an excellent 
Christian character. She has bonic her husband 
ten children, eight of whom .ire living — Merritt is 
a farmer in Lockport Township; Helen is the 
widow of the late Dr. Elvis Harwood ; Sarah was 
first married to .a Mr. Hibbard, and is now the 
widow of the late Dr. Barrett, of .Jackson Town- 
^llip; 'rii()in.as is a resident of Milwaukee, Wis.; 
Hamdeii lives in .Toliet; Rose is the wife of Burt 
Briggs; Nancy is still with her parents; Abijah 
resides in Kt. Smilli, Ark. 

Mr. Cagwin's first Presidential liallot was cast 
for Andrew .Tackson, and lie has ever been a stanch 
Democrat, lie has held several important public 
positions, having been the incuinlient of various 
city offices. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity 
and is a Knight Templar. Both he and his wife 
lielong to the I'niversalist Clinrch. 






IIELDT. Among the iesi)ected enterpris- 
ing farmers of Washington Township, the 
name of our suliject deserves mention as 
that of one who in a comparatively short time has 
accumulated a line |)ro[)erty and secured a good 
position among the substantial men of the county. 
He owns and occupies two hundred acres of fertile 
land on section 27, and thereon has erected a full 
line of excellent farm buildings, including every 
convenient and necessar}' structure. Industrious 
and zealous in whatever he undertakes, upright in 
all the relations of life, and manifesting an intelli- 
gent interest in the advancement of the section in 
which he has made his home, Mr. Heldt is highly 
respected by his fellow-eftizens. 



The parents of our subject were Christopher and 
Steiiia Heldt, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, 
ill which Province their ten children were also 
Iiorns. Two sons and six daughters lived to ac- 
com|)aiiy their parents to America, to whose shores 
they set sail from Hamburg in May, 1856. Their 
passage was secured on the sailing-vessel "Ore- 
gon," which made a landing in New York City 
after a voy.age of seven weeks ami four days. 
The family soon afterward came to Chicago, and 
then located in I)u Page County. The^- were very 
poor and at first had a hard time to get along, but 
they were industrious and determined, and soon 
their laljors were rewarded by their ability to 
rent land, on which they made a goo<l living. The 
l>arents were members of the Lutheran Churcli. 
and not only led upright lives, but endeavored 
to instill into the hearts of their children the 
principles of right living. The mother died in Du 
Page County, in September, 1864, when upwards 
of three-score and ten years of age. The lie- 
reaved husband came to Will ('ouiity some months 
later, and died at the home of his son, William, in 
Washington Township, in 1 SOS. He was seventy- 
five years old. 

The natal day of our subject was .laniiary 20, 
1S12. In his native land he obtained the educa- 
tion which (iermany ensures to all her sons, and 
lalwred with other members of the family as his 
growing strength would permit. After the re 
moval to America, he settled with the others in 
Du Page County, III., remaining there until ISG8- 
In the meantime he had passzd his majority and 
had t.aken uiilo himself a companion in life, with 
whom he established his home in Will County on 
eighty acres, which forms a |)art of his present 
homestead. To this he added according to his abil- 
ity', until the lauded estate reached two hundred 
acres and all was placed in a line conditi(jn. 

For nine \ears Mr. Heldt served as Road Com- 
missioner, giving general satisfaction to the travel- 
ing public, and particularly to the agriculturists. 
His political adherence is given to the Republican 
party. He ami the members of his family belong 
to the Lutheran Church. 

The lady with whom Mr. Heldt was united in 
marriage in Du Page County, bore the maiden 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



371 



name of Lucetta Stedt. Sbe was boni in Mecklen- 
burg, Germany, Januaiy 8, 1843, and was fourteen 
years old when lier parents eanie to this country. 
She remained with tliem in York Center Town- 
slilp, Du Pago County, until lier marriage. She 
is a woman of intelligence and genuine worth, who 
looks well to the ways of her household and en- 
deavors to faithfully discharge every dutj'. (A full 
iiistor}' of the family of which she is a member 
will be found in the biography of William Stedt.) 
Mr. and Mrs. Heldt have had eleven children and 
mourn the loss of Rosetta, Sophia, and an infant 
unnamed. The survivors are: William, a farmer 
in Washington Township, wlio married Kmm.'i 
Blevening; Amelia, wife of Henry C. Hansen, 
whose home is a farm in Crete Township; Charles, 
Emma, Fred, Ernst, Louis and Robert, who are yet 
at home. 

Sjj BLISS SHAW, M. D. The regular school 
(>f medicine acknowledges one of its most 
able followers in tlie person of Dr. Shaw, 
one of the prominent physicians of .Toliet, 
who has a finely equipped ofticc in the Barber 
Building, and who enjoys an extensive and lucra- 
tive business. He located in the city in 1884, and 
gives his entire attention to the duties of his pro- 
fession. From 1881 until 1888 he held the office 
of Coroner. 

A native of this county Dr. Shaw was born in 
Joliet, December 1, 18(10, and was the son of John 
K. Shaw, a native of New York City. The latter 
was reared in the great metropolis, and was mar- 
ried to Miss Martha, daughter of John J. Flack, 
one of the early settlers of this county. The wed- 
ding took place in Joliet, but the young couple 
returned East afterward, and Mr. Shaw was con- 
nected with the Michigan Central Railroad for a 
number of years. He died, however, when com- 
paratively a young man, anil before the recollection 
of his son, J. Bliss. 

After the death of her husband Mrs. Shaw re- 
turned to her father's home in Joliet, where she 
still lives. She was subsequently married to Har- 
vey Downey. Our subject was the only child of 



his parents, and was reared by his maternal grand- 
father, John J. Flack, a native of Oswego County, 
N. Y. Grandfather Flack came to Illinois in 1840, 
and for manj' years was a resident of Joliet, where 
his death took place in 1876. 

Dr. .Shaw was a child of two years when he was 
brought to this countj^ by his mother, and pursued 
his first studies in the city "schools. At an early 
age lie began serionslj' to think of adopting the 
medical pr()fession, and entered upon his studies 
under the preceptorship of Dr. M. B. Campbell. 
He tOK^k his first course of lectures at the Chicago 
Homeopathic College, subsequently attended and 
was graduated in the class of 1884, from the Chi- 
cago Medical College, the latter being connected 
with the Northwestern University. 

Soon after locating in. Joliet the Doctor was 
elected County Coroner, obtaining the highest 
number of votes of any candidate on the Repub- 
lican ticket at that election. This fact is sufficient 
indication of his standing and popularit3' in the 
county. He has thus far made for himself a fine 
record, and has the wishes of hosts of friends for his 
continued success. He has a fine library, to which 
he is steadily adding, and wherein he spends his 
leisure time, keeping himself thoroughly posted 
upon the latest methods of practice, while in a 
literary point of view, he .is more than ordinarily 
proGcient, being the master of French, and having 
a good understanding of the German tongue. 

After being graduated Dr. JShaw crossed the At- 
lantic and spent seven months in the city of Paris, 
devoting himself to the study of surgery, together 
with venereal diseases and diseases of the eye and 
ear, of which he makes a specialty. He there ob- 
tained instruction from some of the finest practi- 
tioners at the French Capital, among them being 
the noted Galezowski. Upon returning to his na- 
tive land he spent a 3'ear in the Michael Reese Hos- 
pital, Chicago. In Paris he had charge of one of 
the wards in the Hotel Dieu, the largest hospital in 
the city. 

Dr. Shaw was wedded, February 5, 1885, at the 
bride's home in West Union, Iowa, to Miss Lida B. 
Hammond. This lady was born in Joliet, and is 
the daughter of King J. and Julia B. Hammond, 
who were natives of New York, but are now resi- 



372 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



flenls of West Union, Iowa. Two hiis-lit cliildren 
liavc been liorn of lliis union, a son ;in(l (iaiiuiitcr 
— Artluii- !*>. and Laura IL Tlic I)(jclor, pulili- 
eall}', gives his support to tliu RcpuhJican parly. 
Imt niedclles very little wiiii pul)iic affairs, con- 
scienliously devoting his attention to tlie duties of 
iiis profession. Both he and Ids esliinalile wife are 
members in good standing of the Methodist Kpis- 
eoi)al Church. 



ll.UiLKS FRA^'CIS PINNKO, 



if III 



energetic grocers of Joliet, is a iialiv<' of 
■iJfJ Will County, having lieen Imru ill Reed's 
Crove. November 18, 18,)L As a farmer's boy he 
grew up with au an.xiety for other and more con- 
genial pursuits, which were realized upon his father 
leaving farm life and removing to IClwood, where 
he remained until his death in the spring of 187!». 
Our subject on leaving the farm went to \eroua, 
HI., and engaged in the hotel business, where he 
remained until conung to Joliet in 1881, where he 
first accepted a subordinate position, which in 1883 
was e.Kclianged for the [)roi)rietorship of the Ijusi- 
uess he yet maintains. 

First class in all its appointments, the grocery 
of Mr. Pinneo is a model and his business is a 
thriving one. It is conducted according to tlie 
most honorable methods, and with a high degree 
of energy and tact, and the patrons of the estab- 
lishment are sure of courteous treatment and square 
dealing. Politically, Mr. Pinneo is a Republican, 
as was his father before him. He is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, endeavors to 
make his daily walk and conversation consistent 
with his Christian jirofession, and so wins the re- 
spect of those aliout him. 

j\h'. Pinneo has been twice married, his first wife 
having been Miss Mary A. (i rant. Their marriage 
was celebrated Christmas Day, 1872, and they lived 
happily together until January IC, 1887, when 
death removed the wife and mother. Three chil- 
dren had blessed the union, only one of whom. 
Amy G., is now living. The present wife of Mr. 
Pinneo was formerly Mrs. Loretta Thornburg, an 



estimable woman of intelligence and good breed- 
ing, who looks well to the ways of her householil, 
while nut neglecting the socitil duties and the so- 
ciety of her many friends. 

'I"he fatluM' of our subject was Charles Pinneo, 
a uativ(( of Nova .Scotia, whose nalal day was 
ftlarch 2C, 18U8. He was a man of pionounced 
convictions, an anient worker in the cause of tem- 
perance, a faithful and consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and a most excellent 
citizen. He died \\)x\\ '11 ^ 187;t, lamented by a 
host of friends. His wife, Mary E., also died at 
Elwo()d. her demise occuiiiig March 3, 1888; she 
was born in Nova Scotia, August 4, 1812. To her 
and luT huslianil eleven children were born, whose 
record is as follows: William .Simmons is deceased ; 
George Davenitort lives in Oakland, Cal. ; John 
Baxter, in Will County; Mrs. Julia A. Elderkin, 
in Montana; Mrs. Prudence Maria Shiffer, in Joliet; 
Mary Sophia, Soplironia Eliza, Andrew Wilson and 
Charles Albeit ore dead; Mrs. Sophronia Olivia 
Childs, now a widow, lives in Joliet; Charles Fran- 
cis is the youngest member of the family. The 
paternal grandparents of our subject were John D. 
and ICliznbeth Pinneo, also natives of Nova Scotia. 

^^RIFFIN MARSHALL. The subject of this 
i|[ (— ^ iiutice is a son of the late well-known 
^^JjJ George Marshall, who was one of the i)io- 
neer settlers of this county, coming hither when a 
young man and before his mairiage. He w.is a na- 
tive of New York State, as w.as also his wife, Mar- 
garet A. Paddock. The I'addock family likewise 
caiiie to Illinois at an early d.ay, and the parents of 
our subject were married in this couiit\. Ihey 
settled on section 1, New Lenox Townslii|), but in 
1850 the father, seized with the California gold 
fever, repaired to the Pacilic Slofie. He started on 
his return home by the ocean route, died on board 
ship, and was consigned to a watery grave. The 
mother is still living, and makes her home in New 
Lenox Township. 

To the parents of our subject there was born a 
family of seven children, of whom Griffin was the 




¥ 









y^/yi/aytAj^ 



POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



375 



liftli. lie first opened liis eyes to the liglit at the 
lioiiicstcad in New l^eiiox 'rowiisliip, November 30, 
IMIC. He" was a mere <'liil(l at the time of his 
father's (hvith, ami remained witli his mother at tiie 
(fhl liomestead until a|i|)roaeliinL; manliood, in fact 
has here spent all his life vvitli the exception of six 
nionliis when III' was in the army. He was bred to 
farminfj pursuits, and has made thesis his chief ou- 
ctipatii)M in life. He owns a p;u't of the old home- 
stoad, his share being about (jiie hundred acres. 
The land under carefid cultivation is very fertile, 
and Ihc buildiiitis, wilhou) making any pretention 
to elegance, form a safe shelter for the little 
family. 

When a man of twenty-six years Mr. Marshall 
was married, December 21, 1872, in Joliet, to Miss 
Lucy .1. Fry. She was born in Jt>liet, and is a 
daughter of .loliu and Sarah (Kdmunds) Fry, who 
were natives of Pennsylvania and New York, and 
■Ai\- now deceased. This union has resulted in the 
biith of five children, namely: Kdward, Jesse, 
Maggie, Louisa and Chester. They form a bright 
.•md interesting group, all remaining under the 
home roof. 

Mr. Marshall has alwa\'s taken an active interest 
in politics, and gives his uniform support to the 
Uepublican party. His estimable wife is a memlier 
in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

%AN1EL FERRISS. It is a blessing which 
comes not to all, to have parents of whom 
their childien may be proud and of whom 
they may justl3' speak as models after which to 
shape their own lives. The subject of this sketch 
has the most intense filial feeling, and alludes to 
his parents in terms of reverent affection that 
proves them to have been worthy of his heart's 
best love. 

The father of our subject was Thomas F'erriss, 
born in Washington County, N. V., in 1789, and 
son of a surveyor who mysteriously disappeared 
on one of his trips and was never again heard from. 
Thomas Ferriss enlisted in the War of 1812 and 
during a part of the conflict tcted as a teaijister. 



On July 4, 1813, at the bride's home in I'enn.sylva- 
nia he married Miss Desire ]-ake who was born in 
Wilkesbarre, in I7S)II. She was the daughter of 
Daniel Lake, a Revolutionary soldier who lived to 
be more than four-score ami ten years old. The 
I.,ake family was noted for the longevity of most 
of the members. 

About 1818, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ferriss took 
up their abode in ^Vashington County, N. Y., 
whence the}- removed to Jefiferson County a few 
years later and from thereto St. Lawrence County. 
On September 14, 183;), the faithful wife and 
mother closed her eyes in death, leaving behind her 
the memory of wise counsels which have left their 
impress during all the 3'ears that have passed since 
her voice became silent. 

In 1844, Thomas F'erriss and his family came to 
Illinois, locating in Lake County. F"ive ^ears later 
tlie\' removed to Wesley Township, this county, 
renting a farm which was the home until 18.54. 
One year after their settlement upon it the father 
crossed the plains to California attracted b}' the re- 
ports of the successful search for precious metal, 
and during the four ye;irs which followed he was 
able to save $1,800 in gold. He then returned to 
the Prairie State and located on the farm now oc- 
cupied bj' our subject, and there he closed his eyes 
in death May 25, 1875. His son Daniel had prom- 
ised the mother upon her deathbed that he would 
always look after his father, and right well did he 
keep his promise, bearing the burden which would 
have been too heav^' for the father's shoulders and 
becoming to him a staff in his declining years. 

The parental family comprised ten children, four 
of whom are now living. David, who is now sev- 
enty-six years of age, lives in Michigan; Mrs. 
Rachel Gates is residing in Minnesota, at the age 
of seventy-four years; Julia, born June 23, 1822, 
and unmarried, keeps house for our subject, whose 
home comfort she looks after with tender solici- 
tude. 

Daniel Ferriss was born January 20, 1819, in 
Washington County, N. Y'., and even in childhood 
learned lessons of hard labor. When not yet ten 
years old he drove a three-horse team all summer. 
While the family lived in St. Lawrence County he 
worked in the brass furnaces and forge. Hi? 



376 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



school advantages were very meagre lint tiis native 
intelligence anil the knowledge which can lie 
"leaned through reading and observalion, have 
taken the place of Ihc education which was denied 
him. 

After the family removcil to tlie Frairlc "^tate 
our subject worked on the farm, assisUng his fa- 
father to pay an indebtedness of iJiSO, which hung 
over their heads when they reached here, and after- 
ward improving their own estate, in the payment 
of which he bore a part. The land which they 
purciiased was nearly devoid of improvements and 
to the energy and perseverance of our subject its 
present condition is due. His labors are particu- 
larly commendable as he has for many a year la- 
bored single-handed in a literal sense. While 
running a threshing machine, Octobei 24, 1848, 
his left arm was drawn into the cylinder and torn 
off at the elbow. He suffered amputation without 
the use of anivsthetics or allowing anyone to hold 
him. exhibiting fortitude extremely rare. 

The one hundred and forty-seven acres on sec- 
tion 27, which comprise the estate of Mr. Ferriss, 
are adorned by a good stone residence, a full line 
of substantial outbuildings and various fruit and 
shade trees. Neatness and order prevail every- 
where and it is hard to believe that such a variety 
of work can be thoroughly accomplished with the 
use of but one arm, and that even chopping, crad- 
ling' of grain, and similar work has been done by 
Mr. Ferriss since he suffereil the loss of his limli. 

Mr. Ferriss and his sister are honest, God-fear- 
ing people, whose lives are spent in consistent 
endeavor to carry out the Golden Rule and honor 
the name which they bear. They have never been 
members of any church, although they lean toward 
the Universallstdcnomlnation.liutgive their coun- 
tenance and support to the good work of various 
con"^regations. INIr. Ferriss served as Constable of 
the township for six y«ars. Otherwise he has con- 
stantly refused to hold oflice. He is a friend to 
Masonry, his father having been a member of the 
fraternitj-. He has always taken a livel3- interest 
in the political issues of the day and since the or- 
ganization of the Republican part}', has been a firm 
supporter of it. Prior to that time he had been a 
Democrat. His father was of the Universalist 



faith and this no doubt is one reason why our sub- 
ject anil his sister favor that church. They are 
entitled to the respect of those about th'cm and re- 
ceive their due measure. 

On another page of the Ai.r.r.M is presented .1 
lithographic portrait of the late Thomas Ferriss. 



E^^ 



UDGE DAVID WILLAKD. Years after a 
stone alone remains to tell the story of 
their lives, the memories of some will be 
cherished b}' the generations who follow 
them, and upon whose lives their efforts have left 
a lasting impress. There is none so humble hut 
that he exerts some control over those about him, 
and the influence of a man of great mental and 
physical activity can only be measured when time 
shftll be no more. One of the landmarks of Will 
County, and one who during his prime has taken a 
very prominent part in local affairs, is the subject 
of this review, who has now practically retired to 
his farm on section 4, Wesley Township. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born June 
13, 1818, in Alleghany County, N. Y., being the 
second child of Daniel and Elizabeth (.Sanders) 
Willard, from whom he inherited sturdy qualities. 
His father was born in the old Ray State, in 1787, 
becoming a resident of Washington County, N. Y.. 
when a young man. There, in 1815, he marr\ed a 
native of Ft. Edwards, the young couple removing 
during the same year to Alleghany County. Dan- 
iel Willard was a farmer, and during the War of 
1812 had taken up arms in his country's defense, 
lie lived to the advanced age of ninety years, one 
month and nine days, breathing his last October 
21. 1877. His faithful companion suivived him a 
few months, dying July 2(!, 1878. She also w.as of 
ripe age, having been born .Vpril 22, 17!t4. 

Our subject was the fortunate recipient of good 
educational ativantages, and made a specially of 
algebra and field surveying. Being reared on a 
farm he took some part in agricultural labors, and 
during his early years taught school in the winter 
season. Before he had attained his majority he 
was put on the ticket us .School Inspector, but was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



377 



not elected until the following year, when he was a 
second time nominated, lie was afterward elected 
Constable and Town C'ollector for three successive 
years, and still later was the successful candidate 
for Justice of the Peace, leaving home, however, 
before the term of office ))egan. 

When twenty-one years old Mr. Wiilard at odil 
times engaged in the lumber business on the Alle- 
gany River. His Hrst experience was as a raftsman, 
a position which required a keen eye, quick wit and 
physical activity. He frequently walked from 
Pittsburg, Pa., to his home, a distance of two luiu- 
dred miles, there being no means of transit other 
than this. In the spring of 1844 Mr. Wiilard took 
a companion, with whom he came at ouce to Illi- 
nois, settling on a tract of unimproved land. It 
comprised tlie eighty acres on which he is now 
passing his days in peace and pleasantness. He 
built a small house which, in 1857, was replaced by 
the present cozy home, and which was gradiiall}' 
surrounded with the various improvements which 
a good farmer considers necessary for the success- 
ful prosecution of his work, and the comfort of 
himself and famil3-. 

The vocation to which he turned his attention 
as a means of support was not allowed to engross 
the attention of Mv. W^ilhud, whose fitness for 
office was soon recognized by his fellow-citizens, 
who demanded liis services. In 1846 he was given 
the position of Township School Treasurer, and 
continued therein for years. Two years later lie 
was elected .lustice of the Peace, and in this oIKce 
he served until 1805. As Townshii) Supervisor 
and Chairman of tlie Boaid he also officiated for 
years, his service in the latter capacity having ex- 
tended over the period of the Civil War. He had 
to assess the citizens for the first money raised to 
send the townslii|) quota for defraying ex[)en8es of 
the army, and many friends were lost 1)3- this 
action. His personal feelings, however, did not 
deter hiin from the exercise of his judgment, and 
the integrity with which he managed the atfair was 
afterward overwhelmingly' endorsed. 

In 1865 Mr. Wiilard was electeil Judge of the 
County Court for a term of four years, ami being 
re-elected, in 1869, he continued to serve until 
1873. He removed his family to Joliet and made 



that city his home during his second terra. His 
strict honor, acute judgment of character, and de- 
cisive opinions regarding right and justice, were 
called into play while seated upon the bench, and 
the lecord which he made is one upon which he can 
look back with pride, knowing that his worst enemy 
can find no just ground for condemnation of his 
course. Judge Wiilard was first identified with 
the Whig party, and after its disintegration en- 
listed in the Republican ranks. His first Presiden- 
tial ballot was cast for Gen. \V. H. Harrison, and 
his last for Gen. Benjamin Harrison, the descend- 
ant of the hero of Tippecanoe. 

Judge VV^illard is descended in the seventh gen- 
eration from Maj. Simon Wiilard, who emigrated 
from Kent County, England, to JMassachusetts, in 
1G34. The father of Maj. AVillard was Richard 
Willanl, who held a large landed estate in the 
mother country. The Major was a member of the 
General Court in the Massachusetts Colony, and a 
participant in King Phillip's war. He had nine 
sons, from the youngest of whom Judge Wiilard is 
descended. 

Tiie estimable woman who for many years has 
lieen the cherished companion of Judge Wiilard, 
bore the maiden name of Hodali Axtell. She is a 
native of the Empire State, born October 27, 1822, 
and is the oldest of three surviving children in a 
family of twelve. S!ie attended the common 
schools in her native State, acquiring all the knowl- 
edge which an apt pui)il could, and .at her home 
was instructed in housewifely arts and the princi- 
ples of right living, which have made her honored 
and useful in her home and among her neighbors. 
Her union with Judge Wiilard was celebrated May 
9, 184 4, and has been blessed by the birth of six 
children. Tiie fond parents have been called ui)on 
to i)art with four of their loved ones. The sur- 
vivors are: Lois, vvife of Albert H. Mapps, of 
Joliet. and the mother of one child; Reuel, who 
also lives in Joliet, is now filling the office of 
County Surveyor, and who took for his wife Miss 
Cora Sibcrt; Alice died at the age of three years, 
from tyi)hoid fever, which was a sad affliction to 
the bereaved parents. Three children died in in- 
fancy unnamed. 

It will not be amiss to devote a few lines to the 



,378 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



uiifi'stiy of ]Mrs. Will.inl. Ih-r falliei', Cliauii(i'\ 
A.xlell, was hdiii at Cruiuiiaii's I'alunt, N. Y., in 
1786, ami licr iiioUrt, Bt-tscy (Morse) Axlcll, in 
Otsego County, in 17il(5. Tiiey resiilod in tliu Kui- 
|)iie State (hiring the life of Mis. Axtoll, who 
passed away in .laiuiary, 1852. TIk,' same year the 
bereaved widower removed to Illinois. locating 
one mile Ti-rst of the present home of Judge Wil- 
lard. There he remained until death, tiie date of 
his decease being August, 1864. lie was a farmer 
and lumberman, and respected by all who knew 
him. Besides Mrs. Willard the survi\ ing nn'inbers 
of his family are Axie E. anil Betsey M. 



#^ 



-V- 



m 



<*ANE CHADWICK has displayed a degree 
of .administrative ability and comprehension 
of business affairs winch would lie highly 
creditable to one of the sterner se.\. She 
is administratrix of the estate of the late .lolin 
.loncs, of Manhattan Townshii), having full power 
to manage the hve hundred and si.xty acres as she 
sees lit, and is kept busy in .-itlending to the labors 
which it entails upon her. The farm is rented anil 
Miss Chadwick occupies a pleasant residence in the 
village, which for comfort and ease is not excelled 
therein. She is looked up to by everyone aud no 
person in this vicinity has more friends than she. 
The father of our subject was John Chadwick, 
a native of Lancashire, England, who died when 
his daughter, Jane, was a.bout eight years old. The 
mother was Jane (Murray) Chadwick, a native of 
Scotland, who upon being left a widow with nine 
children, labored so wisely and well that she was 
able to rear them with fair educations and prepar- 
ation for future usefulness. She died in JMan- 
chester, England, in 1852. She was a consistent 
member of the Presbyterian Church and endeav- 
ored to instill the princii)les of right living into 
the hearts of her offspring. 

The members of the parental family were Mary, 
Alice, James. Jane, Joseph, Elizabeth, Henry, John 
and Ellen. Mary and Alice moved to Australia 
some years after our subject came to America and 
have since been lost tra<'k of. James was in the 



Twenty-third Royal Welsh Eusileers and served 
through the Crimean War, becoming a Corporal. 
At the close of the struggle he returnetl to Eng- 
land, but a few weeks later accompanied the army 
to China and his sister has never heard from him 
since that day. She l\as lost trace of the entire 
family and is not aware that she has a single rela- 
tive living. 

Miss Jane Chadwick was born in Manchester, 
England, and reared there with .somewhat limited 
school advantages. It being necessary that she 
should early in life have an occu[)ation liy which 
she could secure a livelihood, she learned dress- 
making and millinery, serving a regular appren- 
ticeship from sixteen until twenty. one years of 
age. From early years she had made her home 
with an aunt and about the time that she became 
of age th.' health of her relalive failed and the 
doctors reconiiiiBndeil travel as a means of restor 
ing it. 

Miss Chadwick was renuested to accompaii}' her 
aunt and mule, and having consented, embarked at 
(ilasgow, Scotland, on the steamer "City of (Glas- 
gow," which sailed April 1, 1850. This vessel was 
one of the lirst ocean steamers and this was her 
first tri[). After a stormy voyage of fourteen 
days and eight hours, during which Miss Chadwick 
had been ill continuall}', landing was made at New 
York. Vov three years the party traveled in aud 
through man}' of the States of the Union, their 
journeyings ceasing only with the death of the 
aunt, which took place at Louisville, Ky., in 1853. 
The bereaved uncle was obliged to return to Eng- 
land and was most anxious to have our subject go 
with him, but she so dre,aded the voyage that she 
declined. 

For some time Miss Chadwick followed dress- 
making in Louisville and then, having friends in 
Atchison, Kan., who had come from her old Eng- 
lish home, she determined to locate there. She 
traveled to Atchison by boat and there engaged in 
dressmaking, making her home with her friends. 
During those exciting times of border rullianism 
which preceded the late Civil AYar, she saw and 
heard much of the events which have become his- 
torical. The head of the household in which she 
had found her home, went South and was killed on 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



379 



board n, boat at New OrU'aiis. his murder pioviiig 
such a slioek to his wife that she too ilied and our 
subject was again left alone. 

In 1858, having been recommended by Atchison 
friends to come to Joliet, III., which was then just 
starting, Miss Chadwick turned her f.acc eastward. 
Close confinement to sewing had affecte<l lior 
health and lier pliysician advised her to do house- 
work for a ciiange. Although she knew nothing 
about housekeeping, she determined to follow the 
doctor's advice and when she reached Joliet did 
not even stop to eat her dinner for fear that her 
courage would fail her, but started out in search of 
a place. Walking up on the bluff, where she had 
several amusing experiences, she finally secured a 
situation at Mr. Furman Macks. There she remained 
until she became housekeeper for the late .Tames 
Jones in Manhattan Township. This gentleman 
was not the best of managers, although an excel- 
lent man, and Miss Chadwick manifested so much 
ability' and good sense that he ere long admitted 
that she was a better farmer than he, and followed 
her advice in his business. 

Seeing that Mr. Jones was not successful as a 
farmer, Miss Chadwick advised him to build tenant 
houses on each quarter section and rent the estate. 
Tbis he did, the plan working so admirably that 
he became one of the most substantial men of the 
township. Miss Chadwick remained with him un- 
til his death, when she lost a good friend. Realiz- 
ing that to her advice he owed his success, Mr. 
Jones wished to give Miss Chadwick a deed to the 
farm, but she would not allow this, having no 
desire to become defendant in a suit which would 
swallow up the place and cause much hard feeling 
in the minds of his relatives. She accepted a life 
annuity, ¥300 j)er annum, which, with the adminis- 
trator's fees, affords her a comfortable support. 
Congressman Hill, of Joliet, was appointed by Mr. 
Jones to assist Miss Chadwick, but she has the su- 
preme power. She remained on the farm a 3'ear 
after the death of the owner, straightening up 
affairs and selling off eighty acres, leaving five 
hundred and sixty in the farm. 

In 1883 Miss Chadwick bought a half acre in Man- 
hattan upon which she erected three houses, later 
building her own residence. She is an active and 



liberal member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in 
Manhattan Township, and a memlierof the Ladies' 
(iuild, for which she has acted as delegate and 
otherwise labored. She is a firm believer in the 
principles of Republicanism and exerts all the 
infiuence which a woman of her standing can, in 
favor of that party. 



^I/OIIN McDonald. No resident of Frank- 
fort Station is better known than this gen- 
tleman, who deals in grain, lumber, coal, 
ha}' and tile, and who has had an extended 
experience as a grain merchant. No better judge of 
grain can be found in the count}' than John Mc- 
Donald, and he was probably the largest buyer 
within it in the early days of Frankfort Station. 
He still handles large quantities, and is recognized 
as the old and reliable grain merchant. 

The grandfather of our subject was Jolin Mc- 
Donald, a native of the Highlands, in Scotland, 
who ran away from his country during a revolu- 
tion and became a farmer in Ireland. He had pre- 
viously been an officer in the Scotch Rebellion. 
In County Tipperary. Ireland, his son "John was 
born, and he also became a farmer, continuing his 
agricultural occupation until his death. He was 
also a road contractor. He married Ellen Gleason, 
a native of the same county, who bore him five 
children, namely: James, Patrick, Marj', Eliza- 
beth and John. The latter is the only one now 
surviving, and he alone came to America. 

The natal day of our subject was December 11, 
1823, and his birthplace in Count}' Tipperary 
some six miles from Nanah. There he attended 
school three years, going back and forth every 
day, and securing excellent advantages by paying 
seven shillings per quarter. He read Latin and 
Greek and became well versed in the ordinary 
branches. He was assisted greatly in his aspira- 
tions and labors by the f.act the teacher boarded 
with his parents. The master was very strict, 
compelling his pupils to polish their shoes, brush 
their clothes and in other ways make themselves 
presentable every morning. Mathematics was the 



380 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lioliby of yomiy .loliii. who, wliilc lie w;is li<'liiing 
oil the farm niifl kfciiini;- liis falliei's liook^, was 
abU' to fiiiurt' anylliins. 

After l<oi'|iiiis books for his father two yeais. the 
youim man, at the age of eiglitcen years, came to 
Amoiiea to sec the country. Leaving Dnblin for 
Liverpool in the siinimer of 1811, lie secured p.ass- 
a<:e on an American sailing-vessel and five weeks 
later was landed in New York among strangers. 
He had *2,000, every cent of which he spent in 
traveling through New York, Pennsylvania and 
Michigan. He did not engage in any occupation 
until 1850, when he began work for the Michigan 
Central Uailroad at New Hiiffalo, Mich, which was 
at liiat limcthc ter'iiiiius of the road. Subsetpicntly 
he removed to Chicago, where the i-oad termin- 
ated, in I'S.O'i, and tliere he checked freight two 
years. 

In 18.'j4 Mr. McDonald came to Joliet, continu- 
ing his employment as a (diecknian until 1857, when 
lie received the appointment of agent at Frankfort, 
which was just sl:irtiiig into life. He held the 
position of agent until 1875, when he resigned. In 
1859 he began buying grain for J. L. Heard & 
Co., of Michigan, and he continued to transact 
this comitiission business until 1870. He then cm- 
liarkcd in the grain business for himself, but al- 
though he desired to build an elevator, he could 
not do so on account of the lease of the railroad. 
He was- compelled to put his grain through their 
houses until he caught them using Lis grain and 
was able to break their lease. He then built the 
second elevator in Frankfort, which was 35x50 
feet on the ground and had a capacity of twenty- 
five tliousand bushels. 

In 1885 Mr. McDonald bought out the other 
elevator which had bei'u erected in Frankfort, and 
from that time operated both. On May 24, 1889, 
the first was burned to the ground, but he did not 
allow this catastrophe to interrupt his business. 
That summer he built an elevator on the Elgin, 
.Toliet & Eastern Railroad, at Frankfort, which has 
a capacity of forty thousand bushels, is run by 
steam power and supplied with the Cli|)per and Cy- 
clone Dust Consumer. He sends grain to New 
York and other large commercial centers and does 
an extensive business, mostly in corn and oats, al- 



though wiien he began Inlying, wheat and oats 
were his staples. It has been no unusual sight to 
see teams standing all around town waiting for the 
use of the scales, the contents of the wagons pass- 
ing through the hands of Mr. McDonald. 

In the earlier d.ays of his career as a grain ilealer, 
Mr. McDonald ran a corn-slieller d.ay and night. 
In 1881 he began dealing in lumber, and it was not 
long until he added coal to his stock-in-trade. 
He has a hay barn and bales that article for ship- 
ping, and he likewise does quite an extensive busi- 
ness in selling tile. He is one of those busy men 
who are always full of affairs and find time for the 
successful iirosecution of various lines of work. 
He is now the only grain dealer in P'rankfort, and 
in this nourishing agricultural country a large 
amount of trade passes through his hands. lie 
owns a valuable improved farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres in (Ireen Garden Township. In 
addition to the business which we have noted, he 
was agent for the American Express Company 
eighteen years. The success, which lirst began to 
crown his efforts while working as a commission 
agent, has but increased in later years, and he has 
secured amiile means. 

The marriage of Mr. McDonald and Miss KUza.- 
beth Doty, a native of Will County, took place in 
Frankfort in 185'.). The union resulted in the 
birth of four children, of whom the youngest, 
Elizabeth Doty .died at the age of eight months; Her- 
bert .lohn is a salesman for S. E. Gross, a Chicago 
real estate dealer; Edward Everett spent two years 
in attendance at the University at Evanston. and 
one year in Souder's Business College, at Chicago; 
(Charles Howard also attended the Northwestern 
University, at Evanston, and is now engaged in the 
ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
Ohio. 

Mr. ISlcDonald was Sujiervisor of Frankfori 
Townshii) eight years, and held the oflices of 
School Director and Trustee for years. He helped 
to iiieoriiorate the vill.age aud w.as its first Presi- , 
dent, resigning the ofiice at the expiration of- two 
years. He is identified with the Ma.sonic frater- 
nity, being enrolled in the Chapter and Command- 
ery at .loliet and having a life membership in a 
Consistory in Chicago. In politics he is a straight 




A ' 



B. A. FULLER. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



381 



Uepublican, iiiiil has Iweii fioin tho time lii' raist his 
vote for Kicinoiit in .lolicl, in I80G. lie has served 
at various limes as a dclcsale to county and State 
conventions and was a member of the Central 
Comniilt((e eijihl years. 



j)OBERT W. CHOSSEN, proprietor of the 
R. W. Crossen Carriage Afanufaetory, oecu- 
41 \v pies a prominent positi(jn among tlie indus- 
trial interests of Joliet. This enterprise is 
loeated at Nos. 620 and 622, Van Burcn Street, 
wliere it was established .lanuary 1, 188'.), having 
removed from East Jefferson Street, and comprises, 
l)csi<les the main building, a repositorj- 40x80 feet 
in dimensions, with two lloors and an .addition of 
one story, 20x48 feet. Mr. Crossen embarked in 
business for himself in April, 1883, on Van P.uren 
Street, near Chicago Street,commencing in a modest 
way, but now gives employment to from ten to 
fifteen men. This is the largest manufactorj' of 
the kind in the place and receives orders from all 
l)arts of the country. 

Mr. Crossen is a native of Coburg, Province of 
Ontario, Canada, and w.as born February 25, 1856. 
Ilis father, Jackson Crossen, was likewise a na- 
tive of the Dominion, where he lived until 1865, 
engaged as a contractor of stone work. During 
the year mentioned he came to Illinois and located 
near Joliet, where, with his estimable wife, form- 
erly Miss Van Norman, he still lives and is still 
engaged as before. Robert W. acquired his early 
education in the schools of Joliet and entered upon 
his business career as a carjienter and joiner. Sub- 
sequently he served an apprenticeship .at carriage- 
making, vvhich he finished when a youth of eigiiteen 
snd continuously worked at this until establishing 
himself in his own business. He had but a small 
capital at the outset, l)Ut by good man.agement and 
strict economy he soon found himself on the high- 
way to prosperity. The year 1889 witnessed the 
largest amount of business yet turned out of this 
manufactorj'. Twice has Mr. Crossen been obliged 
to enlarge his facilities, and the experiment will 
have to be repeated in the near future, lie is a 



mail prompt to meet his obligations ancl his 
straightforward business metliods command the re- 
spe(^lfiil consideration of all with whom he deals. 
His extensive business interests prevent him giv- 
ing much time to (lublic aff.airs further than sup- 
porting \)y his vote the principles of the Republican 
party. 

Mr. Crossen, on the 12tli of May, 1881, took 
unto himself a wife and helpmale. Miss Mary E. 
Simpson. Mrs. Crossen w.as boni in 1862, in the 
Province of Ottawa. Canada, and is the daughter 
of Benjamin and Sarah Simpson, who were na- 
tives of Canada. Mr. Simpson came lo this county 
some years ago and is now a resident of Chicago, 
ofticiating in a printing oflice. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Crossen there have been born two chililreii, daugh- 
ters — Nellie .and INIaljcl. The little family occu- 
pies a snug home at No. ',)08 Cass Street, ami they 
have gathered about them many warm friends 
since their sojourn here. 




|n>)UEL A. FULLER. The legal fraternity 
of AVill County would be but poorly repre- 
|; sented in this volume were not mention 
made of the gentleman above named, who 
is one of the oldest lawj^ers living in Joliet, and 
whose portrait appears on the opposite page. He 
has retired from active life after man}' j'ears of 
unremitting toil, by means of which he secured for 
himself a fine footing in the profession and a com- 
petence which enables him to spend his winters in 
the South, and to enjoy all the comforts and even 
luxuries of life. His home, which is one of the 
finest residences in or about Joliet, is located just 
outside the city limits and surrounded by over two 
hundred acres of beautiful and well developed 
land. Not onl^' is the dwelling itself an attr.active 
one but in its furnishing it evinces the taste and 
culture of the occup.ants. Mr. Fuller is a self-m.ade 
man, as his life history will show, and as such he 
deserves the greater credit for his attainments and 
acquisitions. His nature is a genial one, his char- 
acter honorable and his mental abilities of a high 
order. In all his enterprises he is ably assisted ly 



382 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



his wife, who presides over their elegant home with 
graeious iiospitality. She l>oi(' Ihc maiden name 
of Edith Carpenter, and was l)orn in the Kmpire 
Slate to Alfred and Susan (Far,ij:o) Carpenter. She 
became the wife of Mr. Fnlli-r .laniiary 28, 1885. 

The natal day of Mr. Fuller was August 8, 1832. 
his liirlh having taken place in Edgar County, 111., 
about six miles east of Paris. His parents, Hiram 
and \ancy (Murphy) Fidler, made their first set- 
tlement after marriage in the county where he w.as 
liorn, whence they removed to Coles County, and 
then to Danville. There tiic father died in 1841, 
the mother surviving until 1 Hfil). They had a fam- 
ily of five children, of whom our suliject was the 
second. The father was born amid the Green 
Mountains in \'erniont and the mother in Miami 
County, ( ihio. 

The earliest recollections of onr subject are of 
Danville, where his life was [lasscd till the age of 
ten years, at which time he went to Perrysville, 
Ind., and entered a printing oilice. There he was 
employed about two years and a half, when he re- 
turned to his former home, spending a short time 
in an oflice there and going thence to Covington, 
Ind. In that thriving town he spent some time, 
leaving it for ;i position in Peoria, III., whence he 
was driven several months later by the breaking 
out of the cholera. Iveturning again to Danville, 
which was his home during all this time, be after a 
short sojourn took his departure for LaI<"ayette,Ind., 
walking the entire distance, having but a small 
amount of money which he had borrowed to help 
him along. There he was employed on the LaFay- 
ette Covrier for several months, and being a good 
type setter, although but a boy, he was able to do 
a man's work and he received as much pay for his 
labor as any one in that branch of the business. In 
that city he was connected with others in publishing 
the Wabash Scratches, which was in great demand 
during the months of its publication. 

We next find young Fuller in connection with 
Daniel Clapp, of Danville, III., pu*ilishing the 
Ti' in pc ranee Jnurnal <iml Sons Companion, an en- 
teri)rise which w.as not carried on, however, for 
any great length of lime. New Albany, Ind., was 
the next abiding |ilace of the young man, who re- 
mained in that city nearly a year, next going to 



Madison, where he became foreman on a paper, 
known as the Madison Banner, and published by 
Bright Bros. Several months later, on July 2, 
18.'j2, he came to.Toliet and purchased a half inter- 
est in the True Democrat, his associate being Alex- I 
andei Mcintosh. The succeeding summer he sold 1 
his cfuinection with the paper on account of sick- ^ 
ness and for a time, while regaining his health, he 
was in a daguerrcoty|)e gallery learning the busi 
ness but not with a view to following it perma- 
nently. 

Soon after this Mr. Fidler went to Chicago, find- 
ing cmploynient in the job oilice of the Jonrnnl 
for ;i few months and then being transferred to the 
foremanship of the news department. There he 
remained but a short time ere entering the oilice 
of the Chicago Democrat, then edited by "Long 
.lohn" Wentworth, from which he went to that of 
the Di'moi-ralic Press. Some months later he pur- 
chased a half interest in a grocery store at the cor- 
ner of Randolpli and Greene Streets and embarked 
in the career of a tra<lesman, buying out his asso- 
ciate after a year of partnership and removing the 
stock- to Joliet. Here he carried on the business 
about a twelvemonth when he sold out the slock 
and fixtures and returned to his former line of 
labor. 

The spring of 185G found Mr. Fuller the puichaser 
of the Democrat office at Kankakee, and the editor 
and man.ager of that sheet for a year, during which 
period he began reading law. In 18.58, he was ad- 
mitted to the bar and entered into partnership with 
.ludge S. W. Ramlall and the Hon. Henry Snap|), 
the firm being known as Randall, Snapp & Fuller. 
The connection continued about a year when the 
second member withdrew, the firm thereafter being- 
known as Randall ife Fuller, until the admission 
into it of Royal E. Barber, a sketch of whom ap- 
pears elsewhere in this volume. The new firm of 
Barbcu', Randall & Fuller continued until the early 
part of the last decade, when Mr. Fuller withdrew 
and abandoned the practice of the law. The firm 
of R'-'.ndall ife F'uller was the oldest law partnership 
in .loliet, Mr. Barber's connection with them cov- 
ering a period of about three years. 

Since his withdrawal from legal business in 1882, 
Mr. Fuller has passed his winters in the South and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBLM. 



385 



liis siinmiers in various sections to which fancy has 
led iiini. On two different occasions lie was elected 
City Attorney, but he has had no particular liking 
for politics and has not cared to fill pnlilic olliccs. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity' and has 
lieeu an Odd Fellow since 1852. 



-*--:i»^^:^i:;i^^^t5^^^^ 




KV. JAMES LKWIS, Pastor of the Central 
I'resiiyterian Church at Jolict, was called 
■'•*^ \'* to this charge in May, 1882, and has since 
vi^j been connected with it. He is a minister 
of talent, and greatly beloved both as pastor and 
preacher. Thoroughly educated and alive to the 
duties of Ills calling, his has been the rare privilege 
to piir.suc a career of more than ordinary useful- 
n(>ss and success. He is a native of Hamden, 
Delaware County, N. Y., and was born May 23, 
18;5(;. 

Mr. Lewis comes of substantial ancestry, being 
the son of Alexander and Rebecca (Crawford) 
Lewis, who were natives respectively of Peebleshire 
and Argyleshire, Scotland, whence they came to 
Aiiicrica in LS34. The father was a weaver by 
liadc, aiul a well-educated man, and after coming 
to this country occupied himself as a teacher, and 
also engaged in farming pursuits. The children 
of the parental household are recorded .is follows: 
William C. occupies himself as a lumberman in 
Delaware County, N. Y.; James, our subject, was 
the second born; Alexander. Jr., is assistant engi- 
neer of railway construction in that county; Mathew 
C, who earned the title of Captain by defending 
tli(^ I'nion in the late war, is a contractor and 
builder, mostly in the railway service, making his 
headquarters in his native county; Louis K. is a 
dyer of Delhi, N. Y., and although nearly blind 
turns out Some remarkably fine work: Celia, Mrs. 
.Smith, died at Delhi, N. Y.. in the year KSG8; Jen- 
nie C. also died at Delhi, in 18()5, when an inter- 
esting maiden of eighteen j-ears; Margaret, Mrs. 
Boyd, is a resident of Hays City, Kan., where her 
husband odieiates as .Superintendent of Public In- 
structiiin; Hc^bei'ca died in lla\s City, Kan., In 
18X1. Alexander Lewis departed this life at his 
home in Ilaindei). Delaware Count\-, N. Y., in 



1886. at the age of seventy-three years; the mother 
died in Hays City, K:in.. March 3, 1890, at the age 
of seventy-nine. 

The subject of this notice spent his lioyhood 
days in his native count}-, and from the age of 
ten to seventeen was employed in a woolen fac- 
tory. He then served an apprenticeship at house 
painting and paper hanging. In the meantime, 
however, he kept steadily in view his desire and 
determination to acquire a thorough education, and 
now commenced in earnest to put his resolution into 
practice. When nineteen years old he began to 
prepare for college under the instruction of Pro- 
fessors Sawj-er and E. G. Cobb, with each of 
whom he remained one year. 

In 1857 young Lewis became a student of Am- 
herst College, wherein he took the full course and 
was graduated in 1861. For one year afterward 
he was employed as a teacher in the academ}' at 
Ithaca, N. Y. The Civil War now being in 
progress, he deemed it his dut}- to lay aside his 
personal plans and interests, and entered the Union 
service, .September 27, 18G2, as Captain of Com- 
pany C, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New 
York Infantry. In July, 1863, he was puomoted 
to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and after com- 
commanding his regiment in this capacity ten 
months, was presented, in November, 1864, with 
the commission of Colonel. He remained in the 
army until the close of the war, and was mustered 
out in July, 1865. He was present at many im- 
portant battles, including the sieges of Suffolk and 
Charleston, in 1863, the battles of John's Island, 
Honey Hill, Deveaux Neck, James Island and in 
several skirmishes. Although experiencing some 
hairbreadth escapes, he was neither wounded nor 
cafitured, being permitted to return home in 
safety. 

Soon after leaving the army Col. Lewis entered 
the Union riieolosrical Semi nary in New York City, 
from which he was graduated in 1868. Then, us 
one of a band of nine home missionaries, he re- 
paired to the Westerr frontier, and soon organ- 
ized a church of six members in Humboldt, Kan., 
of which hi' continued the p:isti«- seven ye^rs. In 
the meantime he had charge of all the Home Mis- 
sionary work in that section, the Presbytery in- 



.TSC, 



I'liRrUMl AN 1 1 lUUUUArillCAL A I. HUM. 



rlmliuj; liuliau I'lliilniy. lie whi- c.iiliM Iiciii 
llinl lii-lcl of liilior lo Uikf (.•Imrj^i' of llie l'ri'9l»3liT- 
iail Cliiii'i-h ill Unwell, Midi, where lie reinniiied 
until c'liiiiiii^ to .loliet. 

'I'iie iiiniiiii;,'!' of the Kev. .l.-iiiie.s Lewis ami .Mi<8 
Mary C«k' Kiirrnml, wus eelelinitetl tii ilie Imnie of 
llie lifide's |>.'ileiits in Detroit, M ieli.. No\ eiiilier 1 7, 
ISO'.). Mrs. Lewis wius Itorn in llnilson, Ohio, 
August IG, 1842, iinil was the eldest cliihl uf Jaeob 
S. aiul t)li\-e ('. Farrnml. She lieeiiine the mother 
of four Sons and one danj^liler. and departed this 
life at her lioiiu' in Juliet. Dceeniber 3, \t<H'.t. 'I'lic 
sons of Mr. Lewis :ire luiined respeeliveiy : .laeol) 
Farrand, .lames Lan;,^, Alexander and William 
.Mather. 'I'liey are all at home with their father. 
The only daughter. Olive Fariand, died at the a;;e 
of seventeen nioiilhs. 

Mrs. Mary Coo (Farrand) Lewis w.as a l.ady of 
rare loveliness of eharaelcr, and proveil to her 
husliand an invaliialile a.ssistant in his slru<rgles and 
labors in the Msister's vineyanl. She w:is reared 
with the best advantages of ediiealion aii<l amid 
the choicest eiukanncnts of society and home. She 
went bravely with her husband into a new eoiinUy, 
cheerfully leaving the luxuries to which she had 
been accustomed, and by a modest ami humble 
<leineanor sought with all her inlluence to win 
souls to Christ. She constanti}- kept in view the 
work to which her husband was devoted, and in 
all ways sought to commend herself and his minis- 
try to the good opinion of all with whom she 
came in contact. The manner in which she accom- 
plislied this was fully atlestecl by the great inlluence 
which she exerted, and the love and reverence in 
which she was held by all. 

Two of the most revered pastors who ever 
worked among Joliet people, or preached to .loliet 
congregations, repaire<l from their respective 
charges to the scene of their former labors to add 
their testimonj- to the beauty of character which 
liad so iinpix-sscd all who ever enjoyed the personal 
acquaintance of Mrs. Lewis. Probably there had 
never gathered in Ccnlriil Church an audience im- 
pres,sed with a deeper or more tender sentiment 
than that which galliere<l to render its triliute of 
respect to the memory of a lovely Christian woman. 
After the usual opening exercises of song and 



prayer, the Uev. A. II. Denn, I). I)., of Monm<iutli, 
111., former pastor of the Ceiitrnl Chiireh and an 
early friend of Mrs. Lewis, delivered an eloquent 
and beautiful tribute t<i her nieniory. The Hev. 
.1. \V. {'onU'V, a clergyman of the liaptisl Church, 
and who had known Mrs. Lewis intimately during 
the years of her residence in .loliet, p.aid a lilting 
tribute to her virtues, liigli Christian character and 
edicieiil service in the Master's cause. 

Mrs. Lewis was possessed of r;ire <'onversational 
powers, and many love io remeinber the words of 
cncouragenuMit spoken to them by her during 
seasons of depression, and when they most iiee<led 
the counsel of a disinterested friend. She was 
warmly attached to her hiisb.'ind. her children and 
her home, and in addition Ui the duties connected 
therewith, she still fouiiil time for a vitst amount 
of work in all departments of the church. In 
October, ISHl, she united with other Ladies in or 
ganizing the Woman's Home Mission Society of 
Chicago Presbytery, of wliich she wais chosen 
Uecording Secretary. At its annual meeting in 
IM85, she was elected Corresponding Secretary, 
and held that otilcc until her death, in addition to 
doing her full share of work .as a member of the 
Ivxecutive Committee. 

.Multitudes attended the obsequies of Mrs. Lewis, 
but not from curiosity. Her mortal remains were 
borne to rest in the city of her youth, and old and 
young mingled their tears over her grave. .She 
desired there should be no floral or other display 
at her funeral, but the sincere sorrow inanifesttil 
upon the occasion was a nobler tribute to her 
memory than anything of a perishable nature. 

Mr. Lewis w.as a delegate from the church of 
this country to the established Church of .Scotland, 
in 1S73, in the General Assembly held in Kdin- 
biirgli. In 187S he w.as one of the Hoard of Visi- 
tors at West Point, appointed by I'residenl Hayes, 
and he delivered the address in behalf of the Board 
to the graduating cl.ass. Hi- is a member of the 
Cirand Arinj' of the Hcpuhlie. luid a Trustee of 
Knox College atGalesburg, 111. Asa speaker, .Mr. 
Lewis is clear, forcible and logical, holding the 
attention of his audience, and presenting his sub- 
ject in a concise an<l lucid manner, oioilied in choice 
I lauKuaiie. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



:-.«7 



Wo |)rcseiit to the iciiilcrs ul this volume a 
lillio;irai)liic portrait of the Rev. James Lewis, 
lie has hecii perinitlecl to accomplisli a large amount 
of useful work, and it is hoped that he may yet see 
many years in his chosen field of lahor. 



\r()IIN BRINCKERIIOFF. The well-regu- 
lated homestead of Mr. Brinckorhoff, and 
which C()m|)rises one hundred and sixtj' 
acres of prime land on section 31, stands as 
a worthy mi^nument to his thrift and industry. 
The lii'lds are neatly laid off with substantial fenc- 
ing, the liiiildings arc convenient and in modern 
style of architecture, while the latest improved 
macliiiiery is ciniiloyed in the cullivution of the 
.sod. The jiroprietor is lookeil upon as one of the 
most ])ulilic-spirited anil ijrugressive men of the 
township, the frieii^l of morality and education, 
and who has given especial altcMition to the train- 
ing and education of his children. (le commenced 
in life iK'penilent mainly" upon his own resources, 
and the necessitv whicli couipelled him to adopt 
h.aliiis (tf prudence and industry has proved to 
him invalualde all through life. 

The subject of this notice was born at his 
father's farm near Albany, N. Y., Ma^- 15, 183G, 
and was but two j'ears old when his parents came 
to this county. They located in Homer Town- 
ship, where he grew to man's estate, becoming 
familiar with the various employments of farm 
life and .acquiring a practical, education in the 
common school. With the exception of two years 
spent in the grocery business in Chicago, he has 
followed farming all his life. After reaching his 
majority he was mart ie() in New Lenox Township, 
August 11), 1858, to Miss Rebecca Breckenridge. 
This lady was born in Canada, December 7, 1839, 
and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Eaton) 
Breckenridge, who were natives respectively of 
Canada and Scotland. The mother died in Cook 
County, in 1882. Mr. Breckenridge is still living, 
making his home in Cook County. 

To IMr. and Mrs. lirinckorhoff there has been 
born a family of seven children: The two eldest 



sons — Clarence E., of Chicago, 111., and Ccorge 
E., in Oakland, Cal. — are successful practicing 
physicians; Martin S. is fartning in Lockport 
Township, this county; John .1. is pursuing his 
studies in the Michigan State I'niversity at Ann 
Arbor; Howard H., Gertrude \{. an<l Klmer E. re- 
main at home with their parents. Mr. Brincker- 
hoff, politically, is independent, giving his support 
to principles rather than men. He keeps himself 
thoroughly posted upon current events, and will 
at once be recognized as a man of more than or- 
dinary intelligence, and with whom an hour may 
always bo siient in a pleasant and profitable 
manner. 

The father of our subject was IMartin B. Brinck- 
erhoff, also a native of Albany, N. Y., and who 
married Miss Eliza, sister of George \'an Duser. of 
New Lenox Township, this county. After mar- 
riage the parents settled on a farm near Alhany. 
whence they came to this county in 1838, settling 
in Homer Township on the farm now owned and 
occupied by our subject. There they spent the 
remainder of their days, the mother dying in 1873, 
and the father April 30, 1889. The parental 
household consisted of seven children, of whom 
John was the fifth in order of birth. Two of the 
others are living. The famil}- forms a part of the 
highly res|)ectable element of this section. 



^ ARVIS C. THOMPSON. The Thompson 
[ family, who have been residents of Joliet 
', since 18fi5, occupy no unimportant position 
l^^ among its leading citizens. John Thomp- 
son, the father of our subject, departed this life 
June 13, 1860. His mother, Mrs. Ann (Miller) 
Thompson, now stands at the head of a noted 
family, foremost of whom is her son, Bishop Hugh 
Miller Thompson, of the Episcopal Church in 
Mississippi. She was born in County Derry, Ire- 
land, in 1812, where she was reared and married. 
She came to the United St.ates with her famil3' '" 
1836, they locating first in Essex County, N. J., 
where Mr. Thompson operated as r contractor and 
builder, and where they lived until 1844. Thence 



.188 



I'OUTKAIT AND IJIOGKAI'IIICAL ALBUM. 



tlicy i'omovi'<l tf) Cli'vclninl, Olii<>. wlicre llic fiitli»'r 
((illijivi'd Ills (X'oii|i:ilii»ii Hiiil ilii'il, iis lu-fori' sl:ileil, 
.Imu' 13, 1H60, lenvinf^ n ffiinily of scviMi cliildrcn. 
Five of tliOMc nro siill liviii;;, vi/.: Hiij^jli M.. Will- 
inni (!., .loliii K.. Hiifus K. iiml .larvis C. 't'homns 
J. servfd in tliu Union Aniiv ilurinf; llie t'ivil 
Wnr, mill nu'l di-alli tin tlu' luillli'lii'M of Stone 
Kivcr. 

Mrs. Tlioinpson iiflor llie ilcntli of licr liusliand 
f!»ini', in IHlif). to .loiiel, wlicrp slie iiiis sincere- 
sided. Jnrvis C, onr siilgeet. was liorn in t'leve- 
Iniitl, Ohio. I'ebnniry '2(>, 18."i2, nnd was liiiis <i lad 
of lliirleen yoiirs when llie fiuniiy ennie to Illinois. 
lie attended the public sriiools of Cleveland, and 
Inter wn.s a student at Nashola, Wis.. Iiavinj; a 
private tutor. When eompleting his studies he 
returned to .loliet. and engaged with Messrs. King 
it 'I'ruhy. ill the luinlier traile. Subsequently he 
was with King & Bishop, lie next entered the 
employ of the William A. Wood Reaper it Mower 
Company, having eh.-irge of their luniber-ynrd at 
Youngstown, Ohio, and was in the ciD|iloy of this 
firm three years. Prior to this lime he had been a 
car reporter in the employ of the Miehigan C'en- 
tral Railroad. After returning from Ohio he re- 
engngeil with .lohn Lyons, with whom he still re- 
mains. He votes with the Deiiioeialic party. 
Hugh Miller Thompson, the brother of our miIi- 
ieel. is a self-eduealed man — one who started out 
in life dependent upon his own res<inreos. He 
studied theology at N.-isluita, Wis., and was first 
placed ill charge of a parish at Madison. Later he 
was the pastor of ciiurclies .al Mil w.-itikcc and Chi- 
cago, being in the latter city Rector of SI. .lames, 
lie remained there until the great lire when all 
his properly was destroyed. 

Itisliop 'riioinpson later went to New York City 
and other places, and succeeded in raising a largi- 
sum for the rebuilding of his church in Chicago, 
which now stands at the corner of Huron nnd 
C'n.s,s .Streets. This completed, he received a call 
to Christ's Church in New York Cil}'. where he 
rcinnined a number of years. Thence he went to 
New Orleans .as Rector of Trinity Church, where 
he remained until eleclerl Assistant Bishop. Sub- 
sequently he was elected Bishop of .Mississippi, 
nnd is now fainiliarlv known as the Right Rever- 



end Hugh Miller Tliom|)«on. ami bears n fine 
reputation as a Christian gentleman and n .scholnr 
of rare nltainmcntjt. He was morricr] to Miss 
Anna W. Hinsdale, sister of Robert (J. Hinsdale, 
foriiu riy rrcsideni of Hobarl College. New York. 
They have four children, the eldest of whom is 
a Chaplain in the riiitcd States Navy nl Mnres 
Island. 

William O. Thompson is an architect by pro- 
fession, and engaged in business at Ml. N'ernon, 
HI.; .lohn R. is n planter, making his licadquar- 
teis, especially in summer time, at Horse Cove, 
N. C; Rnfiis F. is engaged .'is a contractor, builder 
and architect at Youngstown. Ohio. The sons, 
like their parents, were reared in the doctrines of 
the Kpiscopal Cliiin-h. .larvis C, our subject, is 
a member of Christ's Church. Surplice Choir of 
forty male voice*, one among the finest body of 
singers in the Cniled .States. 

... •-! .'^vj'fci f-^ . c '. ■ ■ ■ 



^ A.Mi;s Ki:iR. Our country is indebted lot he 
lands acros.s the sea for many worthy citi- 
I Zens, ami a high place should lie .accorded the 
' Scotch, who are ever industrious, frugal and 
strictly honest. The sturdy virtues seem highly de- 
veloped in all dwellers in mountainous regions antl 
it is easy to trace a ciimparisoii between the rugged 
hills and the men who inhabit them. The Scotch 
character not only possesses these sterner traits, 
but is adorned with domestic virtues, as the land- 
scape is by the blossoms of the heather and gorse, 
and the dcvoijon to home and kindred is frequently 
so strongly manifested as to cause thoughtless re- 
marks regarding the "clanuishness" of the Scotch. 
Clannish tlicy may be in their love for those of 
their own blood, but this does not prevent their 
appreciation of nnd love for all that is worthy- in 
those about tliein, and their ninnifestntion of kind- 
ness of heart to all in need. 

The subject of this sketch isa finerepreaentative 
of the r.ace which has produced a Bruce, a Wallace 
and a Burns, ami a worthy descendant of two goo<l 
families. His father. Alexander Keir, left his na- 
tive lan<l in IH.'i'J to make a home in America, lie- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



389 



ing followed in a few months by his wife, who had 
borne the niaiilcii n!in:e of Catherine McNeil. Two 
years were si)ent b3' them in New Yorli City where 
their son w:is already residing, and they tlien came 
to Illinuis. Settlement being made on a farm in 
.loliet Townsliii), tliis eountj', tlie^' spent the re- 
mainder (_if tlieir days here. Their family consisted 
of twelve cliiidren, the subject of this slvctch being 
the second. 

Tiie natal day of James Keir was Ainil 27, 1H;?(), 
and his birtiiplace, Perthshire, Scotland. He grew 
ti) manhood there, improving his time by gaining 
information which would tit him for usefulness 
and a knowledge of work which would be avail- 
able in his future life. In the spring of 1851 he 
crossed the briny deep and, landing in New York, 
found employment as a stone-cutter. In tliat city 
he remained until 1851, when witli his father's 
family he came West, finding employment for five 
years in Chicago at the same occupation in wliicli 
he had previously been engaged. He then settled 
on the homestead in this count}-, where he has since 
resided, giving his attention to farming. 

lieginning in life without means Mr. Keir has se- 
cureil a competency, now owning two hundred and 
eighty acres in Joliet Township, two hundred acres 
in Jackson Townsliip, and four liundrcd and fifty 
acres in Manhattan Townsliip. The home farm is 
made attractive by an excellent set of farm build- 
ings, including everj' necessar}' and convenient ai- 
rangement which will further the work of the estate 
and add to the comfort of the occupants. The 
other land owned by Mr. Keir is also well improved 
and valuable. The possession of a large amount of 
real estate is one of the best monuments to the zeal 
and thrift of our subject, whose life affords a strik- 
ing example of the success wliicU may be won by 
persistence. 

Mr. Keir chose for his companion in life a lady 
of his own land and name, and amid the scenery of 
Scotland in September, 1861, he was united in 
marriage with Ellen Keir, who shared his fortunes 
until June 20, 187G, when she was called from time 
to eternity. Mrs. Keir was a notable housewife, an 
affectionate and devoted mother, and a wife whose 
price was far above rubies. She bore her husband 
seven children, all yet living but George, the 



youngest, who died in infancy. Agnes is now the 
wife of Charles Richards; Alexander is a farmer in 
Jack.son Townsliip; Catherine is tiie wife of Robert 
ISIorrison, of .Idlict; KUcu, James and David, yet 
remain under the [larental roof. 

The ollice of Seliool Director has been held b}' 
Mr. Keir, liis work therein having been acceptable 
to the patrons of (he scliool and creditable to him- 
self. In politics he generallv acts with the Repub- 
lican party. He is a member of the Preslnterian 
Church, as was also his wife, and he carries nut in 
his daily life the principles of his faith, winning 
respect and gaining good will. 



yilLLIS A. STUAIGHT, proprietor of the 
tile mill at Manhattan, is numbered among 
^J^^ the most enterprising members of the com- 
munity. He is doing an excellent business in tlie 
sale of drain tile, manufacturing all sizes from 
three to eighteen inches, and shipping to all stations 
along the Wabasii Railroads, and selling to home 
trade. He keeps eighteen or twenty men con- 
stantly employed, and getting out seven or eight 
thousand tile per day. He has large dry-houses, 
and four kilns, at least three of which are taxed 
to their full capacity each week. 

Grandfather Straight was a farmer in New York, 
whence he removed to Livingston County, 111., 
at an early day, continuing his former occupation. 
His career has been a successful one and he at one 
time owned two farms. He is now living in Pair- 
bury and he and his trusted companion are the only 
inmates of their home, being able to do their own 
work, although the one is eighty-seven and the 
other eighty-five years old. 

In the family of the couple above mentioned was 
a son, Rnfus C, who was born in the Empire State 
and who came to Will County, 111., from the East. 
For two^-ears he was engaged in the service of his 
uncle, Daniel Cropsy, of Plainfield, after which he 
bouglit land in McLean County and devoted a few 
years to agricultural pursuits there. Selling his 
estate he bought other farm lands near Fairbury, 



3'JO 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Livingston Counly, and was so suiaiv-^.TlLil as to 
acqiiiie some ciirbt liundrod acres from a beginning 1 
lli;it was made wilh -tiriO. lie first engageci in 
farming and stoek-raising, and tiien embarked in 
i-he tile bnsiness wliicli proved suceessfnl. From 
1,S77 nntil 1 8«;i he ran a tile mill and also bouglit 
and shipped stock. In politics he is a Repnblican. , 
He has been a member of the School Board for 
years. He is now ocenpying a fine residence in 
Fairbnry and at the age of fifty-seven years is able 
to enjoy the comforts of ease and plenty, seenred 
by liis former industry. 

The mother of our subject was known in her 
maidenhood as Miss Fransina Abbey. She was 
born in Cora, Pa., and is the (huighter of a 
farmer who (iied in the Keystone State. She is a 
noble woman, a member of the I'resby terian Church, 
a devoted wife and mother and a kindly neighbor. 
She has borne her husband eight children, namely : 
Willis A., Lee S.. Lizzie, Kellie M., Guy H., Stella, 
who are now living; Lena, who died at the age of 
ten year.s anil an infant who died unnamed. All 
the living mendiers of the family are at home 
except our subject and Lee, who is in tlie tile 
business at Kl Paso. 

The subject of this brief biograiihical notice was 
born in McLean County, near the large and noted 
Sullivan farm, August 5, 18,)'.). He was reared in 
Livingston County, obtaining his fundamental 
instruction in the district schools and further 
having the excellent advantages furnished by the 
Fairbnry High School. Like most lads whose 
home is in the countiy, he was early set to work on 
the farm and acquired an understanding of agricul- 
ture. He remained at home until of ago and then 
began life for himself by going to Chicago and 
finding emplo^'meul in the paint and oil store of 
B. F. Fitch. After remaining there some eighteen 
months he returned to Livir.gstou County and with 
his brother Lee carried on the large tile factory at 
home for a year, their laliors proving quite suc- 
cessful. 

On January 1, 1883, the brothers came to Man- 
hattan, purchased twenty acres of land" and set 
about the construction of a tile mill, preparatory 
to embarking in manufacturing here. It required 
110,000 to start their business, which they carried 



on in partnership until 1886, when our subject 
bought out his brother's interest and the latter 
opened a similar establishment in K\ Paso. Our 
subject has since continued the business alone and 
such has been his enterprise and business tact that 
he has increased the capacity of the establishment, 
which now makes from three to eighteen inch tiles, 
which was not formerly done. Besides his town 
[troiierl}-, I\L'. Straight owns eighty acres of 
improved land in Livingston County, which is 
rented. 

On October 25, 1885, the interesting ceremony 
was performed which transformed Miss Nellie M. 
.lones into Mrs. W. A. Straight. The l)ride was 
born in liuchanan County, Mo., .Inly G, 18(;4. 
and was educated at Mokena and Normal Park, 
this State, becoming a highly intelligent and cul- 
tured woman. Ikr father W. I), .lones, was for- 
merly engaged in farming in Frankfort Township, 
this county, but is now living in Wetmore, Kan. 
He is an old Californiau miner and was also at one 
time engaged in the lumber and sawmill business. 
To Mr. and .Mrs. Straight one child has been born, 
an interesting little maiden called Natalie. 

Mr. Straight was President of the ^'illage Board 
of Trustees one year, and with the exception of a 
twelvemonth has been a member of that bod}' since 
the incorporation of the village. His [)olitical 
adherence is given to the Republican party. He is 
looked upon with respect by his fellow-men, as an 
honorable citizen and kindly man, while the love- 
able disposition and pleasing manners of his wife 
win many friends. 



' ' • ' °^ 



-i^ 




LFRKl) NASH, M. D. A residence of over 
' ten years in the city of Joliet,during which 
he has conducted a successful practice, hiis 
full}' established Dr. Nash in the esteem 
and confidence of the people. He took up his resi- 
dence here in 1879, and was at once recognized as 
a valued addition to the community. He is a mem- 
ber of the American Public Health Association, the 
American Medical Society and the State and county 
societies, and at one period was President of the 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



391 



latter. He was also prominent in the Medical So- 
ciety of IMIchigan prior to his removal hither, 
roliticall}-, he is a pronounced Re[)iihlican, a mem- 
ber of the Grand Arm}' of the Republic and a i>il- 
lar of the Presbyterian Church. In business and 
social circles he stands second to no man in his 
community. 

The Province of Ontario, Canada, was the early 
tramping ground of Dr. Nash and where his birth 
took place August 12, 1828. Thomas and Hannah 
(Swetman) Nash, his parents, were natives of Eng- 
land, and crossed the Atlantic in 1820, locating in 
Kingston. Canada. The father occupied himself as 
a merchant and with his estimable wife is now de- 
ceased, he dying in 1837 and the mother in 1845. 
The household circle included eight children, seven 
of whom are living, one dying in infancy. 

Dr. Nashstarted outinlife equipped withatliorough 
education, obtained in the college andNormalSchool 
at Toronto, and finally, in 1854, entered the famous 
Oberlin College in Ohio. Not content with the 
acquirements hitherto gained, he next repaired to 
Ann Arbor and entered the Michigan State I'ni- 
vcrsity, from the medical department of which he 
was graduated in 1856. He made good use of his 
time and commenced the regular [iractice of his 
profession at Wyandotte, Mich., continuing there 
until after the outbreak of the Civil War. 

In July, 18G1, Dr. Nash entered the army as As- 
sistant Surgeon under the commission of Gov. Blair. 
He was with the First Michigan Cavalry until Jan- 
uary, 1 863, and was then promoted as a Surgeon 
of the Ninth Cavalry in which he served until re- 
ceiving his honorable discharge b}' order of the 
ISoard appointed to examine these invalid officers, 
in December, 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon 
leaving the army he located at once in Lapeer, 
Mich., where he followed his [jrofession until com- 
ing to this county in 1879. 

Dr. Nash was married to Miss Anna J. Cornelius, 
in September, 1861. She was the daughter of Rev. 
Samuel Cornelius, of Ann Arbor, Mich. • By her 
he bad four children, viz. : Jesse, the wife of Robert 
Berger, of Peoria, 111.; Miss Maud, a short-hand 
reporter residing in Chicago; Claud, a resident of 
.loliet; and Anna at home. Mrs. Nash died at their 
home in Lapeer, Mich., in August, 1875. Dr. 



Nash was married to his second wife in Jul}', 1879. 
Her name was Mrs. Charlotte P. Richards. The 
Doctor and his wife have a comfortable home on 
Cass Street. 

When first entering the army Dr. Nash was as- 
signed to the Army of the Potomac and was 
captured at the second battle of Bull Run. He 
received an order from Lee's Medical Director to 
remain on the field and take care of wounded rebels 
and for this service w.as tendered a pass to Wash- 
ington from Fitz Hugh Lee. The " Johnnies " 
traded boots, hat and coat with the Surgeon and 
thus accoutred ho appeared in the presence of Lee, 
who said, " that pass shall be honored." The Doc- 
tor has this document still in his possession. As 
he left the lines a guard remarked to a comrade, 
'• this is one of Pope's othcers, let's shoot the d — d 
cuss." The Doctor expected they would carry out 
the suggestion, but they did not and he finally 
reached the Union camjj in safety, at Arlington 
Heights. 

Dr. Nash, in 1864, was made Brigade Surgeon 
under Gen. Israel Gerrard. In December, 1863, 
he had charge of the surgical department in the 
hospital at Knoxville, where he remained six 
months. He joined his regiment as it was starting 
from Camp Nelson, going with Sherman to Chat- 
tanooga and was under the command of the iiero 
of Atlanta until after the fall of the city. 

Dr. Nash was appointed Pension Examiner on 
the board for this district in 1889, and is Secretary 
of the Board. 



P^RANKE. MARSH. This young man is a 
well-known grain dealer of Joliet, in which 
city he was born in 1849. Here he grew to 
manhood, enjoying the privileges of her excellent 
public schools, and after finishing the course in 
them, taking a term in the Chicago University. 
In 1868 he became ticket agent and telegraph op- 
erator, continuing in that position until 1874, when 
he embarked in the business which he is now fol- 
lowing. He buys at different points on the line of 
the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad, and such sue- 



392 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



cess lias attendedhis efforts tlKil lie has continued 
to carry on llie trade. 

In 187:5 Mr. Marsli led to lln- liyineiieal altar 
Miss KilLe ivicliiiiDiid. willi wlioni lie lived lia|>l)ilji 
until 1S7'.), when she was called hence, leaving,' 
three children — I\ichiuon(). Loicn and Kate, the 
latter of whom died wlu'ii two years old. In 1882 
Mr. Marsh contracted a second inalrinionial al- 
liance, the lady who now shares his joys and sor- 
rows havinir borne the maiden name of Ida I'iercc. 
They have one livin_i>; ehihl. Kaliih L.; and lost a 
daiij;hter. Agnes, in infancy. 

Mr. Marsh was elected Alderman in 188.'), and 
has since been retained as a member of the City 
Conned. The subject of this brief biographical 
notice is a son of the lion. 11. N. Marsh, one of the 
representalive men of Jolict, whose life history is 
found on another page in this Alblim. 



JINCAN MaoLAREN THOMSON. This 
gentlemen is one of the few men who came 
to Will County independent in financial re- 
sources, and whose life here has not been the 
struggle which many have experienced. He owns 
and operates over four hundred acres on sections 
16, 17, 20 and 21, Frankfort Township. His land 
is all enclosed, and is marked with excellent im- 
provements, which not only include buildings, 
orchards and others of the usual order, but much 
which is not usually found on farms. The dwell- 
ing is situated on section 21, and is not oid}- of 
beautiful design, but is pleasantly located, well 
furnished and gives evidence of the presence of a 
woman of refinement at the head of the establish- 
ment. Among the farm buildings are three barns 
and other structures which sullice to shelter all the 
stock and grain. The agricultural and domestic 
labors are simplified and made easy by the use of 
a windmill and tank, a horse-power grinder (it being 
under cover), corn-cutler and other improved 
machinery, and Mr. Thomson also has a silo, the 
first and only one in Frankfort Township. 

The land includes valuable timber, pasture lan(;l 
watered by Hickory Creek, and fields of great fer- 



tility. Fidl-blooded and graded .Short-liorn cattle 
are raised, as well as fine hogs, roadsters ami draft 
horses. About, fifteen head of horses are to be 
seen on the estate, and the herd of cattle numbers 
from one hundred and thirty to one hundred 
and fifty head. .Mr. Thomson shi|)S his own stock, 
and in addition to that raised upon his [ilace 
feeds about two car loads of cattle per annum. 
Ijcsides his fine estate here, he owns two hundred 
acres of land near Eninietsburg, I'ulo Alto County, 
Iowa. 

Mr. Thomson is a Scoti'hnian of a lineage honor- 
able and inllucntial. His paternal grandfather, 
.lohn Thomson, born in Stirling, Stirlingshire, was 
a carriage manufacturer in his native cit3'. which 
was his place of abode until his death. He left 
three sons and two daughters. The sons were: 
John Thomson, U.l)., of L'aisley; George, the 
father t)f our subject; antl William, also engaged 
in carriage manufacturing. His son George suc- 
ceeded him in the business, enlarging it and en- 
gaging extensively in the manufacture of carriages, 
stagecoaches and railroad carriages. He made the 
carriages for the first railway in Scotland. He was 
known far and wide as an influential and wealthy 
citizen, and a |)leasant and agreeable man. The 
following incident is a good instance of his promi- 
nence : As two travelers were p.issing through 
Stirling one asked the other the name of the city, 
and being told, inquired what it was noted for. 
The second traveler responded, "For its castle and 
(ieorge Thomson's carriage works." Mr. Thom- 
son was a member of the Town Council and a 
Hammerman. He was a Liberal in politics, and a 
Presbyterian in religion, serving as Elder in his 
church. lie died in 1867, at the age of fifty-six 
years. 

The maternal grandfather of our subject was 
Maj. Duncan MacLaren, a native of Perthshire. 
He belonged to the Twenty-fifth Regiment, '-The 
King's Own Borderers," until he retired to Stirl- 
ing, where he died in 18-11). His daughter, JIary 
A. C, w.as born on the farm Dumlurn. at St. 
Fillan's, Perthshire, but reared in Stirling, and 
there married to (Seorge Thomson. She breathed 
lier last July 15, 1879, at the age of sixty-three 
years. She was Ihc mother of six children, namely: 




Residence of Adam Tuck,Sec.33.NewLenox Tp, Will CQ. I ll. 




Residence of DM. Thomson, 5ec.21.FrankfortTrWillCo III. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



395 



Isubelle B., Mrs. H. M. Douglas, who died in 
Scotland; .John, who died at Frankfort .Station, 
this county; our subject; Mary, now Mrs. M. N. 
Parkliurst, of Green Castle, Ind.; George, who 
died in Pernambuco, Brazil; and .lames, vvho is 
pro|)rietor of car works in Scotland. 

The gentleman with whose name we introduce 
this sketch was born in Stirling, Scotland, March 
25, 1843, and had excellent school advantages. 
After being graduated at the High School in Stirl- 
ing, he spent a year at Mt. Greenvan Academy. 
When foni'teen years old he was apprenticed at 
carriage-making under his father, and at the age of 
tw<?nty years took charge of the shops. When his 
father died he took entire charge of the carriage 
works, managing them until the youngest son 
became of age, when the property was divided. 

In INIa}', 1875, our subject came to America on 
a visit, sailing from Glasgow on the steamer '■\ic- 
toria," and twelve days later landed in New York. 
Thence he came at once to (Uiicago. and after re- 
maining there some three months, spent about the 
same length of time in traveling in the State of 
Illinois. He finally determined to locate in AVill 
County, and [lurchased one hundred and sixty- 
eight acres of land where he is now located, mak- 
ing a cash payn)ent of $02.50 per acre. He en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising, increasing his 
landed estate until it reached its present acreage, 
and making nearly all the improvements upon it. 
He has displayed the sterling qualities which be- 
long to the Scotch cliaracter, and is looked upon 
as a farmer and citizen who is a credit to the 
county in which he has made his home. 

On January 3, 1 871, the rites of wedlock were 
(■(■lebrated between Mr. Thomson and Misslsabelle 
Ihuiler Paton. This accomplished lady was born 
in Lcith Edinburgh, .Tuly 24. 1842, and is a des- 
cendant of families whose members have acquired 
fame during the historic times of Scotland. She 
was educated under private instruction, modern 
classics and music being included in her course of 
stud^', and the graces of manner being by no 
means neglected. When she had arrived at woman- 
hood she possessed a cultured mind, the charming 
manners of a well-bred gentlewoman, and the vir- 
tues of character which make and keep friends. 



Her happy union has been blessed b}' tWe birth of 
nine children, of whom the following survive: 
Lizzie A. Hunter, Charlotte, George, Duncan M., 
Jr., and Gladys May. The deceased are: Walter 
Paton, who died at the age of seven and one-half 
years; Isabel Beatrice, who died when one year 
old, and two who died unnamed in infancy. The 
surviving children still remain under the home 
roof, and display a marked degree of intelligence 
and quickness of perception. 

The father of Mrs. Thomson was Capt. Walter 
Paton, a native of Edinburgh, whose father had 
died when he w.as a babe. His mother's father, 
Andrew Bell, was a Jacobite, a follower and active 
supporter of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the 
Pretender. He wa§ a toiiographical engineer, and 
surveyed the battlefield of Prestonpans on the night 
before the battle. He was subsequently taken 
into favor again by the reigning house, and became 
quite intimate with the Prince of Wales. He did 
engraving for his royal friend, being considered 
the foremost engraver of Scotland. He was the 
originator of the Enclclo[)a'dia Britannica. The 
Bells trace their ancestry- l)ack through some of 
the noble families of Scotland to the Scougalls of 
Scougall, who were personal friends of King 
James VI of Scotland or .lames I of England. 
Scougall was a fine artist, and did the painting for 
the royal families. 

The father of Mrs. Thomson was a sea captain, 
fiist having charge of a merchant vessel and after- 
ward becoming an otticer in the Ro3'al Navy. He 
was surveyor for Lloyd's and also for the Board 
of Trade, and Master of the Trinit}- House, Leith, 
holding the latter oHicc until about four years be- 
fore his death. He then retired to Stirling, where 
he remained until a fewjnonths before his decease, 
which occurred while on a visit to his daughter at 
Greenock, in 1873. He was then eighty-four years 
old, having been born in 1789. He had con- 
ducted and commanded the vessel which conveyed 
to Germany King Charles X, of France, who had 
taken refuge in Scotland. 

The mother of Mrs. Thomson bore the maiden 
name of Elizalicth Hunter. She was born in Cu- 
par-Fifeshire, and w.as a daughter of Hugh Hunter, 
an excise oflicer in Greenock. She was the second 



396 



POIITRAIT AND RIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



wife of Capt. Paton, to whom slu' l>uii' luil onu 
child, now Mrs. '11101118011. She entered into rest 
ill I.SGC. She and licr luishund helonj^ed to tiie 
United Pie.sliyteiiaii Chureh. 

Tlic first niairi:ii>e of (.'apt. I'aton was blest by 
the birth of three ehiklren, viz.: Mrs. Ann Gilki- 
.son, Mrs. Eupheinia Stephenson and Walter, 'i'iie 
latter worked his way from eabin boy to captain, 
reaching the latter [losition when twenty-one, and 
becoming C'oniinodore when twenty-five. He cora- 
nianded- the first mail steam packet that went to 
Canada, and was two years in the Crimean War as 
Commander of the steamship "Cleopatra," which 
carried troops to and from the seat of war. lie 
had retired from the sea when he was importuned 
to take command of the "Great Eastern," and re- 
luctantly consented, sailing as her Captain for 
about three years. He then retired the second 
time, making his home in Liverpool, where he 
died. His sisters are also deceased. 

Duncan M. Thomson is Master Mason in the 
Bruce and Thistle Lodge, Bannockburn, No. 12 ; 
Stirling Rock, Royal Arch Chapter, No. 2, in 
Stirling, Scotland. In politics he is a Democrat. 
He belongs to the Free Church of Scotland, which 
is one of the branches of Presbyterianism. Person- 
ally, he is jolly and openhearted, and his friends 
are many. 

On another page of this volume appears a view 
of the pleasant homestead of Mr. Thomson. 



'r^'^^VHi^^^^* 



^f DAM TU(.'K. A book filled with the rec- 
i0u\ Olds of the lives of good men is sugges- 
^Hs tive of the most (irecious and important 
^ truths. As was said by one famed in En- 

glish literature, such a book is the "iirecious life- 
blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured 
up on purpose t<^ a life beyond life." They serve 
as potent examples to each succeeding generation, 
and teach them how to make life a success. As a 
prominent farmer of Will County, IMr. Tuck de- 
serves representation in a volume designed lo per- 
petuate the names of her leailiiig citizens. His 
pleasant home, a view of which apjiears in connec- 



tion with this brief biographical review, is situated 
on section 33, New Lenox Township. The farm 
consists of eighty acres of fertile land, and bears 
such improvements as are usually found upon the 
estate of an enterprising man. 

Coming of worthy German ancestry, Mr. Tuck 
is a son of the late \Villiani Tuck and his wife 
Mary Schroder. This estimable couple grew to 
maturity in the Fatherland, where they remained 
for some time after tiieir marriage. They emi- 
grated to America in 18,">2, making their first 
home in Chicago, but after a short sojourn in that 
city removed to Will County, hi Joliet Town- 
ship, they resided until the spring of 1867, when 
they settled in New Lenox Township, where our 
subject is now living. Here the father deiiaited 
this life Deeemlier 7, 1881; his widow is jet living 
and is now making her home in Joliet. 

The subject of this bi<jgrai)liical notice is the 
youngest of the eight children comprising the pa- 
rental family, and was born in .Joliet Towiishiii, 
December 1, 1801, He received a good [iractical 
education in the common schools, and has been 
chieUy engaged in farming during his years of ma- 
turity. He has always resided in this coiiiit3'. 

At the home of the bride in Carrollon, Greene 
County, October 20, 1885, Mv. Tuck was united in 
marriage with Miss Kate Kaffer, a worthy young 
lady who w'as born in that county. She is a 
daughter of the late Frank A. Kaffer. Mr. and 
Sirs. Tuck are the parents of two bright thildren, 
Frank A, and Florence L. Li politics Mr. Tuck 
is a Democrat, and socially, both he and his esti- 
mable wife are highly respected. 






~S)^~'" 



t,OSSITP]R RUDD is niinibeied among the 
progressive farmers of Joliet Townshii), his 
faun being on section 24, which hag been 
his home since his infancy. It comprises 
sixty acres of valuable land, which has been 
brought to a high state of productiveness by means 
of a proper rotation of crops and the use of the 
liest fertilizing agents, while the improvements 
which it bears are adequate for the purposes for 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



397 



wliicli they were intended. In the fall of 1887, 
Mr. Riidd embarked in the coal business in Joliel, 
wliifh he has since carried on in connection with 
his agricnUnral enterprise. lie has been useful to 
iiis fellow-men in public capacities, manifests great 
ivindliness in his relations to humanity, and in his 
own pleasant home is the soul of hosi)itality and 
good fellowship. 

In Rutland County, Yt., the Rudd family had a 
foothold many 3'en.rs ago, and there Erastus Rudj.1, 
the father of our subject, was born and reared. 
He married Miss Harriet Hill, of Onondaga 
County, N. Y., their first home being in ^Syracuse, 
whence they removed to Patriot, Ind. In 1843 
they emigrated to the Prairie State, settling in 
what is now New Lenox Township, but afterward 
removing to Joliet Township, and the farm now 
owned b}' our subject. There the mother died 
September 3, 1872, the father surviving until June 
•22, following. The latter had in early life been 
engaged in boating, and after coming to Illinois 
he operated the first boat that was run on the 
canal, being connected in that enterprise with Abi- 
jiih Cagwin. He was the father of three sons and 
four daughters, our subject being the fifth child. 

Rossiter Rudd was born in Patriot, Ind., No- 
vember 2. 1813, but was reared to manhood in 
Will County, 111., after his father's death taking 
possession of the old homestead. He was married 
in Bloomington, August 23, 1863, to Miss Jane 
< iregg, whose intelligence of mind and worth of 
character had won his deepest regard. Her par- 
ents, William and Margaret (Lenox) Gregg, are 
natives of the Emerald Isle, in which they grew to 
maturity and were united in marriage. They at 
once emigrated to Canada, where their daughter, 
Mrs. Rudd, was born November 23, 1835, her 
birthplace being the town of Brook. Several years 
after her birth the family came to Will County, 
III., settling on a farm in Joliet Township, where 
the [larents still reside. Their family comprises 
une son antl ten daughters, Mrs. Rudd being the 
second in order of birth. 

An interesting familj- has been born to J\Ir. and 
Mrs. Kudd, the living children being Hannah L., 
Fa>ette, Harriet, Freeman and Mansfield; they 
have buried one son, Harry, who died when about 



a year old. Mr. Rudd has held the offices of Road 
Commissioner, School Director and Superinten- 
dent of Mound Cemetery. In every position to 
which he has been called he has manifested a de- 
gree of intelligent interest and good judgment 
which have redounded to his credit in the eyes of 
the community. In politics he is a Republican. 
He and his wife belong to the Universalist Church, 
and in all the vicinity round about are held in 
high esteem for their many good qualities. 



^tm^Bm^ 




TEPHEN GLIDDEN. A history of the 
men who have had the making of Will 
County, would be incomplete without a 
sketch of this pioneer, who has been so 
long and so closely connected with its highest ma- 
terial and social interests, and we are glad to be 
able to represent him on the pages of this volume. 
He stands foremost among the leading farmers and 
stock-raisers of Channahon, is one of its most ex- 
tensive land-owners, having a large and valuable 
farm in this township, and has taken a leading part 
in making this portion of Illinois one of the richest 
farming regions in this section of the country. 

Mr. Glidden comes of fine old New England 
stock but is himself a native of the Empire State, 
born in Essex County, September 15, 1820. His 
parents were Levi and Sarah (Glidden) Glidden. 
who were of very old American families, who came 
to this country many years prior to the Revolution. 
Mr. Glidden, of barb wire fame, is a representative 
of this family, and second cousin of our subject. 

Our subject was reared in the place of his nativity 
and followed farming there and also the lumber 
business, getting out timber from the pine woods 
till he was twenty-eight years of .age. Then in the 
flush and vigor of a strong manly manhood he 
came to the Prairie State in 1848, and with the 
1600 which he had accunndated" in New York as 
his cai)ital, he started on a new life here, by in- 
vesting it judiciously in a piece of laud lyino- 
along the Desplaines River, on which was a mill. 
He operated that for five years very profitably, and 
then the railroad coming through spoiled the busi- 



a98 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM/ 



ness. After tliat he purchased one Iminircd ainl 
eleven acres of land and gave his allention to rais- 
in"; and fw'diiif; ^tock and has always been engaged 
at that, lie has added to his farm till it is now 
one of tlie larjiesl in the count}', connirisinii' eight 
hundred and eight^'-livc acres of as good farming 
land as lies in the township. 

In 1819 our subject returned to New York for the 
young lady who had plighted her troth to hiiu, Miss 
MaryL.Barnett,d!iughterof Asa and Hannah(Larap- 
son) Barnett, of Essex County, and their marriage 
was solemnized July 4, 184!). Accompanied by 
his young bride, who had left fond parents to cast 
her fortunes in with him whom she loved best in 
all the wide world to assist him in building up of a 
home, our subject returned to Chaunahon. They 
established their dwelling on the east side of the 
river, living there until 1878, when he erected his 
present fine residence on an eminence commanding 
a beautiful view of the valley of the Desplaines 
River and also of the DuPage, about two and one- 
half miles awa}-, and of the village of Channahon 
on the river. In the management of his extensive 
agricultural affairs Mr. Glidden has shown large 
enteriMise and flue business and executive ability, 
wliicli traits have brought him wealth. He gener- 
ally votes the Republican ticket, but takes no fur- 
ther [lart in elections or politics. 

Seiitcmber 12, 1887, the shadow of a great grief 
fell over the household of our subject; Death 
crossed the threshold of his home and removed the 
wife and mother from her loved ones, who hold her 
dear memory in sacred remenibrance. She was a 
woman of a beautifid and noble character, who 
met the grave duties and responsibilities of life 
with firmness and serene patience, and fulfilled 
them faithfully. She was greatly beloved far 
beyond the limits of her home circle, her constant 
kindliness of disposition endearing her to all who 
knew her. 

" Blessing she was; God made her so, 
And deeds of week-da3' holiness fell from her noise- 
less as the snow." 

Eleven children were born of the marriage of 
our subject, six of whom grew to maturity, four 
of whom are still living: Pamelia, with her father; 
Sarah Jane, the wife of Henry llaviland, of Chan- 



nahon, now a resilient of Kansas, where he owns a 
farm; Melissa, with her father; llarvy, a young 
man of twenty-two, who lives with his father, and 
is ably managing the farm. Since the mother de- 
parted, the family has been called to mourn the 
death of a loved one, Ella F.,who had just blossomed 
into womanhood, died February 24, 1888, at the 
age of twenty-two' years. Adelbert, a young man 
of great promise, in his eighteenth year, was the 
victim of an accident by which he was killed De- 
cember 2, 1877. While on a duck expedition he 
threwhis gun into the boat, and the hammer strik-, 
ing on the seat, was discharged, the shot taking ef- 
fect in his abdomen and he lived but a few hours. 
We reverently believe that the lives thus uncom- 
pleted have but "entered upon broader fields of ac- 
tion and duty, where nobler sti'uggles shall task the 
strength and more precious crowns reward the vic- 
tor, where the hopes and dreams of earth shall be 
turned to sight and the broken circles of life be 
rounded to the perfect orb." 



AVID B. GEISS. In this county are to be 
found several farmers who have reached a 
high degree of prosperity by the persistent 
pursuit of a chosen calling, and the exercise of 
prudence and foresight in the conduct of their af- 
fairs. Among these none deserves the notice of the 
biographical writer more than the gentleman whose 
cognomen forms the heading of this sketch. He 
began his career in life with but the talents be- 
stowed upon him bj- nature and the knowledge of 
milling learned from his father; he now ranks 
among the wealthy residents of Wilton Township, 
where he owns a valuable estate and is enjoying 
merited repose after 3'ears of toil and activity. 

The parents of our subject were George A. and 
Susnn (Bright) Geiss, natives of Berks County, 
Pa., who died in Lebanon Count}', at an advanced 
age. The father was a hard-working man, who 
made milling and farming the work of his life. 
The father belonged to the Lutheran Church and 
the mother to the Reformed Church. Their fam- 
ily comprised twelve children — Mary, Sarah, Dan- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



399 



iel, Elizabeth, Jolin, George, David B., Kate, 
Matilda, Peter, Reuben and Susan. Of this large 
fauiil\' there survives at this date John, George, 
Matilda, Susan, Kate and David B. 

The subject of this sketch was born April 16, 
1812, in Lebanon County, Pa., and reared in that 
and Berks County, his time being spent in the mill 
and on the farm, of both pursuits gaining a knowl- 
edge in early life. After learning the trade, he 
carried on the milling business successfully for 
twenty -five years, both in Berks and Center Coun- 
ties. In the latter he made his home twenty-two 
years. After a quarter of a century devoted to 
th!i,t calling, he discovered that his health required 
hin» to adopt some occupation that would keep 
him in tlie open air niucli of the time. He there- 
fore turned his attention to farming, and in 1868 
came to Will County, 111., and bought his present 
farm. It consists of one hundred and ninety-six 
acres on section 6, Wilton Township, and was con- 
ducted successfully by the owner for several years. 
He improved it until it is ranked among the finest 
estates in the township, and is a home of which 
any man might well be proud. Owing to his ad- 
vanced age and feeble health, Mr. Giess now rents 
the farm, living in retirement in the midst of the 
adornments he has put ujion the face of Nature. 

Mr. Geiss has been twice married, his first wife 
having been Sarah Kerlin, of Berks County', Pa., 
who shared his joys and sorrows until December 
7, 1851), when death took her. Siie was the mother 
of eleven children. Of these, William F. lives in 
Chicago; Alison is deceased; David lives in Cen- 
ter, Center County, Pa.; Susan is deceased; Daniel 
lives in .loliet; Sarah is deceased; Jacob, Marj' J. 
and Anna C. complete the circle of survivors, and 
the roll of the dead includes two infants unnamed 
on earth. 

For his second companion Mr. Geiss chose Kath- 
arine, a sister of his first wife, with whom he was 
uniteil October 4, 1860. Prior to this union she 
had been twice married, her first husband having 
been William Schrctler, by whom she had two chil- 
dren — Mar}' and William. After his death she mar- 
ried William Runkle, by whom she also had two 
children — Sarah and Jacob. Mrs. Geiss is now eighty 
years of age. Her life Las been a useful and up- 



right one, and she merits the esteem of her ac- 
quaintances and the "good report" that follows her. 
Mr. Geiss is one of the most intelligent and well- 
read men of the community, and in his company 
an hour can ever be s|)ent in a profitable manner. 
His energy of character, the manner in which he 
carved out a fortune from adverse surionndings, 
and the u|>right life that has been led by him, alike 
gain the high regard of all who know him, and all 
rejoice in his prosperity. He is a stanch Democrat. 
l'>oth he and his good wife hold membership in the 
Lutheran Church. Mr. Geiss has twenty-six grand- 
children and two great-grandchildren. 



1^^ HO MAS VARLEY. Among the pioneers 
I'/^^v whose names are identified with that of 
^^^ Wheatland as its builders, none occupy a 
more honorable position than that of this gentle- 
man, who for many years has been a tiller of the 
soil in this loealit_y and 'has thereby secured a com- 
petence, his farm on section 28, being a most desir- 
able one in ever respect. 

Our subject is of English origin, born in York- 
shire, June 27, 1824. a son of William an<l Mary 
Varley. He was reared to manhood in his native 
country and has been employed in farming pur- 
suits from early boyhood. He had but a rudimen- 
tary education in the schools of England, but after 
he came to this country he attended school two 
winters and during the two months of each season 
applyed himself closely to his books and rapidly 
improved in scholarship. He has always been fond 
of reading and aims to keep well_posted on affairs 
of general interest. In 1850, in the prime of early 
manhood, he determined to seek his fortunes in 
America, and taking passage to Hull on a sailing 
vessel,af'.erja voyage of about seven weeks landed in 
New York Cit^'. He came directly to Will County 
from there and when he arrived here found that he 
had but two shillings left, and as he was suffering 
with a felon on his hand he was obliged to pay out 
that money to have it removed. He thus started 
in life here under discouraging circumstance. Noth- 
ing daunted, however, with characteristic British 



40(1 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



pluck and tenacity (if puiixise he immediately 
sought work and soon became employed as :\ farm 
hand. He saved his money and in time had earned 
enough to send for his wife and cliildren, who 
joined him in l.'<'i4. After the arrival of his 
family he fanned as a renter for ahont four years 
an<l then boujiht land in Wheatland Townsiiip. He 
subsequently purchased his |)resent farm in IKfl.'). 
and since has built uj) a substantial home by hard 
and persistent labor, aided by iiis faithful wife. 
The two hundred and forty acres comprising his 
farm aie under excellent cultivation, and neat and 
conveniently arranged buildings adorn the place, 
and everything about it shows the care of the 
owner. 

Our subject was married in England, March .5, 
1844, to Martha Cravan, a native of that country. 
Six children were born to their union. Margaret, 
John, Charles, Mary, wife of Peter Cheese, of Col- 
orado; Jane, wife of Edward Levee, and the 
mother of three children — Harvey, Frank and 
Kelson; and ISLartlia, wife of Robert Pennington, 
of Kane County, 111. 

May 23. 1878, the wife who had beeu our sub- 
ject's helpmate for so many years, departed this 
life, leaving behind her a wealth of love and affec- 
tion and many warm friends nlio uKiurn her loss. 

■■Her work is compassed and done; 
All things arc seeml_y and reach-. 
And her summer has just begun. 

"But we cannot think of her idle; 

Siie must be a home-maker still; 
God givcth that work to the angels 

Who 6ttest the task fulQll. 

"And somewhere, yet, in the hill tops 
Of the country that hath no pain 

She will watch in her beautiful doorway 
To bid us a welcome again." 

Ill a career, honorable alike to himself and to 
the community, Mr. Varley has shown those val- 
uable traits of character without which success is 
unattainable; and the perusal of this biographical 
sketch leads one to feel that he is a man of sound 
intelligence and high worth, whom his fellow -citi- 
zens may well hold in respect and esteem. He is 
classed among the oldest pioneers of the neighbor- 
hood and while witnessing the gradual growth of 



the country from its primitive wildness to its pres- 
ent high state of cultivation, he has done much 
pioneer work to forward its improvement. He has 
served as School Director and has been Road Com- 
missioner of the township for several years. He 
long since identified himself with the Republican 
))arty and has remained a true supporter of its 
principles. . 



-^-*-^- 



OHX G. LONGSHORE, one of the enter- 
prising farmers of Wilton Township, has 
demonstrated the fact that iierseverance and 
lJ®J/' zeal will prevail to conquer circumstances 
and gain a competence for him who exercises those 
qualities. He now owns two hundred and forty 
acres of fine land on sections 28 and 33, his resi- 
dence being on the former. All the improve- 
ments — and they are many and excellent — have 
been made b3' the present owner of the farm and 
reflect credit upon his judgment and tiirift. Mr. 
Longshore is the onlj' survivor in a fnniily of four 
children born to Thomas and Jane ((iain) Long- 
shore, of Bucks County. Pa. He is the second on 
tiie roll which includes the names of Sarah. Mary 
and Susan. 

In the eount\- that was the birthplace of his 
worthy parents, John Longshore was born June 9, 
1820. He was reared on a farm, his father opera- 
ting one in connection with work at his trade of a 
wagon maker. In 1837 the family removed to 
Reynoldsluirg, Franklin County-, Ohio, where the 
parents died. There our subject remained until 
184!) when he came to Will County, 111., and 
entered two hundred acres of land in Wilton 
Township. Since coming to this .State he has 
followed farming, but previously he worked at tlie 
trade of a cari)enter and cabinet-maker several 
j'ears. 

Mr. Longshore has been a member of the Odd 
Fellows fraternity since anout 1817 and holds good 
standing in Lodge No. C40, at AVilton Center. He 
has held some minor township offices, and afliliates 
with the Republican party, in the principles of 
which he firmly believes. An honorable, man, a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



401 



reliable citizen, and a kind neiglibor and father, he 
wins respect from his associates and Has many 
friends througliout the vicinity in whicli lie has so 
long resided. 

The first wife of Mr. Longshore was spared to 
him but five months when the Angel of Death 
called her. She boie the maiden name of Ann 
Van Camp. Miss Sydney Pngh was the second 
choice of our subject and with her he lived happily 
several years. She bore eight children, of whom 
Jane, Charley, John and Eddie are now living. In 
June, 1862, Mr. Longshore was again married, 
taking as his companion Miss Matilda Hurting, of 
Rockville, Kankakee County. This worthy woman 
was born in Pennsylvania ab^ut 18.30, and is still 
living. Her father was Samuel Hurting. To her 
and her husband six children have been born, 
named respectively: Henr}-, Mary, Samuel, George. 
Ida and Julius. Henry and Mary have been re- 
moved from their sorrowing parents by death. 



ANSON E. ROSS. A pleasantly located 
and fertile tract of land on section 4, Joliet 
Township, is owned and occupied by the 
subject of this sketch, who is now giving his atten- 
tion to the purchase and sale of real estate. His 
farm Ijeing just northwest of Joliet, combines the 
pleasant features of town and farm life in such a 
proportion as to be pleasurable to any except the 
most fault-finding. The career of Mr. Ross has 
been marked b}' a careful attention to the matters 
he had in hand and the exercise of tact and good 
judgment, producing a favorable effect upon his 
finances and in the minds of those with whom he 
has to do. 

In the first quarter of the present centur}' Elijah 
Ross, a native of Kentucky, and Mary L. Houston, 
a native of Delaware, became husband and wife. 
Their first home after marriage was in the Buck- 
eye State, near Springfield, whence they removed 
to the vicinity- of Piqua, where the husband closed 
his eyes in death. The widow subsequently became 
inmate of the home of a dauijhter near Elk- 



hart, 111., and there departed this life. Their fam- 
ily comprised ten children, of whom the subject 
of this skeicli is the seventh, he having been 
born in Clark County, Ohio, June 15, 18.32. He 
was an infant of about twelve months when his 
parents removed to Piqua, and he grew to manhood 
in the contiguous village of Rossville, which was 
named in honor of his father and uncle. He re- 
mained in that place until 1856, when he came to 
the Prairie State, making his first location near 
Morris, Grundy County. 

After a residence there of about one year, Mr. 
Ross bought land in Livingston County, and set- 
tled down to the life of a farmer in Nevada Town- 
ship. Some nine years later he sold the farm and 
engaged in the grocerj- and hardware business in 
Dwight, continuing it for about two years, when he 
sold out the business and made another change of 
base. Coming to Joliet, he bought the land upon 
which he now resides, and which has since been his 
home with the exception of a short time spent in 
Dakota. 

The first marriage of Mr. Ross was celebrated at 
the home of the bride, in Dwight, the lady whom 
he had chosen for his companion being Miss Esther 
Thompson, She was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, possessed many good qualities, and was 
devoted to the interests of her husband and chil- 
dren. The union was blessed by the birth of seven 
sons and daughters, their record being as follows: 
Mary L. is the wife of William Eaton; Alma 
E. married John Belsly ; Marion died when six 
months old; Frank H. is in the nursery business in 
Joliet; L. Edgar is a clerk in a store there; Rob- 
ert W. is a student at Jackson, Mich., where Jessie 
E. is also studying. The mother of this family de- 
parted this life in November, 1887. 

Mr. Ross contracted a second matrimonial al- 
liance, September 5, 1889, the marriage ceremony 
being performed at Marseilles, La Salle County, 
and the biide MissVanch Gardner. This educated, 
cultured, and Christian woman was horn in Am- 
boj', Lee County, July 11, 1843. She has not been 
content to sit with folded hands since the studies of 
her girlhood were completed, but has ever been on 
the alert to find use for the talents which have been 
given her, and in her own womanly way to make 



402 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



^ 



the woiUI betU'i- fur licr presence in il. Slic finds 
an outlet for lier religious nature in the wtirk an(l 
worsliip of tlie iSIethoillst Episcopal C'lnircli, to 
wiiieli Mr. Koss also belongs. As a n. ember of .so- 
ciety she is hii^rlily regardeil, while In her own 
home "her price is far above rubies." Mr. Ross 
formerly acted with the IJepnblican party, but is 
now a Prohibitionist. While livinj? in Livingston 
County, he salisfactoril_y discharged the duties of 
Township Treasurer and School Commissioner. 



4»»E'-»— 



OIIN M.KADDEN, JR. This oe„ilem.in, 
who is jiroprictor of the well-known Mc- 
Faddcn Livery on Ottawa Street, is recog- 
nized as one of the leading men in this 
business in Joliet. lie has a fine outfit, compris- 
ing some of the best horses and vehicles and enjoys 
the patronage of a lare;e jiortion of those who are 
dependent upon this mcthoti of getting over the 
country. He has a life-long interest in the welfare 
and progress of the city of .bilict. which is his na- 
tive place. He was born April 17, 1856, and is 
the son of John and Bridget (Hafferty) McFadden, 
who came hither about 185t*. The parents of Mr. 
McF.'ulden were natives of Ireland; the mother is 
deceased and the father resides in Joliet. 

The subject of this notice received a good edu- 
cation in the city schools and in early manhood be- 
came a member of the Fire Department, driving 
the first steam fire engine which was brought into 
the city. He remained connected with this for a 
l)eriod of si.K years and then in 1879, established his 
present livery business on East Van Hurun Street 
from which he removed in 188.3, putting up his 
]>resent fine barn which occupies one of the most 
desirable locations in the city, being just west of 
the court-house and near Hotel Royal and the 
depot. 

In addition to his livery business Mr. McFad- 
den deals quite extensively in horses from which 
he enjoys i)rofilable returns. While having ex- 
tensive business interests, he has found time to <lc- 
vote some attention to cil^' politics, in which he 



is indc|>cndent. He was elected to represent the 
Second Ward in the City Council in 188",), and 
still holds the office. He was reared in the Catholic 
faith of his forefathers and is prominently con- 
nected with St. Mary's Church, in Joliet. A man 
upright ami honest in his transactions, he is highly 
spoken of by .all who know him. He commenced 
at the foot of the ladder in life and has accumidaled 
a fair share of this world's goods through his own 
unaided efforts. He enjoys the acquaintance of a 
large ciicle of friends. 

Mr. McF.adden on the 25th of October, 1881, 
was united in marriage with Maria Duggan. Mrs. 
McFadden, .also a native of Joliet, was born in 
1857 and was the daughter of Edward and Mary 
Duggan, who were natives of Ireland and are now 
residing in Joliet. Of this union there were born 
two sons and one daughter — Charles, Frank ami 
Mary. Mrs. McFadden departed this life at the 
family residence in Joliet, November 23, 1889. 

HOMAS CR()WE. Superinlendeut of the 
Converting Mill of the .loliet works of the 
Illinois Steel Companv, and having his head 
quarters in this city, forms no unimportant factor 
among its industrial interests. The works give 
emplo^'raent to four hundred men in that depart- 
ment alone, all of whom are under the supervision 
of Mr. Crowe. He is apparently vvell fitted b}- na- 
ture and training for the responsibilities which he 
has assumed. 

A native of Toronto, Canada, Mr. Crowe was 
born December 21. 1851, to W^illiam M. and Mary 
(McHenry) Crowe, who are also natives of the Do- 
minion and are both of Irish extraction. The 
father was engaged in the boot and shoe trade and 
is now in London, Canada. Thomas acquired his 
education in the schools of his native city and re- 
mained a n)eml)er of the parental household until 
a young man of twenty years. Then repairing to 
the oil regions of Pennsylvania during the times of 
the greatest excitement there, he occupied himself 
variou^-ly in tlial region until A|)ril. 1872. Thence 
he cmiiiraled to Chii-au'O and engaged with the con- 





§ic^J^ri3c^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



405 



verting department of the North Chicago Mills, for 
the purpose of learning the business. He started 
as hidleman and was thus emi)loyed until May. 1882, 
after which he filled various positions until he be- 
came foreman of the mill. By this time the works 
were located at South Chicago and Mr. Crowe was 
appointed Superiutendent, which position he occu- 
pied until the latter part of 1884. 

On the 10th of March, 1885, Mr. Crowe came 
to Jolietand entered upon the duties of his present 
position whidh he has since discharged in a manner 
creditable to himself and satisfactory to all con- 
cerned. He is a man generally well informed and 
is justly proud of the fact that he has always voted 
the straight Re[)ublican ticket. .Socially, he be- 
longs to the Royal Arcanum .and the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons. 

Mr. Crowe was married July 3, 1886, at the 
bride's home in Chicago, to Miss Mary Gibbs. This 
lady was born March 1, 185,5, in McHenry County, 
111., and is the daughter of Walter and Annie 
( Frisbie) Gibbs, the latter of whom died when her 
daughter Mary was l)ut two years old. Mr. Gibbs 
remained a resident of McHenry County until his 
death, which occurred in 1875. Of this union 
there have been born four children, two sons and 
two daughters: William Joseph, Thomas Edward, 
Nellie and Mamie. The little family occupies a 
snug home in the southeastern part of the city. 
Mr. Crowe, although but five years a resident in 
this county, has fully established himself in the 
esteem and confidence of its [leople and is num- 
bered among its most reliable and substantial 
citizens. 



-^^^ 



..i^EORGE A. BrCK. The city of Joliet is 
sufficiently large to afford to its residents 
an opportunity for every reasonable pleas- 
ure, congenial companionship and comfort which 
heart can desire. To it have been attracted many 
men who, after years of industrious labors, have 
secured a competence and are enabled to spend their 
declining years in merited repose and the enjoy- 
ment of all that is licst in life. Among this num- 
ber is the gentleman above uamed, vvhose portrait is 



presented in connection with this sketch, and who 
is a retired farmer, having large laoperty interests 
in tins vicinity. He has been a townsman since 
1883, and is numbered among the best citizens of 
the city, as he formerly was among those of the 
adjacent country. In politics he is a sound Demo- 
crat. Ilis fitness for public service has been recog- 
nized by his fellow-men, who have imposed upon 
him tlie duties of various offices. Among these 
were the positions of Town Clerk, Supervisor and 
others, the last-named office having been held by 
him five terms. 

The old B.ay State claims Mr. Buck as one of her 
sons, and his parents, Asahel and Sophia (Mason) 
Buck, were also born within its limits. To them 
were born six children, as follows: Achsah and 
Sarah, deceased; George A.; Mrs. Harriet Linn, 
living in Manhattan Township, this county; Tru- 
man, whose home is in Omaha, Neb.; and Laura, 
deceased. The father departed this life August 
16, 1880, at the .age of seventy-eight years, his 
death taking place in Poultney, Vt. There the 
widowed mother is still living, having now reached 
the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 

The subject of this brief biographical sketch 
was born September 10, 1829, at Lanesborough, 
Berkshire County, Mass. His father having been 
a farmer, his early years were spent upon a farm 
in acquiring such knowledge of its management as 
is always secured by a bright lad, and in obtaining 
as good an education as the schools of the vicinity 
afforded. At the age of twenty-three years he be- 
came a merchant at Cheshire, but after three and 
one-half years spent in mercantile pursuits re- 
turned to farming as an occupation more congenial. 
In 1856 became West determined to make a home 
in the Prairie State, selecting as his first location 
Waukegan, Lake Countv. There, after a few short 
months of happy wedded life, his companion w,as 
removed from him, breathing her last April 16, 
1857. Tiieir marriage had been celebrated May 
12, of the previous year, the bride bearing the name 
of Helen C. Wcjlcott. Not long after the death of 
his wife Mr. Buck cime to this county, locating 
near Five Mile Grove, wh^rc lie carrii-d on agri- 
cultural pursuits until he abandoned them to be- 
come a resident of Joliet. 



-lOG 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUBI. 



Mr. Buck contracted a sccontl inaUiiiuniial alli- 
aiu'c Mareb 22, 1859, taking as his coiiipaiiion Miss 
Sarali II.. daiigliter of Jaiiaii E. and lOlinira I'.akcr, 
natives of Rensselaer County, N. Y. The Baker 
familj- became residents of tliis county- in 1850. 
Mrs. Buck pos.-icsscs all the ((iialities of a nintherly 
woman and is devoted to her husband and fam- 
ily. She lias not, however, neglected neighborly 
and social duties, and has many friends throughout 
the community. 

Of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Buck we record 
the following: Helen C, born December 4, 185'.t, 
is now living in York County, iS'el)., and is the 
wife of John Cockle; Josephine S., born Maj^ 18, 
18G1, died October 19, 186G; Sophia M., born No- 
vember 28, 18G2, died October 5, 1865; Mrs. 
Laura K. Tenny, whose home is in St. Louis, Mo., 
was born August 2, 1865; George A., Jr., born 
June 22, 1867, died June 30, 1870; "Werden, born 
Fel)ruary 9, 18G9, is at home and engaged in iUv, 
grocery trade; Jennie T., born March 18, 1871, is 
l)Ookkceper in iier brother's store; Kate F. was born 
November 19, 1872; Paul Revere, born November 
12. 1875, died March 22, 1877; Fred A., born May 
7, 1877, pas.sed away December 16, 1889; Lucy 
Mason was born February 19, 1882. 



ATRICK Y. SCULLY' is accredited one of 
')( the solid and enterprising citizens of Joliet^ 
and owes his prosperous and honorable posi. 
/ [ tion entirely to his own industr3- and integ- 
rity. His career in life has been a somewhat 
remarkable one and the example he has set of per- 
severing pursuit of a natui-al bent, is one worth}' of 
being followed by others who have a decided pre- 
dilection for a certain kind of work. 

Mr. Scully was born on the Kmcrald Isle, Febru- 
ary 15, 1845, to Edward and Elizabeth Scully. The 
former died about 1870 and the latter afterward 
came to America and is still living in Joliet. hapiiy 
in the possession of a prosperous and dutiful son, 
not the least of whose admirable qualities is a filial 
heart. Patrick Scully early in life evinced marked 
inclination toward mechanics and at the remarkable 



age of eight years was employed in light work in 

Shellield, England, to which place his mother had 
removed. He was successively iiromoted in that 
great steel center until he was recognizeil as one of 
the best workmen there. 

At the recjuest of a synilicate. Mr. Scully left 
England and started into successful operation the 
first rolling-mill in Steeltown, Pa., near Harris- 
burgh. He remained there until 1871, and was 
then eng.aged for a brief period in steel works at 
Troy. N. Y., thence coming to Chicago, 111., to act 
in the cap.acity of instructor in the Uniim Mills. 
In 1873, he was speciall}' requested to start the 
rolling-mill in that cit^-, from which has grown the 
Illinois Steel Comi)any, one of the leading plants 
of its kind in America, and since that date he has 
been in continuous service with this company. 

In 1882-'83, Mr. Scully sought a respite from 
his toil in a tiip abroad, raid traveled over the 
European continent, re-visiting Sheffield, the scene 
of his early labors, and enjoying a banquet with 
his old friends und associates there. 

Soon after his return from Europe, in June, 1883, 
Mr. Scully was united in marriage with Miss Agnes 
D'Arcy, a daughter of a prominent Will Count}- 
family. Mr. and Mrs. Scull}- have four children, 
and are justly proud of the quartet, who are named 
respectively: Arthur. Florentine, Marguerita, and 
George T. The dwelling occupied by Mr. Scully 
on the West Side was destroyed by fire in 1 886, 
and he built the pleasant residence on Collins 
Street, in which the family now dwell, and where 
the tokens of the presence of a refined womanhood 
arc manifest to all who enter. 



-S?^>*r^»a?> 



<5<^«^«^» 




AY M. BRUNSON. Joliel is the home of 
many young men of fine natural abilities, 
""^^Jj thorough education and business energy, 
who in various fields of industry are acquiring fine 
reputations and building up successful business en- 
terprises. Among these Dr. Brunson deserves 
mention, as he combines the intelligence, energy 
and moral character which merit respect and win 
success. He is engaged in the i)ractice of dentistry 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



407 



and has no reason to complain of his worldly suc- 
cess, as he has built up a fine practice in the short 
time since he opened his ollice. 

The suliject of this sketch is the 3oungest son 
ami chiid of Cyrus M. and Pletliynnai L. (Gay) 
lirunson, the other members of the familj' circle 
iit'ing Eugene E. Brunson,lSI. D., who is practicing 
his profession at Ganges, Allegan County, Mich., 
and Dora E., wife of Dell D. Smith, of Joliet. The 
fatiier was a native of Yates County, N. Y., and 
was brought to the Prairie State in 1833. wlien a 
bu3' of thirteen years. Grandfather Brunson locating 
about eight miles north of Joliet, on the Chicago 
road, wiien the country was yet a wilderness. 

The natal day of our subject was February 23, 
ISCO, and he was born in this county, receiving his 
early education in the district schools which he at- 
tended until about fourteen years of age. He spent 
the next two winters in attending the Lockport 
High School, .assisting his father in the intervals of 
study, and next spending the greater part of two 
yeiirs at the Northwestern College in Napcrville, Du 
r.'ige County. Still unsatisfied with his attainments 
lir entered the institution at Lombard, and three 
V:irs later he was graduated in the class of '84, 
Iriving taken the Latin Scientific Course. 

We next find young Brunson studying medicine 
in Bennett Medical College, Chicago, from which he 
was graduated in 1886, and where he won a life- 
scholarship by having the highest standing in the 
qualiPcations required for that gift. Subsequently 
he was offered a professorship in this institution 
but his heart was set on dentistry, and after a short 
time spent in the practice of the medical profession 
he began to fit himself for that which he chose to 
follow. Going to I'hiladelphia, he entered the 
Dental College, and after his graduation located at 
once in Joliet, where he has already become well 
established as a thorough workman and holds a 
high place as a gentleman of broa<l culture and 
most worthy character. 

Dr. Brunson belongs to various societies, chiefly 
college fraternities, among them being the Delta 
Tau Delia and the Erosophian Literary Society, in 
lioth of which at various times he occupied each 
of the Chairs. In church work he is an active 
participant and during the three years in which he 



has been Superintendent of the Universalist Sunday- 
school, he has aw.akened the interest and built up 
the school to one of goodly numbers. On Novem- 
ber G, 1889, Dr. Brunson was united in marriage 
with Miss Rose Pilcher Stopp, of Plainfleld, who 
presides with charming grace over his cozy home 
at 1204 Western Avenue. 

Ty/AMES B.KING is a prominent citizen of 
DuPage Township, where for nearly forty 
years he has been actively engaged in ag- 

yf) ricultural pursuits, and to his sturdy enter- 
prise is it gre.atl^' indebted for its present substan- 
tial prosperity. He was born September 17, 1820, 
amid the pleasant scenes of the pretty New En- 
gland town of Benson, Rutland County, V't. He 
came of sterling New England stock, his ancestors 
having come from old England to that part of the 
country in early Colonial times. His parents, Eli 
and Eliza (Johnson) King, were natives of New 
England, and his paternal grandfather, Eli King, 
liore an honorable part in the Revolution that set 
the Colonies free from the mother country, serving 
through the entire war, and the father of our sub- 
ject was also a patriotic soldier in that contest. 

Our subject was the oldest son of a family of five 
children, and was reared to man's estate on a farm 
anumg his native hills. He received his early ed- 
ucation in the district schools, and by careful read- 
ing has added to it, and to-daj' is an exceedingly 
well-iuformed man. He began his career in the 
calling to which he had l)een bred on his native 
soil. In 18.54 he embraced the fine opportunity- 
offered him to locate on the farm where he is now 
living to better his fortunes. Here he and his 
wife have a well-.appointed farm, supplied with a 
snlistautial set of commodious buildings, with 
farming machinery of the most approved manu- 
facture, and the whole place bears an air of neat- 
ness and thrift that make it attractive, and show- 
that it is under the man.agement of a m.aster hand 
and mind. 

Mr. King was married October 28, 1840, in his 
native State, to Diana Branch, who bore him two 



108 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



(laughters: Eliza, wife of E. A. Bartoo, of Indiana; 
and Affa, wife of George Diinlap, of Plainfield, 
III. Mr. King married for his second wife Laura 
Branch. They liad no children. Our subject was 
married a tiiird time, November 3, 1850, taking 
for his wife Jli.ss Mary A. Alden. 

Mrs. King is a native of this county, born June 
24, 1839, a daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Alden, 
who were of good old New England stock, and 
were natives of Massachusetts, and she is a descen- 
dant of the faraovis John Alden, the scholar of the 
"Mayflower," who was a successful rival of Miles 
Standish in his courtshii). Mrs. King's father was 
a prominent i)ioneer of this county, coming here 
in the fall of 1832. Mrs. King's mother did not 
come until the spring of 1835. Mr. Alden squat- 
ted on tiie lajid before it was in the market and 
when the land sale occurred he secured a patent 
from the Government, which pirchment is still 
owned by Mrs. King and was signed liy President 
Tyler. Her parents were among the earliest set- 
tlers of DnPage Township, and at the time he came 
here the country was in a very wild condition. 
Lillians were still living here and a portion of the 
farm, on which Mr. King now resides, was cov- 
ered with Indian raounils or graves, anil it is sup- 
posed to have been an old Indian battle ground. 
They had to endure man}' of the hardships of pio- 
neer life and to live without the enjoyment of 
many things tiiey had thought to be necessaries 
in their old home, but b}- j'ears of toil and strug- 
gle, they succeeded in accumulating a comfort- 
able property and at the time of his death, Mr. 
Alden left an estate of three hundred and eight- 
een acres. P>oth he and his wife died of con- 
sumption, his death occinring October 17, 1850, 
and the mother dying Fcbrnarj' 28, 1857. They 
were the parents of six children, two of whom 
are now living, Mrs. King, and Martha, wife of 
O. 8. Smith, of Cheboygan County, Mich. Their 
other children were Franklin, Judson, Ilattie and 
Angelia. Mrs. King's father was a sincere Chris- 
tian and a memlter of the Baptist Church. In his 
death the county lost one of its most enterprising 
pioneers, who was doing his full share to promote 
its growth. Mr. and ]\L's. King's wedded life has 
been blessed to them by the birth of one son. 



Charles. Tliey have also an adopted daughter, 
Ilattie, whom, in the kindness of their hearts, they 
have taken to their home and are giving her every 
advantage as if she were of their own flesh and 
blood. 

Mr. King came here in pioneer days, and it may 
be his pride that he has had a hand in shaping 
the prosperity of the county. He is a sagacious 
far-seeing man, of excellent business capacity, is 
friendly and obliging in his relations with his 
neighbors, and is in every way a man of irre- 
jiroachable character. His fellow citizens, fully 
cognizant of his worth, have called him to office 
at various times, and he has served as Supervisor 
of DuPage Township two terms, and has been 
district .School Director for a number of vears, 
and as a public official shows himself to be honest 
and progressive. In his political affiliations he is 
a IJcpiiblican. He and his wife are members of 
the Congregationnl Church at Naiierville, and are 
identified with its every good work. They are 
people of liigii social standing, and their home is 
the center of that true hos|)italily where host and 
hostess vie with each other in entertaining and 
making comfortable all who cross its threshhold, 
lie they friends or strangers. 

ILLIAM GLOVER is a fine type of the na- 
tive-born citizens of this State, who have 
since attaining manhood stei)|)ed forward 
to aid in carrying on the work so well begun by 
their fathers, in developing and sustaining the 
great agricultural interests in this part of the 
country. He is engayeil in fanning and stock-rais- 
ing on the very farm that his father evolved from 
the wild prairies in tiie early settlement of this 
region. 

Our subject was born here May 3, 18l(), and is 
a son of John and Harriet (Robey) Glover, na- 
tives of England. His father, now a resident of 
Napervillc, was formerly a well-known pioneer of 
this township. He emigrated from his native land 
in early manhood and coming to Illinois identified 
himself with the early settlers of l)uP.age County. 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



409 



He rented a farm there for two years and then 
coming to this count}', settled in wliat is now Du- 
Page Township, on the farm now oocupied by our 
subject. It was then in a wild uncultivated con- 
dition, with the exception of four acres that were 
broken. He toiled busily early and late in cidti- 
vating and improving the place and made of it a 
choice farm. He was a man fairlj'-wcll educated 
and during his residence here was looked upon with 
respect, and was often solicited to take otlice, but 
never cared to do so, although he favored all the 
schemes for public improvements. He is a sturdy 
Democrat in his political faith. He is in his six- 
tj'-eighth year, and still retains his mental and phy- 
sical faculties in a marked degree. His wife did 
not come from England until after he came. By 
her death in 1887 he sustained a great loss. She 
was a truly good woman and a consistent member 
of the Presbyterian Church. She bore him five 
children, as follows: William; Sarah, a resident of 
Naperville; IMary, wife of John Murr of DuPage 
Township; James, living in Missouri, and Ada, 
wife of Julius Highland. 

William Glover, of whom this biographical 
sketch is written, was about two years old when 
his parents brought him to this county, aud here lie 
was reared under the influences of pioneer life and 
has been an eye witness of the greater part of the 
growth of the county from its primitive condition. 
He received his education in the district schools of 
this township, which at that early day did not offer 
the children of the pioneers the fine educational priv- 
leges that the children of the present generation 
enjoy. He was a diligent scholar, however, and 
gained all the knowledge possible in school, .ind 
since, by reading and observation has added to it 
so that he is now a well-informed man. He de- 
votes himself to the management of his land which 
comprises one hundred and forty-three and fort}'- 
four one-hundredths acres of land, mostly under 
cultivation and supplied with comfortable build- 
ings, .^nd every needed improvement. 

Mr. Glover is a man of upright habits and 
sound principles, and is sagacious, careful and 
thrifty in the management of his affairs. He has 
thus placed himself amongst the solid men of the 
township, and his traits of character are such as to 



command the respect and regard of his fellow cit- 
izens. In his political views he is a firm believer 
in the jiolicj' promulgated by the Democratic party 
and is a faithful sui)porter of its principles. All 
things that will in any way improve township or 
county meet with his cordial favor. He has 
served acceptably as School Director in District 
No. 3 for two j'ears. Mr. Glover was married 
March 9, 1885, to Mrs. Matilda Butstround, whose 
maiden name was Burgess, a native of England. 
By her union with Mr. Glover she is the mother 
of one son named .lohn. By her first marii.-ige she 
has one daughter and one son, Elizabeth and Al- 
bert. 

* ftlLLIAM CAMPBELL STAGE. This gen- 
\^// tleraan was born in Morris, Grundy 
Wi County, HI., December 11, 1858, but lie- 
canie a dweller in Joliet, in boyhood. His father, 
William Stage, was born in Indiana, December 19, 
1831, and his mother, Ruth Ann Smart, in Day- 
ton, Ohio. The latter was descended from old 
Knickerbocker stock. In 1856, Mr. Stage en- 
gaged in the business of contracting and building 
in Morris, aud during the decade following con- 
structed manj' of the most noted buildings of that 
citj'. Among them are the Streeter Block, the 
high-school building and the engine houses. He 
was also engaged in farming at the same time, his 
farm being five miles north of the city. 

When Joliet was having a boom, Mr. Stage saw 
a chance to exercise his power and he therefore 
in 1868, commenced to operate here but still m.ade 
his home in Morris until 1882. He was immediately 
engaged to superintend the building of the Steel 
Works. After the great fire in Chicago he put up 
some of the well-known buildings of that city, one 
of which is the Batchelor A W^hiting Block, cor- 
ner of Randolph and Clark. The parental family 
consisted of the following children: Will C, Hat- 
tie, Alexander, George H., Charles B., Clara, May 
and Maggie. Hattie, Alexander and Maggie are 
now deceased. 

After the death of his father, William Campbell 



410 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Stage coiUiiuR'd the c-ontraclin,a' business at wliicli 
lie was very suecessfiil. In 188.'), lie emhaikeil in 
tlie nianufauluro of wire, lint the liu.suiess not 
pi-dvinu- profitable, lie returned to couliaetinii- and 
building- in stone and masonry, wliieh suited the 
natural bent of liis life. In a brief time lie has 
shown that he is a true son of his father, lie has 
reeently purchased an e.\tensive ((uairy two and 
one-half miles west of Joliet, whirh eoutains stone 
of unsurpassed quality. 

Mr. Stage was educateil tirst in the schools of 
Morris, afterwards taking a course in the C'oniiner- 
eial College, at Dayton. Ohio, and is therefore 
well vei'sed in practical knowledge, lie i-; a mem- 
ber of the .Masonic Lodge No. 12, of .loliel. and 
is a most devoted Republican. In religious faith 
he is a Metlu)disl. He is universally esteemed 
and looked upon as a rising man, his energy in bus 
iness giving promise of a high degree of worldly 
success and his trails of character making liiin one 
of the most popular members of society, lie has 
an extremely cozy home, among its many improve- 
ments being an artesian well, three hundred and 
forty-six feet deep. 

The pleasant dwelling is presided over by a 
capable and loveable woman who became the wife 
of our subject January 14, 1880. She bore the 
maiden name of .lulia LucUa McCowan, and be- 
longs to a family which is classed among the jiio- 
necrs of Will County. The lia|j|iy marriage has 
been blest by the birth of four children: Nettie 
Emma, born in 1880; Alfred Campbell in 1883; 
Alma Ethel, in 18S5; and Jesse W. in 1889. They 
form a l)right group in whose growing intelligence 
the [)arents take great delight and the older son al- 
ready evi^ices musical talent of a high order. 



„.. DA.M DRIMM, coming to Plainfield 
j^I Township a quarter of a century ago, and 
I * placing himself among its sturdy, practical 
and wide-awake farmers, has managed its 
agricultural interests with such success that be ac- 
quired a handsome competence and was enabled to 



retire from active business when scarcely past the 
meridian of life, [le is of foreign iiirlh. born in 
rieinian^', iiejir the River Rhine, June 5, 18;5i. 
His father, Adam Driimm, was from the same 
place, and his grandfather, also bearing that name, 
was born in the same I'roN iiice. He was a miller 
liy lr;i(|e, and sjient his entire life there. The 
father of our subject learned the trade in his 
father'.s mill, but after marriage he turned his 
attention to fanning, and always followed that 
occupation, S()en(ling his entire life in the land of 
his nativity. The maiden name of his wife was 
Sarah JSauiu, a native and life-long resident of the 
same jihice as himself. Tney had four children, of 
whom our subject was the only .son. and the only 
member of the family who ever came to Amerie:i. 

Mr. Druinin received a solid education in the 
schools of his native land, which he attended 
steadily uiilil he was fourteen years of age. He 
then assisted his father on the farm, and remained 
an inmate of the parental household until he was 
nineteen 3'ears old. At that .age he started out in 
the world to make his own living, and ambitious 
to see what life held for him in America, he turned 
bis face toward this country, and setting sail from 
Havre the 15th of June, 18.33, on the good ship 
"Isabella," landed at New Vork, after a long vo}'- 
age of fifty-three days. He went directly to Ohio, 
and when he arrived at his destination found that 
he had but -^3 in his pocket, and as he was an 
entire stranger and had no knowledge of the Ens- 
lisli language, his [)rosi)ects were discouraging. 
Nothing daunted, he sought employment, and 
soon engaged to labor on a farm at ^\0 a month, 
and was thus employed for two 3'ears. In 1855 he 
took an imi)ortant step in life, as in that year he 
came to this county, to take up his residence in 
this region. With wise economy while working 
on a farm here he saved his earnings, and finally 
was enabled to become more independent by rent- 
ing land. He did so well in its management that 
in 18G5 he had enough to buy land aiul make a 
purchase of forty acres on section 17. Three years 
later he sold that antt bought one hundred and 
sixty acres of land on section .32. This was wild 
prairie land, though it was fenced and a few acres 
were broken. Mr. Drumm completed a house that 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



411 



was partially built, and later erected a substantial 
barn, corn-cribs and other needed buildings, and 
was assiduously engaged in tilling the soil until 
1885, wlien he rented the farm, and coming to 
Plainfield, has since lived retired in one of its at- 
tractive homes. 

In 1857 Mr. Drumm was united in marriage 
with Miss Esther Arter, a native of Cumberland 
County, Pa. Her father, John Arter, was a native 
of the same State, while his father, Philip Arter, is 
thought to have been born in Germany, lliough 
he spent tlie last years of his life in Cumberland 
County. Mrs. Drumm's fatlier was reared and 
married in the Ke3stone Slate, and subsequent!}^ 
moved from tliere to Starlv Count}-, Ohio. In 
1854 he left tliat State, and coming to this count}', 
lie bougiit a farm in Plainfu'ld Township, on wliicli 
he lived some years, and then came to tlie village 
where he has since lived retired. The maiden 
name of liis wife vv.as Klien King, and she was born 
in England, and died on llie farm in Plainfield 
TowMshi|). Mr. and ^Irs. Drunim have had four 
children, as follows: William 11.; Sarah, wife of 
Edward Huffman; Jessie N. and George E. The 
great grief in an otherwise happy wedded life has 
been in the death of tlieir daughter Jessie, who 
died at the age of eighteen years. 

Mr. Drumm has a keen, resolute nature, and by 
prompt, systematic methods and other excellent 
business habits, has acquired a valuable property, 
and is one of the moneyed men of the place. He is a 
man of earnest religious feeling, and in him and 
his worthy wife, the Methodist Episcopal Church 
has two of its most active members. 



-^^ 




AVID G. WHITSON. Manhattan Town- 

I) ship contains man}- rural homes, wliere 



comfort abounds and many of the luxuries 
of life may be found, among them that of 
David G. Wliitson on section 18. The owner is 
an early settler of Will County, which has been 
his home since he was twelve years old, and much 
information can be olitained from him regarding 
the growth of this section, and indeed of the en- 



tire State, as he is well informed and possesses the 
happy faculty of conversing well. His nature is a 
genial and energetic one, the latter quality being 
well proven by his financial success and equally 
well by the services which he rendered his country 
during the late war. 

Mr. AVliitson is the fourth in a family of nine 
children, whose parents are mentioned at length in 
tlie biography of his brother, John II. Whitson, 
found elsewliere in this Album. He was born 
April 7, 1841, in Lawrence County, where the 
first twelve years of his life were chiefly spent. 
Ills surroundings were such as were common to 
most farmers' sons, and even in his boyhood he 
was given his share in the duties of the home, 
acquiring skill in various lighter labors of the 
farm. His school privileges were somewhat lim- 
ited, as the system then in vogue was that of sub- 
scription schools which were open but a portion 
of the year. The temple of learning was an old 
fashioned log building, with a large, open fire- 
place, puncheon floor, slab benches and small 
windows. One of his 'iarly recollections is of a tri[) 
to Iowa, which was made with teams, 'the Blissis- 
sippi River being crossed at Burlington; this oc- 
curred wiien he was ten years old. 

The family sojourned in Iowa about a year 
and then returned to their former home where, 
not long after, our subject and his brother Will- 
iam were left in charge of some forty head of 
cattle, while the father came with the rest of the 
family to Will County. Two months after their 
removal the brothers drove the cattle to the new 
home, our subject taking a man's place upon the 
farm. During the winter he attended school, ad- 
ding to his store of knowledge, and at other 
times becoming more and more thoroughly ac- 
quainted with agricultural life. 

When he had reached man's estate Mr. AVhitson 
began life for himself upon rented land, in Kan- 
kakee County, near Rockville. He began his la- 
bors there in the spring of 1862, but in August, 
not being able longer to continue peaceful pur- 
suits while his country's needs cried to him for 
the strength of his right arm, he left valuable ma- 
chines standing in the field and dropping everything 
entered the army. He was enrolled in Company I, 



112 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Seventy sixth Illinois Infantry. niu>Uiiil in at 
K:inkakce City and sent South, two nmnllis later 
becoming a Corporal. From Cairo tlie troops 
wi'Mt to Coliunluis, Ky., wlieie for a short time 
tlii'y were in (•••unp .ind whither they toolc liieir 
way to Bolivar, via llolley Springs, engaged in 
sliirmishing daily. Tliey were next sent to Mem- 
phis and on the way thither were engaged in 
skirmishes, several of whieii amounted really to 
battles. Our subject w.as at tiiis time acting as 
Sergeant over thirty-six men, doing provost and 
(latrol work under ( ien. Hall. Couiuiaudei' of tlie 
Second Jirigade, Fnurtli Division. Seventeenth 
Arm}' Corps. 

At Memphis tlie troops took boats for Vicks- 
burg. landing at Young's Point, around which 
they nnuehed to bear their part in the famous 
siege. Mr. Whitsoii had the good fortune to see 
Gen. Grant receive the sword of Gen. Pemberton 
when the latter surrendered. The next heavy en- 
gagement in which he took part was the battle of 
.lackson. following which was that of Clinton, a 
return to Vicksburg and the Yazoo expedition 
The Red River expedition soon followed and then 
the removal to New Orleans, where they camped 
at Sedgvvick Hospital. Only those who are famil- 
iar with arnij' life can fully realize the danger and 
toil whicli tilled the intervals between the battles 
and expeditions mentioned, and know all that the 
lioys in blue endured on tented lield, in weary 
niaiches and in the heat of battle. 

Breaking cani|), the troops of wliich our subject 
formed an integral part, embarked on the ■•Pea- 
body" with Gen. Hall. The boat was disabled on 
account of the rudder chain being broken by the 
force of the breakers, and it became necessary to 
tiirow three hundred and fifty mules, twenty-five 
horses, all the provisions and many other stores 
overboard, in order that the boat might be able to 
reach New Orleans, to which they were obliged to 
return. They then took the Lake I'ontchartrain 
train to Pensacola, where they were in camp four 
weeks, marching thence to Spanish Fort which the3' 
captured, thence [iroceeding to besiege Ft. Blakely. 
Here Mr. Whitson received a serious wound which 
necessitated his being sent to the hospital and re- 
maining tiiere three months. After he iiad "otten 



inside of the rifle pits a shell struck the back of hi.s 
right siioidiler. taking off liie llesh and injuring the 
shoulder blade. At Clinton he hail received a 
slight scratch from a musket ball, which passed be- 
tween his lirst and second lingers. At Sedgwick 
Hospital, Septeml)er (>, IHGy, he was mustered out 
of the service and honorably discharged after a 
valiant ai'my life of over three years. 

Returning to his home Mr. Whitson .igain en- 
gaged in farming, the following year ti-aveling 
through Iowa, Kansas and Nebra.ska with teams. 
Returning .Igain to the parental home he farmed 
his father's place until 18G8, when he purchased 
eighty acr(;s of raw land, at ^:V^ per acre, and loca- 
teil upon it. He placed it under tlmrough cidtiva- 
tion and excellent improvcncnt, and it now forms 
a part of liis fine estate. In 187G he [);iid ^AG per 
acre for the eighty l)elonging to his brother John, 
and putting up a house removed to that part of 
his land. The entire quarter section is tillable, is 
divided b}- good fences into fields of convenient 
size, is beautified and made more valuable by a 
good orchard and all the buildings neeessarj- for 
the proper housing of cro|)s and slock and the 
convenience of the dwellers u|)on it. A modern 
barn, 4(jxl(> feet, was huili in 1880. Good grades 
of Cl3"desdale horses and Poland-China swine are 
kejjt, and in addition to those raised upon the 
place Mr. Whitson feeds at least a car load of 
swine per year. 

The lady who for a numljer of years ably [)rc- 
sided over the home of Mr. Whitson, bore the 
maiden name of Mary Etter, anil became his wife 
in Joliet, February 24, 1801). She was a native of 
the Buckeye State and member of a family of 
which further mention is made in, the sketch of 
John H. Whitson, occupying another page in this 
Auii'M. She was removed from the scenes of time 
in April, 1883. leaving behind her a sorrowing 
household and friends whose name is le<fion. To 
Mr. and Mrs. W'hitson eight children were born, 
named respectively, E. Charles, Elizabeth, Laura, 
Louis, Mary, Editii, Arthur and William. 

Mr. Whitson has been an efficient laboier in the 
cause of education, and has been called upon to serve 
as School Director during nearl}' all of his mature 
years. He still occupies that jiosition. He is a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



415 



devoted adherent of the principles of Republiean- 
isiii, has served his party as a delegate to county 
conventions and been appointed to represent tlie 
interests of tills section in a State convention, al- 
Ihougli he did not attend this meeting. He bas 
sat upon botli grand and petit juries. He sup- 
ports and attends the Methodist Kpiscopal Ciiurcli. 




EN.IAMIN SIIAFFNER. A career of plod- 
ding industrj- followed through many 3-ears 
has placed Mr. Shaffner in a position of 
independence financially, and he is now 
living retired from active business amid the com- 
forts of a pleasant iiome in the city of Joliet. He 
was born in Cumberland County, Pa., November 
11), 1825, and is a son of .John Shaffner, also a na- 
tive of the Keystone State. The mother bore the 
maiden name of Susanna Bowers, and after mar- 
riage the parents settled on a farm in their native 
Stale. 

Siijourning in Pennsylvania until 182(J, the pa- 
rt'uts of our subject then took u]) their line of 
march for Ohio, locating in what was then Stark 
hut now Summit County, where they sojourned for 
a pel iod of twenty years. Thence they removed to 
New Lennox Township, Will Count}', where the 
fatiier constructed another home and there spent 
the closing 3ears of his life, dying at the a<lvanced 
age of eighty-one. The mother survived her hus- 
band five years. 

The parental family- consisted of seven children. 
Mr. Shaffner remained a member of his father's 
liduschold until twenty-one years old and then 
look unto himself a wife and helpmate, being wed- 
ded .lanvuiry 20, 18.52, to Miss Caroline Larkin. 
This lady was born in Cr.-uiln'ook, Kent, England, 
May 18, 1 8.'32, and came to Auierira with her pa- 
rents, .lesse and Sophia Larkin, when about seven- 
teen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffner after their 
marriage, settled on a farm in .lackson Townshii), 
where the}- sojourned until 18G2. Removing then 
to Joliet Mr. Shaffner engaged in carriage and 
wagon-making and also in carpentering. Later he 
embarked in the grocery and coal trade and gave 



his attention to the coal business for fourteen years, 
abandoning the grocery department soon after en- 
gaging in it. In the meantime he had associated 
with him his son and they operated together Bve 
years under the firm name of B. Shaffner & Son. 
Mr. Shaffner retired from the coal trade in May, 
1884. 

By a course of uiirightnessand honesty, together 
with courteous treatment of his customers, Mr. 
Shaffner built up an extensive patronage and ac- 
cumulated a competence. He has a fine home at the 
intersection of Mound and Sherman Streets, and 
also owns a share in the Shaffner Block, on Wash- 
ington Street, also a half interest in the coal busi- 
ness of E. L. Shaffner, his son, who is represented 
elsewhere in this work. The coal-3'ard is amply 
equipped with sheds, a large ice-house and a good 
sized office, and lies between the Chicago & Alton 
and the Santa Fe Railroad tracks, on Washington 
Street. 

Mr. Shaft'ner, politically, votes with the Repub- 
lican party. Besides the two children born to him 
and his estimable wifc,tliey have an adopted daugh- 
ter. Miss Carrie, a maiden of twenty years. Eph 
L. is one of the iiromising business men of the city 
of Joliet; Eldoii P., a moulder by trade, has held 
the same position with the Rolling Mill for the 
long period of fifteen years — which is a sufficient 
indication of his worth and aliility. 

Jesse Larkin, the father of Mrs. Shaffner, only 
lived three months after coming to .Toliet, surviv- 
ing his wife only three da^'s, ami they left a family 
of seven children among strangers in a strange land. 
A short time prior to this they had emigrated to 
America from Cranbrook, Keni County, England. 

The reader will recognize in the portrait of Mr. 
Shaft'ner, which appears on another jjage, one of 
the most prominent and influential citizens of 
Joliet. 



'(_^ ARPER BOVEE, of Wilmington Township, 
came to this section of countiy about the 
^)^ year 1870, and in due time purchased 
(^P one hundred and sixty acres of land on 
section 14, Wilmington Township, where he has 



416 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



since given his attention to the various piiisuits of 
f;uni life. Ills laii'l is mostly prairie. iasii_v tilled 
and hii;lil_v iirodinlive, and liiere is an air of com- 
fort about llie premises wLicii <?ives indication of 
tbc oversigiit of a man enterprising and industri- 
ous — one wiio lias surrounded himself and his fam- 
ily with all of the comforts of life, and who has 
accumulated a suflicieney of this world's goods to 
insure him against want in his old age. 

A native of Wyoming County, N.Y., the subject of 
this notice vvas born June 25, 1825, and is a son of 
Harper and Lydia (Nichols) Bovee, who were na- 
tives of New England and the father a farmer by 
occuiiation. The latter emigrated to New York 
State early in life, where he spent many years as 
a resident of Wyoming County, coming West about 
1850. He died of cholera in St. Louis, Mo., in 
1852. Although not a money-getter, he provided 
comfortalily for his faniilj'and was a man esteemed 
in his community, being prominent in local affairs, 
and holding the minor ofliccs. After his death the 
family lemoved to Rockville, Kankakee County, 
tiiis State, and the mother came to Wilmington 
witii her family- and died there. 

The parental family of our subject comprised 
the following cliildren; Tlie two eldest, Uoby and 
Norman, both died after marriage and left fami- 
lies; Mary is the wife of Solon Billings, of Spring- 
field, Erie County, Pa.; Harmon is farming in 
Washington; Harper, our subject, was the fifth 
child; Olivia died in childhood; Alexander is fann- 
ing in L'nion County, Dak.; .lohn is farming in Wil- 
mington Township, this county; Charles died after 
his marriage in Peoria. Ilari)er, our subject, was 
reared to man's estate in his native county, whence 
he removed with his parents to Chautauqua 
County, and later to Erie County, Pa. His early 
years were spent uneventfully under the home 
roof, obtaining such education as was afforded in 
the common school and assisting his father and 
brothers around the farm. He lived in Pennsyl- 
vania until 1870, coming that year to this county. 

New Year's Day, 1873, was appropriately cele- 
brated by Mr. Bovee in his marriage with Miss 
Lora Tilden. who was then a resident of Custer, 
this county. Mrs. Bovee was born ISIareh 5, 1839, 
in Willianistown, Orange County, Vt., and is a 



daughter of Martin F. and Sarah A. (Kimball) 
Tilden, who weie likewise natives of the Green 
Mountain State. They emigrated to St. Lawrence 
County, N. Y.. in 1840, where they lived nine 
years, then moved on further westward to this 
county, settling in Custer Township. The father 
secured a farm and is still living there. The 
mother died at the homestead about 1883. The 
si.x children of the parental family were named 
respectively: Lora, the wife of our subject; Sarah, 
who is a widow and living at home with her 
father; Martha; Lewis and Hannah deceased; 
Martha (2d), also deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bovee have no children. This is 
the second marriage of our subject, his first wife 
having been Miss Marietta Linn, a native Qf Craw- 
ford County, Pa. Of that union there was born 
one child, a son, Odel. who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Marietta Bovee died about 18.iG or 18.57, in Penn- 
sylvania. 



EMIL HAASS, M. D. The confidence which 
is bestowed by the people of Frankfort and 
^ ' vicinity upon this gentleman is not mis- 
placed, as he is thoroughly skilled in the medical 
])rofession, is well read in general topics, has been 
a keen observer of life in its various phases, and 
has borne himself as a man of breeding and fine 
character in all the scenes through which he has 
passed. lie ojiened his office at B'rankfort Station 
in the fall of 1877 and was not long in securing a 
large practice Mhich includes a wide extent of ter- 
ritory in Will and Cook Counties. He has lieen 
very successful in alleviating suffering, and well 
deserves the honor wl'.ich he receives as a member 
of a profession which is exceeded in its benefits 
oidj' by that of the ministry, and which in many 
respects stands side by side with the priestly calling. 
The family of which Di-. Haass is so worthy a 
member has given the world professional and busi- 
ness men of high standing, and women of great 
intelligence and worth of character. His paternal 
grandfather w.is Prof. George Haass, a native of 
Alsace, France, and a graduate of the Strasbourg 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



417 



Seminary. He engaged in the profession of leach- 
ing until tiie first FrencK Revolution, wlien he 
removed to Baden, remaining there until liis death, 
vvhicli occurred at the ripe age of eighty- four years. 

Tlie fallier of liim whom we write was also called 
George and was born in Baden, Cierman}'. He was 
graduated froia the famous university at Ileidol- 
Ijerg and became a minister of the Evangelical 
Cluireh, having a pastorale at Bisliopshcim and 
later at Millieim. At tlie latter place lie became 
Deacon and had the supervision of the ministers of 
the district, a position of high authority in the 
Church. He entered into rest in 1865, at the age 
of sixty-fiveyears. He was twice married, .the first 
union resulting in the birth of three children: 
Charles, who died in New York; Sophia who died 
of yellow fever at Memphis, Tenn.; and Emil. 

The molhei- of these children was Caroline 
Masque, who was born in Strasbourg and was a 
daughter of Dr. Conrad Masque. The latter was 
liijin in France, studied the profession of medicine 
and })racticed in Strasbourg until his death. His 
daughter received a line education and taught in 
the royal families of the Duchess Amelia of 
Coburg, the Princess of Baden, and other branches 
of the nobilit3- prior to her marriage to the Rev. 
George Haass. Her death took place in 18"29. 

The second marriage of the father of our subject 
was blest by the birth of four children, of whom 
wc note the following. The oldest son, George, 
entered the ministry and labored faithfully in the 
Masier's vineyard until his death, which occurred 
in Germany. Maximillian came to America and 
(hiring the late Civil War was Adjutant-general 
in Sherman's aimy under Gen. Osterhaus; he is 
now engaged in the drug business in Mendota, 111. 
Theodore is a millionaire and owner of a castle at 
r.aden-Veiler, in the Dnehy of Baden. Matilda 
lesides in Amsterdam, Holland. 

The subject of this sketch opened his ej'es to the 
light of day in .Strasltourg, Germany, August 5, 
1827. Soon after his birth his father removed to 
the Duchy of Baden and the lad was reared to the 
age of eleven years in Bishopsheim. He then 
went to live with an uncle in Paris, France, and 
there attended the Academy Royal until 1844. He 
next entered the world-famous university at Heidel- 



berg and after a year in that institution, went to 
Freiburg, where he continued his studies until 184G. 

The following spring he returned to the French 
capital, entering the medical department of the 
Academy Royal and continuing his studies there 
until the schools were closed on account of the 
Revolution of 1848, when Louis Philippe was 
dethroned, a Republic instituted and Louis Na|)0- 
leon Bonaparte made President. The 3-OMng 
student remained in the capital during the Reign 
of Terror but as soon as it was possible to leave 
the city he returned to Baden. About tlie time of 
his return to the parental home an attem[)t was 
made by German Revolutionists to found a Repub- 
lic in Baden, and the ardent young man joined the 
forces, taking an active part in speechmaking and 
other efforts to accomplish their purpose. He was 
associated with Charles Shutts and other leaders 
whose names and deeds are historical. He held 
the position of Assistant Surgeon in the Revolu- 
tionist army, and being captured with the others 
when they were overpowered by the Royalists, he 
was court-martialed and sentenced to six years 
labor in the fortilications or to banishment. 

Accepting the latter altei-native Mr. Haass 
returned to Paris and completed his medical course ; 
being graduated in December, 1849. After prac- 
ticing a couple of weeks at Lauchemaux, near the 
capital, he made arrangements to come to America. 
From his mother he liad inherited some jjroperty 
whieh was luckily in France and could not be con- 
fiscated by the German Government, and this he 
disposed of. His father also sold some propertv in 
Germany and the young man therefore had a small 
ca[)ital with which to embaik. About the middle 
of December, 1849, he left Havre, France, on the 
sailing vessel -'Gallia," and after a pleasant voj\nge 
of three weeks landed in New York Cit3- January 6, 
1850. 

One of the faculty in the academy at Paris had 
given Dr. Haass a letter of introduction and recom- 
mendation to a physician in Philadelphia and to 
that city he at once went. After consultation with 
the gentleman to whom he had been introduced, he 
concluded to begin his practice in the country and 
therefore located at Plainfield, where he sojourned 
nearly a twelvemonth. While in that town he was 



418 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



one of the committee appointed to receive the 

SwciJisli sonjistress, Jenn^' Liml, wlioii she visited 
llie pliice. The Dooloi' Iiiul picviuusly hfiiidher in 
Kurcpi", as he liad ulliur famous singers of liiat 
l)iMii)il. Tlio Doctor lias a decided taste and love 
for opi'ra, which he acqiiiifd wliile makinj; his 
home in Paris. 

After a comparatively siiort sojourn in the Key- 
slone .Stale, Dr. Haass removed to Illinois, his first 
locntion lieing at Peru, where lie i)racticed for two 
years. He then removed to Mendota, of which he 
was one of the first praeticinj; physicians and where 
he not onl^' worked up a line business, but was also 
engas'ed in the drug trade. In 1860 he determined 
to remove farther west and selected Boonevillc, 
Mo., as the scene of his future labors. He was a 
strong Abolitionist, but realizing that it was not 
politic to announce his views, he kept them to him- 
self during the period immediately preceding and 
following the breaking out of the Civil War. 

However, as a strong Union man he helped to 
organize the Home Guard and after Gen. Lyons 
had defeated the rebels at Jetterson City, they Vforv 
mustered into the service by Gov. Jackson and the 
ba'id, two hundred strong, became attached to 
Lyons' force. Dr. Haass held the double position 
of First Lieutenant and Surgeon, and with his com- 
rades participated in many skirmishes and the 
species of warfare known as 'uishwhacking, during 
the ensuing six months. The Home Guards were 
then disbanded, some to join the Fifth Cavalry, 
and our subject was ordered to take charge of the 
l)ost hos|)ita( at IJooncville as head surgeon. He 
performetl the duties of that ollice until the hos- 
pital was abandoned, and he was mustered out and 
honorably discharged in Jul}-, 1803. 

We next find Dr. Haass sojourning again for a 
short time in Mendota, 111., vvhencc he removed to 
Morris, (Jrundy County, and with that cit}' as his 
headquarters, successfully labored at his profession 
until 1877. in the fall of which ^ear became to 
Frankfort Station. Here he has added to his pro- 
fessi(jnal reputation and has made hosts of friends, 
ever3one having a gotjd word for him. He has 
been useful in the municipal affairs of the village, 
serving on the Board of Trustees four years and 
now filling the position of I'resident of that body 






for tlie second year. He belongs to the Evangel- 
ical Lutheran Churrli of this place. He belonged 
to the Odd Fellows lodge at Mendota but is not 
now identified with that fraternity. In polities he 
is independent. 

Dr. Haass has a fine residence and lots, his home 
being sufficiently commodious, convenient and well 
furnished, displaying evidences of good taste in all 
its arrangements, but without ostentation. It is 
particularly well 5up|)lied with the literature of the 
day and the best works of classical writers. While 
living in the French capital. Dr. Haass had every 
advantage to observe life in its various phases and 
he there made the acquaintance of members of the 
different professions and leading lights of the da^'. 
It is a pleasure to converse with him and to hear 
him relate incidents of his meetings with men in 
the different walks of life, and describe the scenes 
through which he passed during the Reign of 
Terror and the revolution in his own land. He is 
indeed a man wlioni an^' coniuninity may lie proud 
to claim as a citizen. . 

The marriage of Dr. Ilasiss and Miss lOliza Hess 
was celebrated at the home of the bride's mother in 
Mendota, Aj^ril 25, 1H.53. Mrs. H.aass was born in 
Neider-Fckenheim, Baden, Germany, Jl.a^' 2G, 1833, 
to John and Anna B. (Volmer) Hess. Her parents 
■were natives of the same duchy and her father was 
a farmer in excellent circumstances. He died in 
his native land anil the widowed mother with her 
daughter came to America in IS'jS, dying in Men- 
dota in 1864. The parental family consisted of 
three children — Marie, John ami Kliza, the latter 
being the onlj' one novv living, .lohn parlicipaled 
in the Revolution in Baden and lieing compelled lo 
leave the counlr\% emigrated to America, settling 
in Pennsylvania and subsequenth' sending for his 
mother and surviving sister. They crossed the 
ocean on the ••William Tell" and after remaining 
in the Keystone State a year, took up their residence 
in Illinois. 

Mrs. Haass received excellent home training. 
was well educated, and grew to womanhood with a 
character which won for her many friends where- 
ever she was known. She is a model housekeeper, 
a sympathizing conijianion, ami a kind and consid- 
erate mother. Her hapjiy union has been blest by 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



419 



tlie birth of seven children, viz : Emil who died 
in Morris; Charles who is employed in the grain 
elevator in Frnnkfort; Emma, Maximillian, George, 
Alice and Albert, all of whom still abide under the 
parental roof. George is tiie tonsorial artist at 
Frankfort. All tiie children arc bright and prom- 
ising, well advanced for their years and are all 
that parental love could desire. 




Al'T. IRA W. SMITH, farmer and 
stock-raiser of Custer Township, pro|)rietor 
of one of the largest farms in the county, 
was an oflicer in the late war, in which he won a 
distinguished record for bravery, superior t.act, and 
cool daring, and showed other higli soldierly qual- 
ities as a leader that gained him an enviable repu- 
tation in militar3' circles. 

The father of our subject, who bore the same 
name as himself, was of New England origin and 
birth, a native of the State of Vermont. His pater- 
nal grandfather, also of the same name, was a sol- 
dici' both in the war of the Revolution and the 
War of 1812. The mother of our subject, wiiose 
maiden name was Louisa ]>eckwitii, was also of 
\'crmout birth. She was married to the father of 
our subject in their niitive State, and thence they 
removed to Ohio in pioneer da3's and subsequently 
came to Illinois in the month of November, 1844, 
and cast their lot with the early settlers of this 
county. His f.ather became much |)rospered there 
and improved a good farm which remained his 
home until his de.ath in 1872. His wife died in 
1847. They were the parents of six children, live 
of whom are now living. 

Our subject was the eldest of the family, and he 
was born in Huron, Loraine County, (Jhio, Novem- 
ber 27, 1832. He attended school but ten months 
i)efore his twenty-first year. He was, however, a 
lad of naturally good mental capacit}-, was fond of 
his studies and he managed to improve his educa- 
tion, working hard and obtaining money by which 
he was enabled to attend Oberlin College. He was 
a student there for nine months and by constant 
attention to his books he acquired more knowledge 



in that time than many a student who pursues a 
full course. He had not money enough to take 
him through college, and he came back to Illinois 
and found cmplo3 ineut by the day and month until 
1857. In that year he engaged with his father as 
superintendent of his farm. The breaking out of 
the war found him thus employed. He had 
watched with great interest the progress of affairs 
that led up to the Ri^bellion, and as soon as he 
could manage it, he offered his services to his coun- 
try, enlisting September 26, 1861, in Company D, 
Fourth Illinois Cavalry, as a private. He served 
three )'ears. then re-enlisted as a veteran in the 
company known as the Veteran Battalion of Illi- 
nois, commanded by Maj. A. T. Search. This 
company was afterward consolidated with the 
Twelfth Illinois Cavalry under Col. llasbrook Da- 
vis, afterward General. Our subject proved him- 
self to be especially adapted for a soldier, and 
his valor and able services won him deserved pro- 
motion, and he rapidly passed through all the 
grades until he was finally the ranking C'aptain of 
the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. His nerve .and un- 
daunted cour.age pointed him out to his superiors 
as one wdio would make a good scout and he served 
for seventeen months in that capacity. 

Our subject took an .active part in the following 
battles: skirmish at Columbus, Ky. ; was present 
at the siege and capture of Fts. Henry and Don- 
nelson; engaged at Savannah, and he was at Shiloh 
both days. His troop was the first to receive the 
enemy's fire the night before the battle of Island 
No. 10, and was in the front at Ft. Pillow and at 
Memphis. Capt. Smith took part in Grant's raid 
down the Mobile & Ohio Railw.ay, and he did gal- 
lant service before Vicksburg. While on detached 
service .as a scout he operated from Columbus, 
Ky., to New Orleans, on both sides of the Missis- 
sippi River. He crossed the State of Mississippi 
six times and the length of it twice. He collected 
the data for the Engineering Department to con- 
struct maps of West Tennessee. Kentuckj', Mis- 
souri and the .Southern part of Arkansas to the foot 
hills. This was a very laborious service and re- 
quired especial tact and ability to get allthe facts 
about the roads, etc. The Captain was relieved 
from scouting at his own request in 1865, and then 



120 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



rejoined liis rogiinoiit ami remained wiili it, until 
his discharge. In 18G4, dining the months of .inly 
and August, he was in sixty skirmishes. At the 
battle of thampion Hills, his com|)auy of forty- 
eight men lost at one volley twelve of tlieir num- 
ber. Our subject vvas woumled three times and 
had three horscskilled undei' liiui .'uid two wounde<l. 
At one time he made a desperate charge with eight 
men into a rebel ambush and one of his men fell 
dead, pierced with seven bullets, and his horse was 
completely riddled. The other seven men did not 
escape unscathed, l)ut had twenty-four wounds 
amongst them and their horses were also equally 
wo\inded. Their gallant Captain cut hi.s way 
through the enemy and got back to the Union 
lines unharmed. He served under tlie following 
Generals: INIcPhcrson, dohn A. Logan, Davis, 
Ashboth, Wilson, Grierson and Hragman. Our 
gallant Captain had the honor of serving as escort 
to Gen. Grant at Vicksburg, and he was also with 
him at Yazoo City. His last service was in Texas 
and he was mustered out December 15, 1865, hav- 
ing been in the army four years and four months. 
Returning to his old home he has since been en- 
gaged on his present farm, tilling the soil and rais- 
ing stock. He owns one of the largest farms in 
this section of the country, coini)rising seven hun- 
dred and fifty acres, all lying in a body, of as fine 
farming land as is to be found in this locality. 

Mr. .Smith w^as married in June, l.SGG, to AHss 
J'^Ua Hanson. Her father, David Hanson, was 
a nu'iiiber of the Thirtj-ninth Illinois Infantry, 
and was killed near Uichmonil. Mrs. Smith was 
born in 1842, and received the- advantages of a 
good common-school education. She is the mother 
of six children, of whom the following throe are 
living: Frank, aged nineteen years; Katie, four- 
teen years old; and Ira N\'., four j-ears old. Mrs. 
Smith and her children are members in good stand- 
ing of the Episcopal Church. 

Capt. Smith is very systematic in all th.it he does 
and manages his extensive farm after improved 
melhods, and its man}' acres of fertile S(,>il make it 
a very desirable piece of pro|)erty. During the 
late war. the worth of Mr. Smith's citizenship was 
thoroughly proved, and his course since then as a ! 
private citizen has snstaliu'd Ids well-earned repu- I 



tation for loyalty, tnitlifidncss and honor, and Cus- 
ter Township holds him as one of her best citizens. 
He has taken |)art in the public life of the ])lace, 
has been a Director of this district and is now 
Highway Commissioner. He is a stanch Republi- 
can and has always been a hard worker for his 
party. He was a delegate to the l.-ist State Con- 
vention, but received injuries from the kick of a 
horse so that' he was unable to attend. He is a 
member of the Masonic order, belonging*,© Blue 
Lodge Chapter and Cominandery. In remembrance 
of his army life he is identified with Bowen Post, 
No. 17, G. A. H., of Wilmington. 




HESTER H. MARSHALL. Among the 
leading families of New Lenox Township 
maj^ be properly mentioned Mr. Marshall 
and his amiable and accomplished wife, both of 
whom take an active interest in all of the progres- 
sive movements of the day. They are readers and 
thinkers, more than ordinarily intelligent and well 
informed, and have one of the pleasanlest homes in 
the towiislii|) where often gather fur social inter- 
course the friends whom they have draw'n around 
them by their geni.il natures and kindly hospitality. 
They stand high in social circles and are active in 
church work. They arc numbered among the 
chief pillars of the Baptist Church at lladlej'. of 
which Mrs. Maishall, who is possessed of rare mu- 
sical talents, has been organist for twenty-tive 
years. 

The immediate progenitor of our subject is the 
well-known Deacon RoUin Marshall, who was boin 
in CamilUis, Onondaga County. N. V. The mother 
bore the maiden name of Ann Burrill, and she was 
a native of the same county as her husband where 
they were married. Thence they came to this 
county in IKol, and settled in New Lenox Town- 
ship, where the father built ii|) a good homestead, 
and where the mother died about 1842. 

Deacon Rollin Marshall, after the death of his 
wife continued to live for a time in New ]>enox 
Township and then removed to Mokena, which is 
still his home. He was married a second time to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



421 



Mrs. Belinda 'Ingersoll) Parker, widow of Silas 
Parker, who died in Plainfield, tiiis count}', many 
years ago. Of the first marriage of Deacon Mar- 
.sliall there were born three sons, the eldest of whom, 
fieorge N., entered the Union Army during the 
late war as a member of Companj' M, Fourtii jNIichi- 
gan Cavalry. He went to the front with his regi- 
ment, was captured by the enem)', and suffered the 
horrors of Andersonville prison, withiu which he 
died about 1864. Chester II., our subject, was the 
second liorn. Jacob B. went to California after 
reaching manhood and was killed 1)}' a snow-slide 
in the mountains. 

Deacon Marshall was a man ambitious and ener- 
getic during his 3'ounger years an<l ijrominciit in 
the affairs of his community. He contributed his 
full quota to the growth and development of his 
adopted township, was strictl}' honest in his trans- 
actions with his fellow-men, a kind man in his fam- 
ily and much respected by his neighbors. His 
name will be held in high remembrance long after 
he has been gathered to his fathers. He is now 
cigiity-four years old. By his second marriage 
there was one child, Adal'ue, who is single and at 
hcjme. 

The subject of this sketch is the only surviving 
child of his father's familj' by his first marriage. 
He was born in New Lenox Township, October 18, 
1 S3.'), and has spent the greater part of his time 
within its limits. He acquired a practical educa- 
tion in the common school, togetlier wit1i those 
iiabits of industry and frugalit}' which iiave con- 
tributed to liis success in life. He was married at 
the residence of John M. Rej'nolds in New Lenox 
Township, November 10, 1859, to Miss Clara M., 
daughter of Mr. Reynolds, a sketch of whom ap- 
pears elsewhere in tliis volume. Mrs. Marsiiall w.as 
horn at the farm where she now resides, ()ctol)er 
21), 1840. In connection with her studies, which 
she prosecuted in the common schools, she began 
receiving musical instruction at an early age and 
evinced more'than ordiuarj' talent as a singer and 
performer. She has proved in all respects the suit- 
able companion and helpmate _of her husband and 
witii him enjoys the friendship of a large circle of 
.acquaintances. Mr. Marshall votes the Rei)ublican 
ticket and alw.ays keeps himself posted u|)on the 



march of public events. He has ofiBciated as Road 
Commissioner and School Trustee, also as a Clerk 
in the Iladley B.aptist Church. In 1884, he was 
elected a Justice of the Peace, which office he has 
held to the present time. For a period of sixteen 
years he w.as Secretary of the New Lenox Fire In- 
surance Company, and managed the affairs of the 
company in a manner creditable to himself and 
satisfactory to all concerned. 




)^M ATHIAS L. COOK, a member of the firm 
of Bennett & Co., liverymen, m.akes liis 
lieadquarters at No. 408 Van Buren Street, 
Joliet, and holds a good position among 
the business men of the city. He is a veteran of 
seventy-three years, having been born September 
2, 18 IG, and is a native of Morris County, N. J. 
He comes from a good family, being the son of 
Jabez and Sarah (Burett) Cook, who were natives 
of New Jersey, and spent their last years in that 
State. The parental family consisted of six chil- 
dren, two of wiiom are living. 

The subject of this notice grew to mature years 
in his native place, and when appro.aching man- 
hood began an apprenticeship .at the carpenter's 
trade, which he followed probably until 1837. 
When a young man of twenty-three years he deter- 
mined upon seeking his fortunes in tlie Great West, 
and making this county his objective point, arrived 
in Joliet in the fall of 1839. Two j-ears later he 
became interested in the livery business iu com- 
pany with O. W. Stillman, and they established the 
first enterprise of the kind in the embr^'o town. 
Mr. Cook had his first stable on Benton Street. 
He w.as successful from the start, and has contin- 
ued so up to the present time, covering the long 
period of over fift}- }-ears. In the meantime he has 
dealt quite estensivel}' in horses, and is perhaps as 
good a judge of the equine race .as can be found in 
this part of the country. 

After having established, himself fully in busi- 
ness Mr. Cook took unto himself a wife and help- 
mate, being married in November, 1843, at the 
bride's home in Joliet, to Miss Flavilla Seelev. 



422 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



This l;i(ly was liorii in 1 H2 k in Siis(|ucliMiiiia 
County, Pa., ami was the daiigliter of .liistin and 
Mrs. iSeclej', who were nalives of Pcnns^'lvania. 
Mr. Secley emigr.ated with his family to Illinois 
about 1836, and thcreaflcr r)cciipied himself in 
niillwriirht pursuits. He had learned miiiwriijht- 
ini; in early manhood, wliicii he follnwed until 
1860. The parental family consisted of two chil- 
dren; the parents spent their last years, the mother 
in Illinois, and the father in Iowa. 

Mrs. Cook attended the common schools dur- 
ing her girlhood, and was trained by a careful 
mother to all useful housoiiold duties. She re- 
mained under the |)arental roof until becoming 
mistress of her own home. Of her union with our 
subject there were born three children, only one 
of whom is living, a son, Oscar, who is now in 
Topeka, Kan. Mrs. Cook departed tiiis life 
April 11, 1884. 

Mr. Cook cast his first Presidential vote for Van 
I'.uren, and maintains his allegiance to the Demo- 
cratic parly. He has been somewhat prominent in 
local affairs, serving heretofore as a member of the 
City Council in the old Fourth Ward, Init is now 
Alderman from the Second Ward. He owns and 
occupies a comfortable iiome in tlie central part 
of the city, and enjoys an extensive aecpiaintancc 
among its leading resi<lents. 



£k 



c- — *f<^-^>4*. 



p^'*^'*! 



^^\ BAULKS BESEKE. An excellent example 
(l( n °^ '^''^ results of frugality, persevering 
^^^ industry, and prudent management, is to be 
found in the life of tiie above-named gentleman, 
who is numbered among the well-to-do farmers of 
Washington Townsiiip. He is the owner of the 
northeast quarter of section 29, and the southeast 
quarter of section 20, in tiiat township, together 
with ten acres of good timber land in Ycllon- Head 
Township, Kankakee County, and one hundred and 
sixty acres in Jackson County, Minn. All tiiis has 
been accumulated by him since he came to this 
county in 1863 and established In'mself on his first 
farm on section 20. The land of which be then 



took possession was in its primitive condition but 
is now one of the most productive estates in the 
county, marked with all needful improvements, as 
is the farm on section 29. 

Mr. Beseke came to this county from DuPage 
County, in which he had lived for seven years and 
in which he began his life in America as a farm 
laborer at ^1)0 i)eryear. His earlhlj' possessions at 
that time consisted of his clothes and ■i'lS in money. 
AVith this capital and the education and training 
which he had received, he began the career which 
has resulted in the attainment of the property 
noted above and an .assured standing in the finan- 
cial circles of the county. 

In the kingdom of Hanover the eyes of our sub- 
ject opened lo the light of day October 18. 182o. 
He began life for him-^jclf when about of age and 
in 1856 determined to seek a home in the New 
World, which he thought afforded better opportu- 
nities for an energetic young man of small means. 
Taking jiassage at Bremerhaven on a sailing vessel, 
he spent eleven weeks and three da\s on the broad 
Atlantic and after this tedious voyage landed in 
New York City. He at once came west to Cliieago, 
and securing employment in DuPage County took 
u|) I'le labors vvliose result is so inspiring to others 
who are compelled to depenil upon their oun 
efforts for worldly success. 

'I'he parents of Mr. Beseke spent their enlirelives 
in Hanover, Germany, living to quite a good old 
age. Their family comprised four sons, Charles 
being the only one who came to the I'nited .States. 
The others are yet living in their native land where 
they have acquired considerable pro|)erty. One of 
them is an old soldier and an ofticcr of rank. 

In DuPage County. III., Mr. Beseke led to the 
hymeneal altar Miss I^aura Wagoner, an estimable 
young lady who was born in Baden, (Germany, in 
the fall of 1837, but was quite joung when her 
piu'ents emigrated to the United States. They 
settled in DuPage County in early days, but after 
some years removed to Will County where they 
died when near the age of four-score. The two 
daughters born to them are now living in Will 
County. 

To our subject and his wife eleven chihiren have 
been born. Five died in infancy' and a daughter 




;k ^V.;^:;at^.hsag»»a;^5^-ta^^ 



m 



Residence OF Michael BiNZEN, ONE MILE SOUTH OF Joliet, III 



iOxiss&i^Mmsmm^s^i^^^ 




Residence OF Charles Beseke,5ec. 20. Washington Tp.Will Co. III. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



425 



Ellen after her marriage. Tlie living memheis of 
the family are Conrad, who mairieii Ellen f^ancl 
grader anrl lives in Vellow Head. K^inkakef Cuuiity, 
where he carries on a mereantile establishment; 
Lena, wife of Louis Kerhoph, a merchant and 
farmer of the same town ; Charles, George and 
Henry, who still reside under the parental roof. 

In connection witli this personal sketch of Mr. 
Beseke, we present a view of his pleasant h(jnie- 
stead to which we invite the readers' attention. 
Within h's cozy residence, the many friends to 
whom years of close intercourse have I»ound him 
self and wife, are frcqnentl_y entertained and are 
always sure of a hospitable welcome. 



-^^^^E 




* IC'HAEL BINZP^N, Highway Commissioner 
at Joliet, was in the spring of 1890, elected 
s for the second time to the position which 
he fills to the general satisfaction of the 
coniniunit}'. In politics he is a decided Democrat 
and is recognized as a great worker in the ranks, 
lie belongs to the social and benevolent order of 
()(ld Eellows .and has many friends b}' whom he is 
highly' regarded. He was born in Prussia, January 
21). 1836, being a son of JoIdi and Annie (Hirs- 
cliL'n) Binzen. His father was a cooper and distil- 
ler, and became expert in distilling grapes, i)hin)s, 
jnniper berries and cherries, a business which he 
followed many years. Of the cliildren born to 
him there are now living three sons. Joseph re- 
sides in Troy, N. Y., and is engaged in the manu- 
facture and sale of shoes, employing fifteen men; 
Jacob and Michael reside in Joliet. 

The gentleman of whom we write came to Amer 
ica in 1852, making his first stop at Albany, N. Y., 
where he found employment in a brewery. We 
next find hina in Hudson, where with a brother-in- 
law he opened a brewery, which was destroyed by 
fire in 1868. Thence he went to Pittsfield, Mass.. 
where he engaged in the liquor traffic, coming West 
in the latter part of the same year and after re- 
maining a year in Chicago, taking up his abode in 
Joliet. For the first two j-ears of his residence 
here he worked in a lirowery, after which he again 



engaged in the liquor traffic. A few years thereaf- 
ter, in 18.S1, he puirliaspd a f:irin which he has 
since .successfully niMnagi d 

The marriage of 4Ir. Binz n and Miss Calherino 
Meyer was cehbrateil Jann:iry 23, 1856. Mrs. Bin- 
zen is a well-informed woman with many useful 
accomplishments and is a notable housewife. The 
happy union has been blessed by the birth of eight 
children, named respectively: Mary, wife of 
James C'ushing; Joseph, Michael, Jr., John, Cato, 
Emma and George (twins), and William. 

In connection with this sketch, is given a lith- 
ographic view of Mr. Binzen's pleasant homestead. 



-5- 



-!- 



^ OHN H. DOIG, the occupant of a snug farm 
on section 4, New Lenox Township, was 
born in Washington, D. C, March 13, 1844. 
He is of Scotch parentage, his parents being 
Andrew and Isabella (Fife) Doig, representatives 
of honorable families in Farfarshire and Fifeshiie. 
A history of their lives will be found in the sketch 
of Thomas Doig, a brother of our subject, whose 
biography is found elsewhere in this volume. 

The gentleman of whom we write was scarcely 
more than an infant when his parents took up their 
abode in this county, where he received his early 
education. When .a.bout seventeen years old he 
went to Chicago, remaining in that city until the 
springof 1890, when he returned hither, purchased 
eight}' acres of land on Maple Street, and is now 
numbered among the agriculturists of New Lenox 
-Township. 

While living in the (^ueen City of the Lakes, 
he was engaged in a music store, in mercantile 
pursuits, the sale of real estate, and in building. 
His whole business career has been marked with a 
high degree of the "go ahead" spirit, so character- 
istic of dealers in Chicago and men of affairs in 
other communities, and he has been identified with 
men of similar pulilic spirit in various movements 
which would benefit mankind and add to the pros- 
perity of the section in which he lived. 

The marriage of Mr. Doig took place in Minne- 
apolis, Minn., March 21, 1872, the bride being 
Miss Jemima Macdonald. This lady is a daughter 



426 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




of Alexander and Caroline (Porteous) Macdonald, 
the former of wlmni iliud in Chicago, .luij- .'). !881. 
She was born in iMoiilreal, Canada, April 1, 1851, 
and grew to womanhood, possessing such noble 
qualities of character, such intelligence and good 
breeding, and so thorough a knowledge of useful 
arts as to deserve the love wliicli she has won. 
The first pari Of liei- life was sinnil in Ihe city of 
New York and the latter part in Chicago. She is 
a member of the E))iscopal Church. She has borne 
her husband one son, a bright lad, who bears the 
name of Alvin H. 



UGII M. BOLTON, who is a representative 
of the native-born citizens of this county, 

\-^ sons of its stalwart pioneers who are now 
^ important factors in carrying on the work 
so well begun by their fathers in developing its 
resources, is successfully engaged in farming in 
Plainfield Township, the place of his birth. He 
was born here April 3, 1848, his father, Hugh 
liolt.on, being an eai-ly settler in this region. The 
latter is a native of Belfast, Ireland, his father of 
the same name, also having been born there, a 
descendant of Scotch ancestry. He was reared on 
his native isle, came from there to America to 
spend his last 3^ears with his children in New Jer- 
sey, and died there at the remarkable age of one 
hundred and nine years. 

The father of our subject passed the early 3'ears of 
his life in the land of his birth and in the prime 
and vigor of active manhood came to tl)is country, 
seeking to better his condition. He located in 
New Jersey and was there employed on a farm until 
his return to Ireland three years later. 'While 
revisiting that country-, he was married, taking as 
his wife. Miss Eliza Miller, who was born in the 
same locality as himself. After he was wedded he 
came back to America with his bride and again 
took up his residence in New Jersey, remaining 
there until 1847. In that year he came to Illinois, 
and bougiit a small place near Plainfield on which 
he lived a few years, and then purchased the farm 
which our subject now occupies. . lie was actively 



engaged thereon many years, constantly improving 

it and from tilling the soil ac(iuired a comfortable 
competence, and now lives in retirement in Joliet, 
making his home with his daughter. In December 
1887, lie had the misfurtunc to lose the good wife 
who had shared with him the hardships and pri- 
vations of a pioneer life and lived to enjoy pros- 
perity with him. Of their happy wedded life five 
children had been born, three of whom are now 
living, as ft)llows: Nanc}', wife nf Thomas II. 
Ilutchings, of Joliet; Avcliie, wljo lives in Cherokee 
County, Iowa, and our subject. 

The latter was reared on the home farm and 
obtained a fair education in the district schools 
and since attaining manhood has devoted himself 
exclusively to farming. This farm which is located 
on section 24, of Plainfield Township, contains one 
hundred and sixty acres of land under excellent 
cultivation and good improvement, is provided 
with substantial buildings and all necessary machin. 
ery for operating it to the best advantage. 

Mr. Bolton enjoys the comforts of a pleasant 
home and to the lady who presides over it, he was 
united in marriage in 1874. Mrs. Bolton's maiden 
name was Jane Snider, and she is a native of Tenn- 
essee. Her marriage with our subject has brought 
them three children — William, John and Jarvis. 

Mr. Bolton is a practical farmer, tilling the soil 
after the most desirable methods so as to gain the 
best results, and managing his affairs with the thrift 
and prudence that will ultimately |)lace him among 
the most solid men of the township. He is well 
regarded in this community where his entire life 
has been sjjcnt, as he is fair in his dealings and 
upright in his character. 



ARMON R. BURLINGAME, contractor 
I) and builder in Joliet, has a business which 
is all that he can handle, his contracts 
i^j) sometimes running as high as $5(1,000 a 
year. He makes a specialty of dwelling houses and 
has built a large number of the best homes in the 
city. He is himself a prictical builder and there- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



427 



fore the more competent to take charge of work, 
and being a man of honor his busincp^s is conducted 
in a reliable and straightforward manner, and his 
word may be relied upon in matters [icrtaining 
U> it. 

Ira Burlingame, father of our subject, was a 
professor of music in New p]ngland. He married 
Miss Mary Whipple, and to them on August 11, 
1828, the son was born whose life it 16 our purpose 
to outline. As a boy the lad was handy with tools, 
and he early made choice of the trade Qf a carpen- 
ter, which he learned in his native Green Mountain 
.State. In 1855, he came to Illinois, first locating 
at Lockport, where he worked at his trade until 
IHdo, whenhe became foreman of an establish- 
ment for the manufacture of organs. In the fall of 
18G8 he removed to Sterling, Whiteside County, 
and four years later came to Joliet and entered 
u|)0n his life work of contracting and building, 
with the result mentioned above. 

In Lockjiort Mr. Burlingame served as Town 
Clerk two terms. He has been urged to accept 
various nominations that at different times have 
In'cn tendered him, Init has never been an aspirant 
fur office. His judgment concurs'in the principles of 
the llepublican party, which he therefore supports 
on all occasions. He is a man of more than ordinary 
intelligence, combining in his manners the energy 
of the Yankee and the good breeding of the cos- 
mopolitan gentleman. In his domestic relations he 
is kindly and considerate, in society a [tleasing 
companion, and in all his dealings with mankind 
both just and generous. 

The marriage of Mr. Burlingame was celebrated 
June 17, 1850, his bride being Miss Olive Corlestia 
Ames, of the widely-known Ames family of New 
F^ngland. She is an educated and lovenble womnn, 
regarded with the most reverent affection in her 
own home and looked upon with deep res[)ect far 
beyond tlie famil3' circle. She has borne her hus- 
band two daughters — Mrs. Amy French, now of 
Channahan, this county, ami Lettic L. 

Miss Lettie L. Builingame enjoys the distinction 
of being the onl^' female representative of the legal 
profession in Will County. She was graduated 
from the .loliet schools in 1879, after which she en- 
gaged in teaching lIueL' yea«s, laboring in the inter 



mediate and high school departments in this place. 
Choosing the law as hei- field of labor in life, she 
studied with the firm of Fitliian & Avery, and tlicn 
entered the law department of the Michigan I'ni- 
versity at Ann Arbor. She was graduated in the 
class of '86 and permission to practice her pru- 
fession was granted by the Supreme Court of Mich- 
igan. She, however, did not at once assume her 
legal work, but remained at Ann Arbor a }'ear, 
taking a special course in order that she might be 
still better prepared for her \ocation. In Ma}', 
1888, she opened an office where she is still lo- 
cated, and is securing a fair practice. She has 
taken quite a prominent part in the cause of wo- 
man's suffrage of which she is an ardent advocate. 
She also manifests- considerable interest in tem- 
peran(^e work but declines to enter upon it as a 
[tarty measure, believing that the cause can be best 
suliserved when work is done independent of polit- 
ical affiliations. Were the right of suffrage hers, 
her ballot would be cast with the Republican party. 




>ILLIAM W. STEVENS, editor and pro- 
prietor of the Joliet llecord^ assumed the 
»; duties of his i:)resent [losition in the spring 
of 1880, at which time he purchased the business 
and plant of the Record, which was established in 
1870. The Record is a bright and newsy paper, 
devoted to the interests of this county, is intelli- 
gently conducted and has unquestionablj' become a 
permanent institution. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Maine, 
and was born in Oxford County, July II, 1832. 
His parents were Bernard C. and Esther A. (Luf- 
kin) Stevens, and the father was born in S.alis- 
bury, N. II., wliich was the birthplace of D.aniel 
Webster, and with whom he 'attended school in 
his boyhood. The father of our subject was born 
in 1800, and remained under the parental roof 
until reaching his majority. He was the son of 
Jonathan Stevens, an early pioneer of that part of 
the Granite State. Upon le.nving home he went to 
Kumfurd, Oxford County, where he met and mar- 
ried Miss Esther A. Lufkiu, in 1825. They set- 



428 



PORTUAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tied upon a farm ;iii(l Mv. Stevens ('(iMruied his at- 
tention to ngrieulUn;il pursuits uiilll IS.'M. lie 
then removed to ])()\er, :uid subsequent!}' to 
Sprinylield. X. II.. where his death took place in 
Octolier, 1S71. A\illi llie exeeption of a short 
time s|)ent in Maine, he passed his entire life iu 
his native State. 

Five children were born to the parents of onr 
subject, three of whom are still living: .lames I), 
was a soldier of the Mexican War, and was killed 
in 1817, at tlic storming of Chapnltepec, Mexico; 
the ildesl, IMary, is the wife of Dudlej' Folansbec, 
of Joliet; AViJliam W. is the next in order of biitli; 
Reuben F. is also a resident of Joliet; A'ina, the 
first wife of Dudley' Folansbee, died in 1880. The 
wife and mother was born in 1793, and was the 
daughter of Benjamin Lufkin, a RevoUitionai'}' sol- 
dier who received an honorable wound at the bat- 
tle of Bunker Hill. IMrs. Esther A. Stevens died 
April 19, 18 19, at her home, in Springfield, N. II. 

The subject of this sketch remained with his pa- 
rents in Dover and Springfield, N. II., until a man 
of twenty-three 3'ears. He received a good edu 
cation, completing his studies in Andover Acad- 
emy in the class of 1854. Subsequentlj' he en- 
gaged in teaching Uiree years, in the meantime 
having, in October, 1855, emigrated to Joliet, 141., 
where he taught two 3^e,ars. In March, 1857, he 
entered the law office of Parks & Elwood, of Jol- 
iet, and confined his attention to the study of law 
until admitted to the bar in 1860. Soon after- 
ward he .associated himself in partnership with 
Benjamin Richardson and they practiced together 
for three j-ears, after which Mr. Stevens followed 
his profession singly and alone. In the meantime, 
in 18G3, he was elected Cit}' Attorne^y, and held 
the office several terms by re-election. He also 
operated as an insur.TUcc agent from 1868 to 1873, 
when he sold out the business which he had built 
up in this line, and thereafter devoted his time and 
attenlioi\ exclusively to his law practice until 
1880. when he turned his attention to newsj^aper 
work. 

While kee|iing himself thoroughl}- posted upon 
current events, Mr. Stevens has never been an 
office-seeking politician, although filling many |)0- 
sitions of trust and responsibility. For three or 



four years he officiated as School Inspector, at the 

same time being Secretary of the School Board, 
and exorcised a perceptible inlluence in the en- 
couragement of educational matters. In 1856 he 
identified himself with the Masonic fraternity, and 
for six years was Master of Mt. Joliet Lodge; he 
is also a Royal jVrch Mason, having been High 
Priest of the Chai)ler for six years, and is also a 
member of Joliet Commandery No. 4. In the 
Commandery he has held most of the offices, being 
Prelate for .ten years altogether. 

On the 6lh of September, 1859, the subject of 
this notice was joined in wedlock with Althea II. 
Ilawley, and they aie the parents of seven chil- 
dren, all living. Ada II. became the wife of 
C. ]\I. Becker, who died leaving one child, a 
son, Claude W; Kate E. is at home; Will II. is 
Route Agent on the Chicago & Milwaukee Rail- 
road; Ella V. is the wife of Will S. Hamm, of Chi- 
cago; Jennie M., Frank M. and Winnie Wallace, 
remain under the home roof. 

Mrs. Althea (Uawlc}') Stevens was born in this 
county just outside the city limits of Joliet, A|)ril 
13, 1839. She was the daughter of Judge O. L. 
Ilawley, one of the earliest pioneers of this county 
and who came here about 1834. Judge Hawley 
was one of the prominent men in the carl}- days, 
presiding over the county court. He is now de- 
ceased, having died November 8, 1861. Miss 
Hawley was given a good education, completing 
her studies in Lombard University, at Galesburg, 
and remained with her parents until her marriage. 
Her mother bore the maiden name of Nanc}' A. 
Burdge, and she was born in Chautauqua County, 
N. v., August 18, 1819. The Judge was a native 
of New York State, and was born in Schoharie 
County, in 1809. He was the son of Lyman Haw- 
ley, who ramc to Illinois in 1835, and subse- 
(inenlly laid off the town of West Lockport, build- 
ing the stone gristmill, the first of its kind in this 
region. He engaged in milling and farming until 
resting from the active labors of life. Judge 
llawlej- assisted his father in the mill during his 
earl}' manhood and, in 1849, was electcil County 
Clerk, when he removed to .lolict. discharging the 
duties of this office two terms. He was next 
elected Judge of the Probate Court, which office 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



429 



he lielfl until bis deatii. The mother of Mrs. Ste- 
vens vvus his first wife. Of tiiis m.arriaoe there 
were two children, a daughter, Mrs. Stevens, and 
Martin J., a resident of Bloomington, III. The 
two children of the second marriage are Alice C. 
and Antonia E., who are now residents of Lock- 
port, 111.. Judge Hawley was a member of the 
Universalist Church, and for many years prior to 
his clecease, was identified with the Masonic frater- 
nit3\ In politics, lie was first a AYhig, and after 
the abandonment of the old part}', wheeled into 
the Republican ranks, where he remained until his 
death. Sir. Stevens, politicall}', is a Democrat, 
and the Record naturally- reflects his political senti- 
ments. He is ably assisted by h;s wife, Mrs. Ste- 
vens, vvho is associate editor, and wlio gives per- 
sonal attention to the genera! make up of the pa- 
per. 



V|7 AMES S. BOYD is the owner and occupant 
Ij! of a well-tilled farm on section 28, Juliet 
Townshii). A visitor to the pleasant estate 
'' would find upon it a full line of excellent 
iini)rovtments which include all necessary and con- 
venient liuildings, fences, fruit, etc., and would at 
once conclude that the owner possesses an energetic 
spirit, iiuUistrious and prudent habits, and an in- 
telligent appreciation of the needs of the home. 
Such a conclusion would be in no sense amiss, and 
a personal acquaintance with Mr. Boyd would de- 
velop tlie further f'Jcts that his intelligence and en- 
terprise are not expended upon his own home, but 
lead him to participate in movements for the good 
of the cominunity and display in behalf of his fel- 
low-citizens a large amount of public spirit. 

Two fine Irish families arc represented Dy the 
subject of this sketch, his parents having been of 
old County Antrim stock. Thomas and Elizabeth 
Boyd were married and first settled in their native 
county, whence they emigrated to America in I80O, 
taking up their abode in the Keystone State. In 
1864, they came to this county, and some time 
afterward died at the residence of our subject. 
Their family comprised four sons and four daugh- 
ters, of whom James S. was the seventh in order 



of birth. The maternal grandmother of our sub- 
ject was JMary McKeen, a native of County Antrim, 
who lived to,be nearlj- one hundred 3'ears of age. 
She belonged to the sturdy old Presbyterian stock, 
which' a few centuries ago left Scotland on account 
of religious persecutions, and settled in the North 
of Ireland, whence many of their descendants 
have come to America and are numbered among the 
best citizens of our free soil. Mary McKeen had 
a brother Thomas, who in the eighteenth century 
became a citizen of the Colonies and received a 
captain's commission from Gen. George Washing- 
ton. Subsequently Andrew Jackson bestowed upon 
him a Colonel's commission. His last vote was 
cast for James Buchanan in the old court house in 
Eastoii, Pa., that was built by King George in 
1754. The McKeeus were second cousins to the 
poet James Montgomery. 

In County Antrim, Ireland, July 22, 1836, James 
S. Boyd first saw the light of day. His native 
country was his home until ^V|iril 18, 1852, when 
he came to America and taking up his residence in 
Northampton County, Pa., attended school two 
and a lialf years. He then learned the trade of a 
tinsmith in Utica, N. Y., and then coming to Joliet, 
was employed by W. S. Btooks four years. He 
then became foreman for W. F. Barrett, filling that 
position eight years, after which he re-entered the 
employ of Mr. Brooks antl for about eight j-ears 
acted as a salesman of agricultural implements for 
that gentleman. 

Mr. Boyd has traveled for four different firms as 
a salesman and was also engaged with his brother, 
T. C. Boyd, in the plumbing business in Chicago. 
He settled on the farm where he now lives, in 
Marcli, 18G8, and for some lime has devoted himself 
entirely to agricultural work. In this employment 
he simply carries out the motto which epitomizes 
his earlier efforts in other lines of business — " what 
is worth doing is worth doing well." 

On May 6, ISCl, in Fairfield, Herkimer County, 
N. Y., the rites of wedlock were celebrated between 
our subject and Miss Mary E., daughter of James 
and Nellie (Peacock) Young. The bride was born 
in the town in whicli her marriage took place, 
March 28, ISIO, and is the tenth in a family con- 
sisting of eight sons and three daughters. Lik(; 



4;{0 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lirr liusljancl she has in her veins tliu lildod of <il<l 
faniilios fruni Northern Irelami. lier |)aront.s liaviiiii 
been natives of County Antrim, whijnci! llu'v enii- 
••rated to America in an early day. After iiaviii.s; 
livud maii3' years in Herlcimer County. N. V., tliey 
came to liie Prairie State, ioi-ating in Stephensun 
County, wliere botli breathed tlieir hist. 

Mrs. Boyd possesses the natural abilities of tlie 
race from wliicii she sprung, and lias had lliem 
strengthened and dcveloiind by careful home train- 
ing and good educational advantages. Slie is there- 
fore a woman of ripe iutelligenee, well skilled in 
useful domestic arts and littcil for a sphere of use- 
fulness. She is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church and has carefully instilled into hor children 
the principles of right living. Her family includes 
the following living children: Alexander C, Mar- 
garet W..l-:stelhi M., Nellie J., J. Harry, Elizabeth, 
Fred C, Mary M., Lee E. and Belle C. L. One 
child is deceased. Estella M. is now the wife of 
Charles Scharf, of Joliet. 

In politics Mr. Boyd is a strong Republican, firmly 
convinced that tiie principles of that part}' are best 
litted to the needs of American citizens, and ever 
ready to support them with his ballot and his en- 
deavors to convince pthers that his views are cor- 
rect. He has held the oflice of School Director, in 
which his intelligence and good judgment have 
benefited the schools. His reputation is one of 
which any man might well be proud, providing, as 
in his case, the character is ccpial to the ((|)inions 
of men. 




oc5o~ 



MASA RICHARDSON. Tiiis vener.-ible 
@/LJl i gentleman lias for many years been asso- 
ciated with the farmers and stock-growers 
who have been instrumental iu the up- 
bnilding of the thriving fanning township of Wes- 
le}'. Associating himself with the pioneers of tiie 
county in l8oG, while aiding them in the work of 
developing its resources, he has acipiired a com- 
fortable property, and now, as thesiiadows of a long 
ami busy life are falling around him, he can take 
his ease, free from the cares and hunlcns that he 
bore in the heat of the da}', in his cozy home iu 



the enjoymeut of the companionship of her who 
assisted him iu fitliug It up and who is still the 
liomc-maker and devoted helper. 

The father of our subject, \\illlam 11. Richard- 
son, was a native and a farmer of \'ermont. His 
mother, whose maiden name was .Mar}- Starke, and 
who was a niece of Gen. Starke of Revolutionar}' 
fame, was also a native of that State, and there 
she and her husband spent their entire lives. 

Tlie subject of this biographical review was the 
only child, and he was born June 23, 1805, among 
the i)leasant hills of Vermont. He received his 
education in the common schools, and attheyouli)- 
ful age of twelve years began to care for him self. 
He worked out by tlie month for others until he 
was twenty-three years old, and then began his 
independent existence as a farmer on his own ac- 
count, buying at that time a farm in St. Lawrence 
Count}', N. v. He operated it until 185G, and 
then rightly thinking that he could do better still 
on the rich virgin soil of Illinois, he came to this 
county and settled on the farm where he has since 
made his home. The land, comprising one hun- 
dred and seventy acres, ten of which was in timber, 
was already under cultivation when he purchased 
it, and he has since added many improvements, 
making it a valuable estate, with its neat, well- 
kept buildings, productive fields and general ap- 
pearance of good management. 

Mr. Richardson and Miss Martha Goodwin 
united their lives and fortunes in August, 1828, 
and have had a peaceful and happy wedded life of 
more than three-score years. Mrs. Richardson's 
p.arents were Joseph and Olive (Hatsell) Goodwin, 
natives respectively of New llnmpsliire and Ver- 
mont. 'I'iiey married and settled in New York 
State, where they resided until death closed tiieir 
mortal career, she dying in 1828, and lie dying- 
some years afterward. They had a family of niiA; 
children, two -of whom are now living. Mrs. 
Richardson was born November l.'i. 1810, in New 
York. She is the mother of nine children, six of 
whom are now living — William, Levi, lllram. Al- 
fred, !\Iary and Franklin, William, a lawyer, married 
Addis Westcott, and they make their home in Kan- 
kakee City, and have one child; Levi, a resident of 
Iroquois, married Laura Cosett, and they have three 



PORTRAIT AISD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



431 



children; Hiram is a lawyer in Kankakee; Mary 
is the wife of Henr}' Kahler, of Florence Town- 
ship, antl they have eight children. Their son 
Lewis and daughter Olive are deceased, the former 
dying in Dakota. One son, Josci)h W., gave up 
his life for his country in tiie late war. lie was 
First-Lieutenant in the Thirty-ninth Illinois In- 
fantry, was a brave and efficient oflicer, and his 
death, November 17, 18G1, of typhoid fever, at 
Willianisport, Md., where he lies buried, was a loss 
to the service. Two of their sons manage the farm. 
]Mr. and 3Irs. Richardson have led useful lives, 
whose record entitles them to the great res])ect and 
affection in which they are held by all. In their 
labors they have not been too busy to be unmind- 
ful of their duties to others, and in their tliought- 
ful kindness they have often extended help and 
sj'mpathj- to the needy and afflicted. Mr. Rich- 
ardson has been School Director for years, and for 
twenty three vears has acted ns Justice of the 
Peace. He has taken but little [lart in politics, but 
the last few years has given his support to the 
Republican party. 



.--»-r^ 



'i^^L- 



♦ ^y - > 



V^ 



^. HARLES CLEMENT WILCOX, City and 
1(^1 Town Clerk of Joliet, was born June 2^ 
"^^y IHOl, being a son of Edmund and Sarah 
M. (Green) Wilcox. On another page of this 
volume will be found a biographical notice of his 
father, from which the ancestry may be learned. 
Suffice it say in this connection that no more hon- 
orable famil3- is known in Joliet than that from 
which our subject sprang. Young Wilcox was 
educated in the Joliet High School, and began his 
business career at the age of eighteen years, finding 
his first employment with G. Monroe & Sons, whole- 
sale and retail grocers, vvith whom he remained 
two years. The three succeeding j'ears he spent in 
connection with Wilcox Brothers, dealers in lum- 
ber, and while in this connection he established a 
trade in carriages, from which has grown a deposi- 
tory whose attractions draw a colossal trade. 

In 1884 Mr. Wilcox became a member of the 
firm of Smith & Wilcox, jobbers in oil. For a 



brief period the energetic young man was with a 
Chicago firm. He was then brought before the 
l)eople as a candidate for Collector of Internal 
Revenue, and after a vigorous contest, in which his 
opponents were some of the most popular men in 
the district, he received the votes which placed 
him in office. At the end of two years he turned 
over liis books to his successor with an unsar|>assed 
record for efficiency and honesty in the duties con- 
nected with Ijis public trust. In the spring of 
1889 he was elected City and Town Clerk against 
a strong opposition, his majority being two hun- 
dred and eighty-four. In the city his majority 
was five hundred. The spring election of 1890 
found him so strongly intrenched in the confidence 
of the people that no opposition was offered to his 
re-election as Town Clerk. 

The handsome West Side residence of Mr. AVil- 
cox is presided over by a charming ladj' of high 
culture and estimable character. She was formerly 
known as Miss Ida M. Weeks, is a daughter of 
George Weeks, P^sq., of this city, and a niece of 
Judge Weeks. She became the wife of our subject 
in the fall of 1882, the fruit of the union being a 
beautiful daughter, now about fifteen months old, 
who has been christened Evaleen. Mr. Wilcox is 
a Democrat of the best type, and a total abstainer 
from intoxicants of all kinds. He abounds with 
life and energy, and bids fair to reach a still higher 
place in business and political circles than that 
to which he has already attained. 



AVID FRY. The fine farming country em. 
braced in Wheatland Township has ever been 
an attraction to the eye of the solid, prac- 
tical farmer and stock-raiser, and fortunate is he 
considered who owns one of the rich, finely im- 
proved farms that may be seen on every hand. 
The subject of this biographical review is the fort- 
unate owner of one of tliese, his fine farm lying on 
section 27. 

Mr. Fr}' is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, 
born December 7, ISoO. He is a son of Jacob and 
Catherine Fry. His mother departed this life in 



432 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the month of Februnry, 1886, nt a ripe old age. 
His falliei- is now in his seventy fourUi je;ir. Both 
lie and iiis wife were natives of Pennsylvania, and 
were pioneers of tliis county, coming iierc in IK'i;!. 
Tliey became early settlers of Wlieatlaml Tnun- 
ship. bix children were born of their marriage, uf 
whom tlie following four are living: Jacob, Zacli- 
ariali, Martin and David. Mr. Fry is a sturdy sup- 
poiter of the Democratic party, and religiously, 
he is connected with the Lutheran Ciuirch as one 
of its most faitliful members. He li.is sought in 
whatever .vay he could to advance the moral, edu- 
cational and mnleriMl interests of tlie township. 
He is a man of some education and lias a good 
cimiinaiid of lioth tlie iMiglish and (Icrni.in lan- 
guages. 

David Fry. of lliis sketch, was scarcely tliree 
}"'ars of age when his |)arcnts brought him to this 
county, and here he was reared and educated, at- 
tentling the local district school in Wheatland. 
He has devoted his time jnincipally to agricultural 
pursuits, and occujiies an lionorable |)lace aniung 
tlie farmers and stock-raisers of the conimunily. 

Mr, Fry was married the lirst time, in l.sTl, to 
Miss Amelia Frauiiliuof. 'I'lie maiden name of his 
(iresent wife to whinn he was united December 19, 
i.S73, was iMaria liupp. (Jf Ihi'ir pleasant wcdiled 
life live children have lu'cn born: Katie M.,(Jeorge 
.1., Martin, William and Samuel 1). 

Our subject possesses many sterling traits of 
character that make him worthy of the esteem that 
is accorded him as a man ;ind a citize.i. He is in- 
dustrious, shrewd and thrifty, and li.as managed 
his affairs wisely so tliat he now has ;i goodi}' bit of 
propertj-. In him the Democratic party finds a 
a zealous follower. Religiously, he is identified 
with tlie Lutheran Church as one of its leading 
members. 



ACOB SOLTER.MAN. If a man's true 
character may be determined by the opinion 
of those arouml him, that of Mr. Solterman 
is irreproachable. I5y his habits of indus- 
try and prudence he li.as built up a gMod home for 
himself and family and acquired a competence for 



his declining years. He is progressive in his ideas, 

liberal and pulilic-spirilcd, and is blest with an in- 
telligent family, his wife being a most estimable 
■•iiid worthy Iad3' and his cliihlren unusually bright 
and interesting. In noting his surroundings and 
the respect in which he is held in this community, 
it must be admitted that he is in the possession of 
a large share of all that makes life desirable. 

A native of the Province of Alsace, then be- 
longing to France, but now to Germany, Mr. Sol- 
terman w.as born October 15. 1820, and is the 
elder of two children, the offs|)ring of Joseph and 
Anna M. (Gertzlor) Solterman, who were likewise 
natives of that Province. They emigrated to Amer- 
ica about 1828, and settled in Erie County, N. Y., 
where the}' spent the remainder of their days. 
Jacob lived with his parents until 1838 and then 
sought his fortune in the Prairie State, settling on 
the canal, anil being employed on the canal for 
about three j'ears. Later, he engaged in farming 
near Palos, III., where he made his home until 
1850. The California gold excitement then drew 
him to the Pacific Coast, and locating there, he was 
engaged in mining for about seven years. 

Upon coming back to Illinois, Mr. Solterman 
commenced farming on the land wiiich he hati pur- 
chascil in 1 85o, returning in the meantime i)artl\- 
for this purpose and [lartly with the object of tak- 
ing unto himself a wife and hel|>matc. This latter 
was accomplished January .">, that yi'ar. the liride 
being Mrss Mary E.. daughter of Richard and 
Jane M. (Wilson) McCalaiighary. Afterward he 
returned to Calil'orniit, where he reinaiia'd iinlil 
1857, then came back to Homer TowiKship and 
gave his undivided attention to the de\ elopinent 
of his farm. Tliis comprises two liundii'il and lif- 
teen acres of good land, wliicli through the careful 
management of the proprietor has become valu- 
able. 

To our subject and his estimable wife there 
have been born nine children, viz: .lane, who ilicd 
at the age of nine and one-half years; Charles II., 
Delos C. Matthew S., Mary E., Melissa, Catherine 
A. ; Jacob, who died when aliout two years old, and 
Clara F. Mr. Solterman atliliates with the Demo- 
cratic party. He does not seek public office, but 
prefers to confine his attention to his farming in- 






■#Ji£fec 







PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



d35 



terests, avoiding tlie responsibilities of ollice, al- 
tliougli lie is ever reaily to give his time and 
attention to tiio^e projects calculated for the gen- 
eral goo(iof the comraiinit}'. 

Mrs. Solterni;m was horn in OnondaiLja County, 
N. Y,, August 5, 1833. Her parents were also nri- 
tives of that State. The father died in Palos, III., 
about 1855. The mother subsecpiently came to 
Homer Township, wliere her death took place in 
1858. 

^ LIAS L. STEVENS. The rural districts of 
Illinois are dotted with attractive homes, 
/ i — '^1 which in architectural design, neat and 
tasteful surroundings, and thriftj' management are 
models of comfort and homelikeness. One of this 
class is located just outside the limits of the flour- 
ishing city of Joliet, and was for some years the 
home of the recently deceased Klias L. Stevens. 
That gentleman, as a contractor and builder, was 
cnpajjle of designing a dwelling which combined 
an attractive exterior and a convenient interior, 
while his wife possessed the housewifely skill and 
prudence without parsinioniousness, that insured to 
ils inmates all the comforts of life in a true homo. 

The nat.al day of Mr. Stevens was April 28, 
1828, and his birth|)laee Saratoga County, N. Y. 
When about twelve years of age be went to Mas- 
sachusetts, in which State he grew to manhood, 
and completed his education. In Sturbridge he 
wooed and won for his wife Miss Paraelia Childs, 
of tluit place, where their marriage was celebrated, 
he having lirst made her acquaintance in Hol.voke, 
Mass, where he learned his trade. In a short time 
hovvever, they removed to Wisconsin, locating in 
the vicinity of Kilbourne, where Mr. Stevens en- 
gaged in farming. The breaking out of the Civil 
War, roused him from the peaceful pursuits of 
that occupation to a (iesire to assist in upholding 
the Union, and he left his home for a life on the 
tented field. 

The name of Elias L. Stevens was placed upon 
the n)uster-roll of C'ompan3' E, Twelfth Wisconsin 
Infantry, and until tlie cruel w;ir was over he 
served faithfully and gallantly, patiently enduring 



the hardships of campaign life and the separation 
from those he loved. When his services were no 
longer needed by his country in contest with her 
enemies, he returned to his home and to civil life. 
Ere long he removed to the Prairie State, some 
time being spent in Morris and Henry, and then a 
settlement being made in .loliet. 

A residence was erected by Mr. Stevens on Un- 
ion Street, which was his home for several years, 
and until his removal to the beautiful place before 
mentioned, outside the city limits. He engaged as 
a contractor on the Rock Island Railroad, after- 
ward taking other contracts and continued in that 
linn of business until his death. He erected sev- 
eral, blocks in .loliet, among them being the Ste- 
vens Block on Chicago Street. Besides attending 
to many large contracts on the Rock Island Road, 
Mr. Stevens found time to attend to a few large 
contracts for masonry on other railroads. In the 
fall of 1883, in partnership with George Alexander, 
of Blue Island, he contracted to build seven im- 
mense piers for a bridge over the Ohio River at 
Louisville, Ky., for the Chicago, Louisville cfe New 
Albany Railroad Company. The average height 
of the piers was one hundred and fifteen feet, and 
it required seventeen thousand cubic yards of solid 
masonry. The great floods in the spring of 1884 
interfered with the work somewhat, but in 1885 it 
was completed. Lhe cost of the masonry alone 
was $300,000. Subsequently Mr. Stevens had large 
contracts for changing the tracks and rebuilding 
the bridges on the Rock Island Road. These con- 
tracts extended from the main line to many 
branches, and cost the company nearl\- half a mil- 
lion dollars. He secured the resi)cct and esteem 
of his neighbors and fellow-citizens, his dealings 
with mankind ever being honorable and straight- 
forward, and his personal habits such as to entitle 
him to their good opinion. He was a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, and the B. M. A., of Joliet. 
The loss which his own family suffered when he 
was called hence, Se))tember 11, 1889, can only be 
estimatc<l by those wjio have had a similar be- 
reavement. 

Mrs. Pamelia Stevens died at their home in .Toi- 
let, in March, 1876. leaving a daughter, Jessie F. 
who is the wife of A. C. Dillman. In 1880, the 



■136 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



widower contracted a second alliance, celebrat.insf, 
ill Jolict, his marriage to Mrs. Frances Leariiard, a 
sister of liis first wife. Tliis lady was born in Slnr- 
bridjj-e, Mass., and was uiarric(L in Brookfiebl, to 
Walter ]>eaniaril. who wsis also a native of the old 
Bay State. The union resulted in the l)irth of one 
son, Guy M., who is now a liook-kceiJcr for the 
Joliet Stone Company. In 1 !S76, Mrs. Learnard 
left her Eastern home, and a few years later be- 
came the wife of our subject, to whom she bore 
one son, Roland K. Mrs. Stevens still occupies 
the home in which her lately deceased liusband 
died. She possesses more than ordinary intelli- 
<;cncc, is amiable and companionable, and in the 
management of household and business affairs dis- 
plays the prudence which might be expected of one 
born and bred in New EnglainL She has many 
friends, in wliose companionship she finds relief 
from the sorrows and cares of life, though her 
chief delight is in the rearing of her young son, 
and the society of the older members of her fam- 
ily. 

A portrait of the laic Mr. Stevens appears in 
connection with this sUctcli. 



^^^Bf 



<«l IMLLIAM STKLLWAGEN. One of the 
\/\j// most attractive locations in Green Garden 
Vxy^ Township is occupied by the farm of the 
gentleman above named. The mistaken townsman 
who believes that country life is devoid of attrac- 
tions will find conclusive proof to the contrary on 
this estate, which is beautiful to behold, the source 
of a fine income, :nid the scene of a hai>py home 
life. 

Philip Stellwagen, a native of Ilessc-iJarrastadt, 
Germany, and a shoemaker by trade, came to 
America in 1840. lie found employment in tlie 
Keystone State and practiced frugality- until he hail 
saved money enough to bring his family to this 
country, wlicn he returned to his native land for 
them. Again crossing the broad Atlantic, he lo- 
cated in Wilkesbarre, Pa., in 1812, and spent two 
years at his trade. He then started out to buy 
land in the West, thinking to make Wisconsin his 



future home, but when he reached Northern lUi-- 
iiiiis 111' was so well pleased with tlie country that 
he determined to locate here. His journey had 
been made with a team and he had, therefore, been 
able to form w ise conclusions regarding the coun- 
try through which he passed. 

Buying eighty acres of Government land in 
Frankfort Township, this county. Mi'. Slellwagen 
|)ut up a log house and, as fast as possible, made 
other improvements on the place. He was success- 
ful in the new career in which he had embarked and 
accumulated two hundred and forty acres, which 
he operated until his death, November 2U, 188'J, 
when he was nearly eighty five years old. He was 
strong in his belief in tlie princi|)les of Democracy, 
and was an equally- devoted member of the Evan- 
gelical Church. He was twice married, his first 
wife being lMnil3' Jacob, a native of HesseDarm- 
stadt, who died in Frankfort Township in 1846. 
She vv'as the mother of four children, viz: Mathias, 
who died in 1888; Jacob, whose home is in South 
Englewood, Cook Count}'; William, of whom we 
write; and Philip, a harness-maker at Mokena. 
The second marriage of Philip Stellwagen resulted 
in the birth of two sons — Heniy and Adam, both 
now deceased. 

The gentleman whose life history forms the 
subject of these brief paragraphs was born in 
Hesse-Darmstadt, Germanj', December 13, 1-838. 
He has no recoliection of the land of his birth, as 
he left it in the spring of 1842, sailing with his 
parents from Bremen to the United States. Eleven 
weeks were spent upon the ocean, but the tedious- 
ness of the voyage made no impression ujion the 
little lad. During the two years in which the fam- 
ily rcinaine<l in Pennsylvania he spent some little 
time in school. The journey to their Western 
home being made with teams and the party camp- 
ing out every night, it was almost a continual |)ic- 
nic to the bo}', who enjoyed the outdoor life and 
continual change of scene as only careless chihl- 
hood can. In crossing the mountains eight days 
were consumed in making the ascent, and seven 
weeks of travel covered eleven hundred miles on 
their journey. 

The new home was in the midst of a wild prai- 
rie, twelve miles from the nearest house, and deer 



PORTRAIT AND BJOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 



437 



and wolves were abundant and rattlesnakes [ilenti- 
fiil. Our subject liunted some and was early set 
to woiU oil the farm, also attending school as soon 
as one was opened in the okl fashioned log school- 
house which was at that time the temple of learn- 
ing. He learned to drive oxen, five yoke of which 
were attached to tin; breaking plow, and by means 
of wliieh also goods were hauled to and from Chi- 
cago aiul .Joliet, which were the market towns. 

Mr. Slellwagen remained an inmate of the par- 
ental home, working for his father, until ho was 
twenty-seven years old, when he set ui) his own 
houseiiold in Rockville Townshiii on a rented 
farm. For two years he operated four hundred 
accres of land, raising both grain and stock, and 
then purchased eighty acres in the northeastern 
corner of Frankfort Township. Upon that farm 
lie remained until 1872, at vvhich time he pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of partiy-im- 
prc)ved lanil, which forms a portion of his present 
estate. Here he continued the improvement wdiitli 
had been liegnn b}' breaking the virgin soil, and 
eie long added one hundred and twenty acres ad- 
joining, making u)) the amount which he now owns 
and operates. 

The estate includes eighty acres on section 
21, eighty acres on section 20, and one hundred 
and twenty acres on section 1(!, all tillable land. 
It has been tiled wherever under drainage would 
be beneficial and is fenced with wire and hedge, 
the latter being kept neatly trimmed, and so add- 
ing to the beauty of the land. Mr. SLellwagen has 
set out groves and orchards, has erected a C0Z3' and 
attractive dwelling, and a barn, 7()x;jG feet, to- 
gether with other adequate outbuildings, and he 
has likewise }>iit up a windmill and tank, b^' means 
of which water is conveyed wherever it is needed. 
The principal crops which he raises are corn and 
(lats, and his stock includes high-grade cattle, road- 
sters and draft horses. Of the latter he geiierallj' 
has from twenty to thirty- bead, while three teams 
are needful to carry on the work of the estate. 

The estimable woman who presides over the 
household economy of our subject was known in 
her maidenhood as Miss Louisa Neckrauer. She 
was born in Hayren, (iermany, and came to Amer- 
ica with her parents in 184G. Iler father, .lacob 



Neckrauer, is a shoemaker, who worked at his trade 
in his own land, and in Frankfort Township, this 
county, but in later years engaged in farming. He 
is now living at Frankfort. The wedding of Mr. 
and Mrs. .Stellwagen took place at the bride's 
home, March 25, 1865, and their happily married 
life has tlierefoi'e extended over a quarter of a 
century. They are the [jarcnts of two children — 
Philip, who still remains at home, and Katie, who 
married G. J. Lankonau, a farmer in Green Garden 
Township. 

Mr. Stellwagen has been School Trustee for the 
township and is now Director of his district. He 
is independent in politics, voting for the best m.an 
or for the principle which, in his judgment, is the 
prominent issue during any campaign. He has 
seived on both grand and petit juries, where his 
intelligent understanding of the cases prcfented 
and his keen sense of right and justice make him 
useful. He belongs to the Evangelical Church, at 
Frankfort, and by the other members of the con- 
gregation, as well .as by the citizens in general, he 
is resi)ected as bis good qualities deserve. 



ij=©_ 






I AMES FELL, Postmaster at Green Garden, 
is a substantial and enterprising farmer, 
whose estate on section 30, bears every mark 

/ of careful and intelligent tillage and con- 
stant improvement. The farm comprises one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of tillable land which is 
divided into convenient fields by well-kept hedge 
and other fencing, and which is supplied with a 
full set of farm buildings and a comfortable resi- 
dence. The land is fertilized by living water and 
both grain and stock are raised to advantage. 
Probably the most noticeable featuie of the estate 
is the garden in which the owner takes great de- 
light and which is by far the finest and best kept 
in the township. It has proved the source of a 
considerable revenue since this branch of horticul- 
ture was undertaken liy Mr. Fell. A fine, laroe 
orchard also adds to the value of the farm. 

Appleb}-, Lincolnshire, England, was the birth- 
place of our subject and also of his father, John 



438 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Kell, wlio was a farm laborer. The latter was 
twice married, his second wife being Mnry Iloust, 
a native of liie same shii-e and d:uii>-Iitei' of .lona- 
tlian lloust, a shoemaker in J^iidinyton. The 
mother of our subject died in iMiiilaiid and the 
father was brimglil to Canada by his son, breathing 
ids last in the Dominion in hSdO when tiirce-score 
and ten years old. C)f the children born to this 
worthy couple be of whom we write is the onlj' 
survivor. Jonathan, .John and Mary A. arc de- 
ceased . 

The natal day of James Fell was Septendjer 8, 
182(!. lie was reared in liis native village with 
but limited school advantages which consisted of 
an uncertain attendance during some three years. 
'I'he English Testament was his reading book. 
When eight years oUl lie began the labors of life 
by being employed to keep sparrows and other 
birds out of grain fields. He received seventy-five 
cents per week for his labor, ai.d as he grew older 
took up farm pursuits, boarding at home until 
thirteen years old, when lie hired out by the year. 

The opportunities afforded a farm laborer in Kng- 
lanrl were not sutHcient to satisfy' the ambition of 
you'ig Fell, and he determined to emigrate to 
America, hoping to better his condition. He was 
twenty-four years of age when, in April, 1851, 
he left 1 1 till on the sailer "Meteor." Smallpox 
broke out on the vessel and upon reaching CJueb'ec 
it was quarantined a week. Mr. Fell had liad the 
disease, but in a very light form, and as soon ns a 
landing could be made he was able to begin work. 
He labored at different occupations in Canada and in 
Rochester, N. Y., for some time, among his em- 
ployments being that of a leaiuster for a store 
keeper. In 1853 lie removed to Chatham, County 
Kent, on the shores of Lake Eric, vvhere he op- 
erated a farm for eleven years. Following this 
were various means of gaining a livelihood until 
March !l, 1866, when lie located near Joliel. III. 

There Mr. Fell opcrateil a rented farm a year, 
after which be bought forty acres in (irecn Town- 
ship, section I'J, and putting ui) asmall house made 
it his place of abode. He cultivated his own land 
and rented adjoining acres several years, (iiially 
l)urchasing eighty acres of his present estate. This 
was impr'jved lanil to which be suliscquenll}- added 



eighty acres adjoining, bringing up his landed es- 
tate to two hundred acres, from which he subse- 
(luenlly sold fort}'. 

.Six years since Mr. Fell received the appoint- 
ment of Postmaster, and he is still the incumbent 
of the ollicc. For three years he proved his effi- 
ciency as a School Director. He is an active 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 
the ranks of the Democratic party he is ever found 
ready to cast bis vote for its caiulidales. He has 
served on the grand and [lelit juries. Asa citizen, 
interested in the true welfare of the community, as 
a fanner of energy and progressive ideas, antl as a 
man of high priiicijile. he is alike respected by 
those who enjoy his acquaintance. 

The ladj' who presi<les over the pleasant home 
of Mr. Fell was born in (iresby, Lincolnshire, 
M.ay 11, 1829, and liore the maiden name of Eliza- 
beth Ramthorp. The ceremony which made her 
Mrs. Fell was performed in England. January 21, 
1851. The happy union has been blest by the 
birth of nine children, of whom we note the fol- 
lowing: John and Robert each operate eighty acres 
of land in Manhattan Township, this count}', the 
former making his home in the village; Thomas is 
farming at Blue Hill, Neb.; George is working out 
in the same State; James, Jr., is assistant Postmas- 
ter under his father; Edward resides at home and 
ojierates the farm; Mary A. married Cornelins 
Fennick, a farmer iu Nebraska; Odessa is the wife 
of Dr. Goodrich, of Peolone; Ann still remains 
under the parental roof. 



=*5: 



E^ 



L NGO PATTERSON is a typical repre- 
// iV sentative of the hardy, industrious, intelli- 
gent Scotch pioneers of Will County who 
have been so useful in developing its rich 
agricultural resources. C'oming here in the early 
ila\s of the settlement of Wlieall- nd Townsliii), he 
identilied himself with its farmers and stock-raisers, 
and is still living on the farm he then bought 
fi'oni tlie Goveriinieiit when it was a tract of wild 
land. 

Mr. Patterson was born in Dumfrieshire, Scot- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



439 



land, September 22, 1814. He was a son of John 
and Jane (Hall) Patterson, natives of Scotland. He 
is the oldest sou of his father's family and has two 
brothers, James and Daniel, livinn; in Wheatland 
Township. Our subject passed his earl^- life on his 
native heath and gained his education in the local 
school. In 1841, desiring to make more of life 
tlian he could in the land of his birth, he emi- 
grated to America, taking passage at Liverpool, 
and after an ocean voyage of six weeks landed in 
the great metropolis of this country. From there 
he proceeded to Wayne Count3', N. Y., where he 
spent tlie ensuing years untd the spring of 1844, 
when lie made his way to Illinois. He came to 
this county and bought one hundred and twenty 
acres of land from the Government, paying there- 
for $1.25 per acre. He settled on it before there 
was a furrow turned or any improvements had 
been made. It took many j'ears of hard and per- 
sistent labor to bring it to its present fine condi- 
tion, with its well-tilled fields and ample buildings, 
and all things necessary for its successful manage- 
ment. He has added to its acreage, and it now 
contains one hundred and ninety acres of valuable 
land. 

Mr. Patterson was married in the State of New 
York, in 1842, taking unto himself for a wife Miss 
Agnes Clow, who was, like himself, born in Scot- 
land. Her father, Robert Clow, was an early set- 
tler of Wheatland Township. By his marriage our 
subject became the father of six children, of whom 
the following five aie still living: John, in Indi- 
ana; Robert, in Du I'age Township; Sarah, wife of 
Robet Wightman, in Wheatland Township; Will- 
iam, in Du Page Township, and Adam, in Wheat- 
land Townshij). 

In January, 1890, Mr. Patterson met with a 
great loss in the death of his wife, who had been 
his devoted wife and companion for nearly half a 
century. She was a woman of high character, whose 
great kindness of heart and otlier sterling qualities 
gained her the warm affection and the sincere re- 
spect of all who came in contact with her. and 
many mourn the loss of that lovable woman. 

^Ir. Patterson has not been an idle spectator in 
watching the growth of the county, but has done 
his full share of the pioneer labors necessarj- to 



redeem it from the hand of Nature. The wearj' 
days of toil, privation and hardship that he then 
endured long ago came to an end, and now, in the 
decline of life, he is reaping his reward in the com- 
fortable liome that he has established and in the 
enjoyment of the ample competence th.at his shrewd 
management of his interests has brought iiim. ilc 
inherited in a large degree the excellent traits f)f 
character for which the Scotch are notcl, and 
these have made him a good citizen, and a kin 1 
neighbor, and have made his domestic relations 
felicitous. A trul3' religious m,an, whose life is iin 
exemplification of his Christian views, he is a faith- 
ful memlier of the Presbyterian Church and is es- 
teemed by all who know him. Mr. Patterson has 
served as a School Director and has done what he 
could, in various ways, to promote the educational, 
moral and material well-being of W^heatland Town- 
ship. In his political views he is a stanch Repub- 
lican and has long affiliated with that part\'. 



-^^ 



J)ILLARD WOOD, founder of Crete, bears 
the distinction of being one of the oldest 
„ ^ settlers in this part of Will County. He 
came to this region about 1836, and first secured 
the southeast eighty acres on section 8, and the 
southwest eighty acres on section 9, which is now 
all included in the village limits and he likewise 
purchased other land. He encouraged people to 
emigrate hither by free donations to private parties 
and gave a lot to the IMethodist Episcopal and the 
CongregationarChurches, besides assisting in erect- 
ing the church buildings. He has been Interested 
in the growth and development of the town since 
its organization and h.as proven no unimportant 
factor in promoting its material interests. 

Mr. Wood assisted in building the first school- 
house in Crete Township, and officiated .as the 
first pedagogue in this township, in the year 1838. 
He served .as a Justice of the Peace from 1838 un- 
til sometime in the '50s and has been for the last 
four years a Police Justice, serving as such since 
the incorporation of the town in 1884. For fifty 
years he has been an attorne3'-at-law, being ad- 



440 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



mitted to practice in Illinois, at Joliet, about for- 
tv-seven years ago. lie was for a number of years 
tiie Postniaster of Crete, reeeiving his first appoint- 
ment tlirouiili the inlhienee of the laic Long .John 
Wentworih, of Chicago, who was then serving his 
firsi term in Congress. 

Al)0ut 1818 Mr. Wood erected the Crete Hotel, 
wiiich was the first fr'.une ))uilding of its kind in 
the place and the first public house in this part of 
the county. Williin it he had a |)ublic hall in 
which at tiic opening of the house were entertained 
many of the notalile men of Chicago, including 
Henry 15. Clark, ;dso Col. Fake, Dr. Allen and 
Robert Duncan of .lolict, together witii their wives. 
The original hotel was later supplanted liy the 
present one, which, with the exception of a few 
years, has also been conducted by Mr. Wood and is 
located on land which he purchased from the (iov- 
ernment in 1838. At that time he was without 
means, and secured the land through the kindness 
of Mr. Charles Walker, a merchant of Chicago, to 
whom he paid 33 1-3 i)cr cent, interest for thr(!e 
years. He has since owned considerable land ii: 
Crete Township, and has now one hundred acres 
besides property in the village. 

The summer of 1836 witnessed the first advent 
of iSIr. Wood into Will County, to which he emi 
"rated from Morristown, Vt., where he was |)artly 
reared and obtained his education. He studied 
law and taught school about five terms before his 
marriage. His native place was in Randolph, Vt., 
and the date of his birth August 28, 1808. He is 
therefore approaching the eighty -second year of his 
acre. He comes of stanch Nevv England stock and 
ancestry, being the son of Thomas Wood, a native 
of Massachusetts. His paternal grand fatlier, also 
named Thomas Wood, was born in Vermont and 
came of English ancestry. He followed farming 
.nil his life and died at I\,iu(l<ilph at, the ;id\-;\iic('d 
age of eighty-four years. 

Thomas Wood ,lr., the father of our subjcc*, 
n-iew to manhood in the Green Mountai)) State and 
after attaining his majority engaged in farming 
on Ills own account. Upon the outbreak of the 
War of 1812, he was one of the first patriots to en- 
list for a service of five years if necessary, and he 
participated in many a hard-fought battle. About 



the close of the war, while in the Burlington Bar- 
racks at Colchester. Vt.. he contracted a fever from 
which he died in 181i». He w.as then in the (jrime 
of life, only about forty-three years old and |)re- 
sented a fine specimen of manhood both physicall}' 
an<) mentally. By trade he was a blacksmith and 
worked at this in and around Middlebury, Vt., in 
partnership with a Mr. Denison. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Ruby Newland. She was a native of Massat liu- 
setls and after the decease of her husb.'ind was 
married to .lohn Mo.xley and they settletl in .Mor- 
ristown, Vt., where Mr. IMoxley died at the age of 
sixty -seven years. He served as (Quartermaster in 
a Connecticut Uegiment during the Revolutionarj' 
War. By tr.ade he was a tailor, which he followed 
before entering and after leaving the army. After 
his death Mrs. Moxley came to Illinois with her 
son Charles, and died at his home in Will County 
aft<!r attaining her three-score and ten years. Like 
Mr. Moxley she was a Universalist in religious be- 
lief. 

The subject of this notice w,as the youngest but 
one, of five sons and one daughter. He and his 
younger brotlier, Charles, the latter of Faribault. 
Minn., are the only survivors of the family. Will- 
ard was first married iu Morristown, Vt., M.ay 1, 
183,1, to Miss Diantha S. Boardman, .-i sister of the 
late Judge Boardman. formerly of Joliet. Mrs. 
Wood was of New England parentage and ances- 
try and English descent. .She was born, reared 
and educated in Morristown, Vt., and for several 
terms w.as a teacher in the public schools of her 
native county. For a time during the earlier years 
of their acquaintance she was a i)npil of her hus- 
band. She accompanied him to Illinois and .as- 
sisted him in gaining a foothold remaining his 
faithful and devoted companion until her death. 
This occurred at lur home in Crete, in 18fio, when 
she was fifty-four years old. having been born in 
1811. Her lnother. Judge B.iardman, also died at 
the home of Mr. AVood, his decease taking place 
;il'ter that of his sister. 

Mrs. Diantha Wood was the mother of seven chil- 
dren, idl of whom are living, married and have 
families. Sabina D. is the wife of Robert B. Mil- 
lar and they live on a "farm in Crete Township; 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



441 



Fidellii L. married Daniel B. Hewes. a Justice of the 
Peace and Notary Public of Crete; Lydia M. is 
the wife of Congressman Charhs A. Hill, of .lol- 
iet, representing the Eighth District; Blarian is the 
wife of A. H. Smith and they live on a farm in 
Crete Townshii*; Williard S. married Miss Molly 
Moore, a fruit grower of Glendora, Cal.; William 
Irwin married Miss Elvia Howes, the present pro- 
prietor of the Wood Hotel at Crete; Marcus M. 
married Miss Jessie Wood and is clerk and corres- 
pondent for an engine and mining machinery 
manufacturing company in Chicago. 

In I8G9, Mr. Wood contracted a second mar- 
riage, in Batavia, N. Y., with Mrs. Eliza (Selleck) 
Northrui), widow of Normal Northrup, who died 
in Monee, where he was engaged in trade. Mrs. 
Eliza Wood was born in Connecticut. She grew 
to womanhood in her native place acquiring a com- 
mon-school education and was there married to Mr. 
Northrup. The two children born of that union 
are both deceased. This lady died at her home 
in Crete when nearly seventy-five years old. In 
religion she was a Universalist, belonging to the 
Church at Blue Island. Mr. Wood is liberal in 
his religious views and in politics an uncom- 
promising Democrat. He preserves his faculties 
in a remarkable degree, being able to read without 
the aid of glasses and being remarkably bright 
and active for one of his years. He takes pride 
in the fact that he has twenty-three grand-children 
and two great-grandchildren. 




^^ETER W. SPANGLER, is prosperously 
engaged in the livery business in Plain- 
Held. He is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born at Centre Hill, Centre County, April 

4, 1836. His father, John Spangler, was a native 
of the same county, while his grandfather, I'etor 

5. Spangler, is thought to have been born in Lan- 
caster County, in the same state, and was reared, 
married and spent his entire life in the Keystone 
State. 'I'lie father of our subject was reared to farm- 
ing but afterwards learned the tr.ade of cabinet 
making, which he did not follow long, however, but 



went back to his first vocation, buying a farm after 
his marriage, at Centre Hill. He resided there till 
1846, when he emigrated to Illinois with wife and 
twelve children, coming overland with a pair of 
horses and a wagon and a carriage drawn by one 
horse, the journey consuming three weeks and 
three days. Mr. Spangler had been here before 
prospecting, and had bought two farms located in 
Plainfield Townsiiip, the one on which he settled 
being well-improved, and. provided with good 
buildings. There were no railways in Illinois at 
that time, and Chicago was the nearest market. 
He lived on his farm some 3'ears and then retired 
to Joliet, where he resided till his death, he having 
accumulated an ample competence tliat sufliccd for 
all his wants. The maiden name of his wife was 
Catherine Stemm, and she was born in Centre 
County, Pa., and was a daughter of Adam Stemm, 
a native of the same state. She died on the home 
farm some jears before her husband. They reared 
a family of fourteen children, nine sons and five 
daughters. 

Peter Spangler was ten years old when he came 
to this country with his parents, aMd he was here 
reared to agricultural pursuits. At eighteen years 
of age he commenced to learn the trade of a plasterer 
at Plainfield, and worked at that here for a time, 
and was then engaged at it in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 
for a while. He returned to Plainfield before the 
war, and joined a company of light infantry, which 
was sent to Cairo by the governor at the first call 
for troops, and was there mustered into sei vice as 
Co. K, 10th Illinois Batter^'. Our subject proved 
that he had good soldierlj' qualities, and he did 
faithful service in defense of the Union during the 
three months that he was in the army, that being 
the length of the term of enlistment of his regi- 
ment. At the close of that time he was obliged 
to abandon military life on account of ill health, 
and for nearly two years thereafter he was unable 
to do any manual labor. He subsequently resumed 
his trade, which he soon gave up to give his atten- 
tion to farming, and was thus engaged in farming on 
his father's farm during the following live years. At 
the end of that time he returned to Plainfield, and 
three years later entered upon his present business 
as the keeper of a livery stable and a trader in 



442 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lioi'ses, his dealings extending to nil points between 
licre and Chicago. Ilo has quite an apliiude for 
this calling, licing a good judge of horse llesh, and 
l)ossessing the requisite .sluewdncss and sagacity 
necessary ft)r the business. His liv('r\' stable is 
well managed ami well patronized. 

Mr. Spangle r has had the good fortune to secure 

II good wife, whose msiiden name was ^Lary Lee, and 

to whom he was united in marriage in 187(1. Two 

hililren Cduipiele their houseluild circie, l{oy and 

ilcrloii. 

Mr. Spangler is a sturdy Demociat in politics; 
socially, he is identified with the A. K. A A. M. 
as a member of I'lainliild Jvodgc. No. 536. He 
possesses good business qualifications, is enterpris- 
ing, and knows how to conduct his transactions to 
tlie best advantage. He is kind hearted and gen- 
erous, ever ready to do a favor, and is well-liked 
by his neighbors. 




Tj^^ATIIANH-:!. I'.ARNS. In all the broad 
expanse of the Mississippi Valley, no finer 
^ farms can be found than the Prairie State 
can boast. The agriculturists of this .State are 
generally men of unboundeil energy and good 
judgment, under whose careful management, the 
fertile soil yields abundantly of golden grain and 
various fruits in their season. In this county, 
Joliet Township is not behind other sections in 
attractive and remunerative farms. One of these is 
owned and occupied by the subject of this sketcji 
and comprises one hundred and sixty acres on 
section 31. 

In the Empire State many years ago a babe was 
born, who grew to womanhood bearing the name 
of Rachael AIcGinnis. In the neighboring State 
of Connecticut was born and reared Isaac Barns, 
who met and marrieil the worthy young woman, 
making a home in Rockland County, N. V., whcie 
they reared a family of twelve children, of whom 
the subject of this sketch is the sixth. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born in 
Ilaverstravv, in the county above mentioned, June 
lb, 1818. He grew to manhood on his father's 



farm, early becoming tjioroughly acquainted with 
the details of agricultural life and the enterprises 
connected therewith, and assisting as his strength 
would permit in the work of the home. Me also 
obtained a good practical knowledge of the more 
important branches of education. Two years 
were spent by him in the St.ate of \'irginia, but 
with this excei)tion he continued Icjmake his home 
upon the parental estate imtil he was thirty years 
of age. During this time he was engageil in farm- 
ing and stock dealing, and foi' nine years in the 
butchering l)usiness. 

In the spring of 1858, Mi'. 15ariis luincd his 
footsteps weslw:ird and reaching this country, pur- 
cha.ied a farm and identified himself with the cit- 
i/.ensof Illinois. Here he has since lived, success- 
fully carrying on his chosen work and while 
securing to his family the comforts <jf life laying 
the fotindalion for ease in his declining years. 
Ills farm contains all the improvements whieli 
mark the homes of the belter class of farmers, the 
buildings comprising a fidl set of adequate and 
substantial structures, and a gc>od supply of ini- 
l)roved machinery an<l iiiipleineiils being found in 
use thereon. 

An iiiiporlaiit step in the life of our siibj.'et was 
taken in Westchester County, N. V.. Oetijber I, 
1841), when he led to the hi'mencnl altar Miss Mary 
K. Thiell. 'I'hislady was born in Rockland County 
in 18:^9, and is a daughter of .lacob and Susan 
(^'onBuskirk) Thiell, who were natives of the same 
county, where the father died. Tiie mother 
breathed her last in Newburg, Orange County. 
i\Irs. Barns is a woman of exceplionalh' fine char- 
acter, strong, tender, and true, "whom to know is 
a liberal education." She has l)ecn an able assistant 
to her husband, b3' her wise economy and prudent 
management aiding in the accumulation of their 
present means, while to her children she has been a 
devoted mother, rearing them to useful and honor- 
able lives. The affairs of her own household have 
not taken her entire thought, but she has been read}' 
for neighborly deeds of kindness and symi)atlii7,ing 
interest in all worthy iiK)vements. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Barns ten children have been 
born, of whom (Jcorge .Julian, Rosalia, Gr.ace, 
Nathaniel .Ir.. Lizzie. .John and Blanche .are j-cl 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBDM. 



443 



living; Emily A., Isaac and Edward are deceased. 
In politics Mr. Barns is a Democrat and to the 
party of his choice he never fails to give his vote 
and personal influence. He has held the offices of 
School Director and Assistant Supervisor, faith- 
fully discharging the duties imposed upon him, and 
manifesting a deep interest in the public welfare. 
As a good farmer, a reliable citizen, and an honor- 
able man, he is regarded with respect by his fellow- 
men, particularly in this section where so manj- 
years of his life have been spent and where he is so 
well known. 



HARLES HUGE. Although the life of a 
farmer may be devoid of the excitement and 
>/' many of the hazards of city life, it is a field 
for the exercise of as high a degree of tact, keen- 
ness of judgment, and foresight as any inirsuit In 
wliich man can engage. The sight of "green things 
growing," which he has sown and cultivated, af- 
foids a pleas^irable sensation, to which is added the 
knowledge that sustenance is at hand whatever 
limits may be furnL-'hed. by '•corners" of speculators, 
to the [irice the agriculturist receives fur that which 
has cost him so much labor. 

The gentleman with whose name this sketch is 
introdticed is a Prussian by birth and ancestry. 
His father, Christ Huge, died at the age of sixty 
years from overwork while cradling grain, the sad 
event occurring when our subject was nine years 
of age. The widowed mother, formerly Miss 
Christina Trouf, followed her son to America four 
years after his arrival on the shores of the New , 
World, and died in Chicago, 111., at the age of 
eighty-three years. She belonged to the Lutheran 
Church. 

The natal da}' of Charles Ruge was September 
2, 1829, and he is the 3'oungest of the four chil- 
dren, comprising the parental family. He was 
reared and educaterl in his native land of Prussia, 
and when twent3'-four years old left it to seek a 
broader lield for his energies in the United States. 
He took passage at Hamburg on the "New Doner," 
a sailing-vessel, which anchored in New York liar 



bor, after an ocean voyage of five weeks and three 
days. He at opce came to Chicago, III., where he 
landed §5 in debt, but filled with the determined 
spirit which h.as secured for him a comfortable 
fortune. 

Mr. Ruge secured work in Dn Page County as 
a farm laborer, and four years after his arrival 
there took a companion and set up housekeeping 
on rented propert}'. He farmed as a renter five 
years in Bloomingdale Township, after which he 
removed to Will County, and purchasing one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land in Washington 
Township, began his well-directed efforts to scure 
a home and fortune. By subsequent purchase he 
added eighty acres to his landed estate, which is 
located on sections 35 and 36, and now has two 
good sets of buildings upon it. His efforts were 
ably seconded by his wife, and with her assistance 
and that of the family in later years, Mr. Ruge has 
succeeded in making a fine farm. His pleasant 
dwelling is situated on section 35, and is supplied 
with an abundance of good cheer. 

The lad}' who presides over the domestic econ- 
omy bore the na,me of Minnie Zerzov. She was 
born in Prussia. April 9, 1840, and is a daughter 
of Fred and Fredricka (Wagner) Zerzov, who 
wore natives of the same Kingdom as the daugh- 
ter. The father served his country as a soldier for 
some time, and died when but thirty-five years of 
age from disease contracted while in the army. 
Mrs. Ruge. who "as the youngest child, was a 3'ear 
old at the lime of her father's decease. She ob- 
laini'd a good educatiun pi ior to her eighteenth 
year, uiien she li:ide ndieu to ht-r unlive land aiid 
set forth alone to gain a maintinancc in America. 
Leaving Hamburg in November, l^.jT, she lauded 
in New York Citj' after a Long sea voyage on the 
"Louis Napoleon," and at once came to Chicago 
and secured emplo3nnent as a domestic. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ruge are the parents of thirteen 
children, whose record is as follows: Henry. Rob- 
ert and John died in childhood; Charles, who mar- 
ried Carrie (irabe, is a clerk in a grocery store in 
Chicago; Eva is the wife of Herman Hack, who 
lives on a farm in Iroquois County; Herman, who 
operates a part of his father's farm, married Anna 
Meyer; Bertha married Henry Meyer and they 



441 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



live on a • farm in Lake County. Intl.; Williiim 
elei-lcs in a drygoods store in Chicago, liis wife 
liaving borne the m.niden name of Dora Meyer; 
Alvina is tlie "'ife of Otto ICnulli. a niactiinist in 
Chicago; Emma and Minnie, twins, also live in 
Chic-igo; Henry and Amel are at home. 

In his political views and in the castint;- of his 
vole Mr. I\ugc is strictly independent. He and 
his wife belong to the Evangelical Cluircli of North 
.\merica. They have the respect of their acquaint- 
ances for the industry and good principles which 
have cliaraeteri/.ed their lives juid (lie kindliness 
tlioy manifest toward mankind. 



#-# 



-*— ■ 



/^ ONRAI) C. BKAUN, now deceased, was 
/|f^-\, l)orn in Frankfort-on-lhe-Main, Germany, 
^^^' January 17, 1H35, and in ins native land 
was reared to manhood. From his father he learned 
the trade of a carpenter, which he followed until 
he came to America in ISSG. IJis first sojourn was 
made in Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained but a 
short time ere removing to Milwatdcee, Wis., in 
which city he was emi)!oyed at the marble works 
about a year. He then came to Joliet, 111., where 
he continued the same occupation for a time as an 
employe and then engaged in the marble business 
on his own account, following it about ten j-ears- 
He next became foreman In the stone shops at the 
penitientiar}', holding the positif)n four years. 

We next find Mr. Braun in the employ of the 
Solar .Stove Works for two years as an ornamental 
pattern maker. His next enterprise was the pur- 
chase of the Chicago House and the employment of 
his faculties as the landlord of that hostelry which 
he conducted four years. He then bought a tract 
of land just east of Joliet upon which he started a 
grapery. From that time until his death, which 
occurred May 2, 188S,iic was engaged in vinicidt- 
nre. He met with a marked degree of success in 
the business to which he devoted his later years 
and owned one of the most beautiful graperies to 
be seen in a large extent of territory'. It affords 
a charming feature in the landscape during the 
summer season and when the vines are loaded 



with their rieli fruit. It is near Oakwood Cemetery, 
on land well adapted for the [lurpose, and pleasantly 
located. 

The first wife of Mr, Uraun was Helen, daughter 
of Andrew Smith. She was the. mother of three 
children but one of whom is living. This is a son, 
(leorge C, who is engaged in the marble business 
in St, Louis, Mo, Mrs, Helen Braun died in Joliet, 
M.ay 18, 18G4. Mr. Braun contracted a second 
matrimoni.'d alliance, marrying Miss Catheiine 
Bactelniuller wlio died in Joliet, October 1, 1864, 

Mr. Braun was .again married, in Joliet, the 
cercnion}- taking place December 8, 1864, and the 
bride being Mrs. Antonia (Sartori) .Alutz. This 
lady was born in Baden, Germany, on New Year's 
Day, 1829, and at the time of her marriage to our 
subject, was the widow of Hugo Mutz. Her first 
marriage i-esulted in the birth of five children, the 
only one now living being Josephine, who is the 
wife of William Kuhn, To her second husband 
Mrs, Braun bore threechildren — Kmlolph L,, Net- 
tie M., and Conr.ad M.; N'ettie is now the wife of 
Christian Pasold. Since the death of Mr, Braun 
the widow and her eldest son have taken charge of 
the place, and are successfully carrying on the en- 
terprise begun l)y our subject. 



■'O*o-^y^<^^-o4o- 



■<.''- 



•' ARMAN DEUTSCHMAN, There are many 
rural homes in Will County so attractive 




that they clearly disprove the idea held bj- 
some residents of cities, that farm life is 
surrounded only by what is rude, uncultivated and 
unpleasing. The estate of the gentleman who is 
the subject of this brief sketch, is one of these well 
regulated farms, upon which a complete line of im- 
provements is to be seen, the buildings being first 
class in style and construction, and snlliciently 
numerous to fill all the wants of the owner. The 
home farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres 
on section 34, J.ackson Township, and another 
quarter section in the same township is owned by- 
Mr, Deutschman. 

The n,atal day of the subject of this sketch was 
February 25, 1851, his birthplace was the Empire 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



445 



of GermallJ^ In the spring of 1865, he crossed the 
Atlantic and joined his father, William Deutschman, 
in Illinois. The father had come to this country 
in 1855, and lived in Jolict and Jackson Townships, 
in the latter of which he departed this life in 1875. 
His son Ilarman remained with him until his death, 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, and gaining in 
intelligence and ability year by }"ear. 

In the fall of 1870, our subject led to the hyme- 
neal altar Miss Sarah, daughter of Abraham Gock- 
ley, of Jackson Township, whose biograiihy 
occupies another page in this Aliujm. The bride 
was born in Lancaster County, Pa., September 25, 
1853, and was well educated and reared to useful 
habits and with the best of piinciples. She belongs 
to the German Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. 
Deutschman have eight childreu living, namely: 
Clara, Franklin A., Ella, Anna, Wallace J., Minnie, 
Josephine and "N'iola. Thej' lost a son, Aaron, in 
his infanc}'. Mr. Deutschman has not sought otti- 
ci:il honors but is ever ready to cast his vote in the 
interests of the Democratic party, lie has served 
as School Director. He has so conducted himself 
as to vvin respect as a citizen, neighbor and private 
individual. 



sag^ir 



^f 



^, OSEPH HUNTER, Sr, is one of the oldest 
settlers of Frankfort Township; the owner 
of a large landed estate and an extensive 
agriculturist. Ills home farm is the south- 
cast quarter of section 13, on which is a fine large 
residence and other substantial and commodious 
buildings, among them being a windmill and tank, 
and a barn 72x100 feet, which is capable of hold- 
ing three hundred tons of hay. Mr. Hunter owns 
six hundred and forty acres in this township, all 
well fenced and supplied with tenant houses, feed 
yards, orchards, and all improvements which char- 
acterize the estates of enterprising farmers. In 
Cook County he owns three hundred and twenty 
acres, and his entire landed estate is tillable except 
forty acres of timber land. 

Mr. Hunter was born in County Donegal, Ire- 
land, near Ramelton, December 23, 1817, and 



reared on the parental farm with but limited com- 
mon-school advantages. He remained at home un- 
til nineteen years of age and then going into Scot- 
land on a visit was offered a situation in the 
custom house at Glasgow. His father, however, 
advised him to emigrate to America and he made 
preparations to do so. In May, 1837, he left 
Londonderry' on the sailer "llegatia" a slow vessel 
which occupied eight weeks in crossing the Atlan- 
tic. Young Hunter was sick during the entire vo}'- 
age. He landed in (Quebec and remained in Can- 
ada a few months, working on a farm. He was not 
pleased with the country as it was too heavily tim- 
hered to suit his taste and the same fall he made a 
tri|) to Illinois. 

Accompanied by his brother John, he crossed to 
Detroit, Mich., on a boat, then went on foot to St. 
Joseph, whence he crossed the lake to Chicago. 
Thence they traveled on foot to the Yankee set- 
tlement near Lockport, this county, which is now 
in the Township of Homer. The young men had 
about -1 100 in gold, and had to change a $5 piece 
every morning to pay the bill at the inn. The 
change tliey received was "wildcat" money which 
others refused to take and when our subject 
reached Will County he was virtually empty 
handed. 

Young Hunter had learned something of the 
mason's trade in his native land and he found 
employment at it for a time and then eng.aged on 
a farm by the month. Tlit best hands received 
but ^\'20 a year for farm work. In 1840, he pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land 
at $1.25 per acre and located upon it six years 
later. He put up a log house shaping the logs 
himself and completing the structure, being only 
able to get one man to help him raise it. He was 
the first settler upon the prairie within a radius of 
many miles. He had taken cattle in paj'ment for 
farm work so that he had a good herd and he let 
men take care of them on various terms. He killed 
some and sold beef among the few settlers and 
also disposed of some of the animals alive. 

Mr. Hunter broke prairie with oxen attached to 
a clumsy plow, and the soil l)eing tongh and the 
imi)lenient unwieldly, six 3oke were necessary. 
The cattle fattened readil}- on the prairie grass 



446 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



m\<\ grain grew well on the newly-ltroken soil. The 
latter was liauled to C'liica^^o, a distaiu'e of lliirly 
inileo, the trip consuniing two ilays. During tiiose 
carl}' years, largo herds of deer were 'm l)e seen in 
this vicinity and wolves wore numerous, often fol- 
lowing ^fr. Hunter in his journeys. I'nlike tlie 
most of the early settlers, he did not engage in 
hunting but devoted himself exclusively lo liis ag- 
ricultural pursuits in which he was very success- 
ful. He added to his real estate from time to 
time, paying $r)0 per acre for some eight hundred 
acres of that whicii he now owns. 

The estate of Mr. Hunter is managed syslemati- 
eally, two hundred and fift}' acres being devoted 
to oats, three hundred to corn, and three hundred 
to hay and i>asturc. He raises full blooded Short- 
horn cattle of all grades, keeping about two hundred 
head. 'He feeds three or four car loads of cattle be- 
sides, and raises about as many car loads of hogs 
per j-ear. He has the largest horse ranche in the 
township and has been quite successful with draft 
horses and roadsters. He has about fifty head of 
the latter and raises about twelve colts per an- 
num. 

The marriage of Mr. Hunter and Miss Jane 
Gamble took place at the bride's home in Jo Dav- 
iess County, near Hanover, in Juno, 1846. The 
bride was born in County- Donegal, Ireland, No- 
vember 10, 1810, being a daughter of Daniel and 
Elizabeth (Malseed) Gamble. Mr. Gamble was 
a farmer who died in the Emerald Isle whence 
his widow emigrated to America with her family 
in 1832. They left Londonderry on the sailer 
"Crainge" and after a voyage of five weeks, landed 
at New Castle and took up their residence in Phil- 
adelphia. In 1837, thoj' came down the Ohio 
River to its junction with the Mississippi and 
thence up the latter river to (lalena, 111., going 
from there to Hanover, Jo Daviess County, by 
wagon; there Mrs. Gamble remained until her 
death. Slie belonged to the Presbyterian Church 
and reared her family with fine principles and 
useful habits. Her sons, Samuel, Joseph and 
James are now deceased, and Daniel is living in 
Jo Daviess County. Mrs. Hunter is the only 
daughter. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter has been 



blest by the birth of three sons, of whom the first- 
Ixnn, Jainos, diel when twenty-one years old. 
Joseph Jr. is at home assisting in the farm labors; 
Daniel G. is mariied and living on the adjoining 
section. 

Joseph Hunter, Sr. has been School Director 
nearly every since he came to this section. He was 
Supervisor of Frankfort Township, for two 
years, and at the last election received every 
vote in the township except one. He was Com- 
missioner of Highways seven years, has served on 
grand and petit juries, as a delegate to political 
tM)unty conventions and a member of the County 
Central Committee. He is a true-blue Republican 
and at an early date identified himself with the 
anti-slavery movement, his being one of the three 
votes cast in the town of Homer for James G. 
IJirney. He inantained his belief amid the scoffs 
and taunts of many, but finally had the satisfac- 
tion of seeing his cause triumphant. His religious 
faith is expressed by the Presbyterian creed and 
he is identified with the church at Bloom, Cook 
Count}'. He was formerly Elder of the society at 
Frankfort. He has helped to build the school- 
house and has borne his part in ever}' movement 
which would increase the material, intellectual and 
moral welfare of the community, and has made 
many friends by his agreeable manners, thrifty 
and energetic habits, and upright life. 



eHAKLES H. SUTPHEN. This veteran of 
eighty-four years bears the distinction of 
being one of the oldest citizens of this State, 
to which he came as early as 1831. He was born 
in Cherry \'alley, Otsego Countj-, N. Y., February 
15, 1806, and is the son of Gilbert and Mary (Hig- 
inbotham) Sutphen, the former of whom vvas a 
Captain in the W.ar of 1812 and died two days 
after a battle, from exposure and over-exertion. 

The father of our subject was likewise born in 
Clierr}' Valley, N. Y., where he was married to a 
maiden of his own village. The earlier progenitors 
had been residents of New Jersey. Charles H., 
our sid)jcct, grew to manhood in his native town. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



447 



and completed his education in tiie Academy. Hav- 
ing influential friends in tlie Ignited States ainiy, 
he was given a position in tiie General Paymaster's 
office, under Gen. Townscnd, of Boston, and in that 
city he was married to IMiss Dowe. Finally, de- 
ciding upon seeking his fortune in the Far West, 
lie came to La Salle County, this State, in 1831, 
and entering a large tract of Government land, 
engaged for some 3ears in the live-stock business. 

Selling out finally his interests in La Salle County, 
Mr. Sutphen came to Joliet, and since 1871 has 
lived letired from active labor. Mrs. Sutphen de- 
parted this life at her home in La Salle County, in 
1870. The living cliildren of Mr. Sutphen are: Al- 
bert, who took kindly to his books and is now princi- 
pal of an acadeui}' in California: Charles is a resi- 
dent of Santa Cruz, Cal. ; (ieorge E. is a practicing 
attorney, of Aurora, 111.; Frederick is engaged as 
a merchant at that place; William is living in the 
State of Washington ; .lane is deceased. Mr. Sut- 
phen's children received excellent educational ad- 
v.antages. and hold good positions in societj'. 

Our subject cast his first Presidential vote for 
Jackson and gives his jinqualitied sujiport to the 
Democratic party. He has held most of the town- 
ship offices, serving as Supervisor and Clerk, also 
as County Treasurer and Recorder. In religion he 
is a Universalist, belonging to that church in 
Joliet. He has accumulated a comfortable prop- 
erty and employs his time iu looking after it. 



#^ 



\f)EREMIAH A. KINSELLA, a native of Ill- 
inois, is one of the leading farmers of this 
section of the State, and is extensively en- 
gaged in stock-raising, owning two large 
and valuable farms, one in this and one in Grundy 
County, he making his home on his estate in Troy 
Township. He was born in the township of Dres- 
den, Grundy County, June 7, 1858, his birthplace 
being but a few miles from where he now lives in 
Will County. His parents were James and Eliza 
(Kinsella) Kinsella. The}' came to Illinois in 1843, 
when the canal was being built, and Mr. Kinsella, 
with his father, Andrew Kinsella, made contracts 



to assist in its construction, and the State still owes 
them for i>art of their work. At the time the scrip 
uhich was issued to them in i)aymcnt was good 
for nothing only to secure them public laud, and 
as they already owned thirteen hundred acres the}' 
did not care for more and allowed the scrip to go 
to waste, or be destroyed, as it had no special 
value. After their death our subject made fruit- 
less efforts to collect the sum owing them, which 
amounted to ^20.000. 

The mother of our subject died when he was 
but four years of age, and his father died a year 
later. Thus, unfortunately deprived of his par- 
ents, he fell to the kindly care of his uncle, Garrett 
Kinsella, his mother's brother, who reared andedii- 
cated him as his own, and at the time of his death 
left him his beautiful and valuable farm of six 
hundred and twenty-two acres, in addition to the 
homestead in (irundy County, of three hundred 
and flft3--six acres which he inherited from his 
father. His uncle died in 1880, leaving behind 
him a name and memory that will ever be revered 
in this count}', where he was so well known. He 
was a man of more than ordinary ability and busi- 
ness tact and accumulated a goodly amount of 
property. He was greatly respected by his neigh- 
bors, and although he cared but little for public 
life, still be took an active part in the manage- 
ment of local affairs, and was Supervisor for sev- 
eral terms. He was a leading man among the 
Democrats of this vicinity. 

Our subject was reared in Minooka and there 
laid the basis of a solid education, being a bright 
and active scholar. At the early age of twelve 
years he was admitted to Manhattan College, from 
which he was graduated with honor in 1876, after 
after having pursued a fine course of study. After 
the completion of his education he returned to 
Troy to live with his uncle. He received from him 
a careful training in the management of the prop- 
erty which he was to inherit, and has since become 
one of the foremost stock-raisers in the county, 
making a siiecialty of buying and feeding cattle, 
devoting the large amount of grain he raises 
wholly to that purpose. He ships his stock to the 
Chicago market, and often ships as many as nine 
car-loads a season. He rents his father's homestead 



448 



PORTRAIT AND BlOGRArHlCAL ALBUM. 



to good advaiitjiirc and derives a fine iiieonic from 
lliat and the i)roceeds of tlie oilier estate. 

Mr. Kiiisella was inairied IVIareli H. l^tSC, to Miss 
Kale C, daujihter of .lolm and Mary (Carroll) 
Smith. Her father was a native of Loekl)orl, N.Y., 
and a son of Thomas Smith. Our subjeet and his 
wife have two ehildren — Norine and Evelyn. Mr. 
Kinsella is a IX-nioerat in polities, and a Catholic 
in religion. l)eing a vahied member of St. Mary's 
Church, in Minooka. He is a frank, open-hearted 
man, eontriliuting genorousi^' to the supjjort of the 
ehureli ami anylliing that will lienelit the [lublie, 
besides being liberal in the use of his money for 
charitable and oilier purposes. Inheriting a large 
property, he has shown himself to be fully equal to 
ils management, bringing to its work a well-trained 
and cultured mind, and by sagacious and system- 
atic methods has greatly improved its value. 



'vfr^jOBERT S. WASHIUUN owns and occupies 
]L^ a fine farm on section ;3(), Teotoue Town- 
cii \V ship, and an adjoining tract on section 31. 
The land is under thorough cultivation and 
it needs but a glance to assure a visitor that the years 
which Mr. Washburn has spent iu tilling the soil 
have given him a thorough kuowdedge of the de- 
tails of that occupation. His hard service in the 
Union Array has left its effects upon his system and 
he is afflicted somewhat with rheumatism and other 
ailments, but still attends to his farm and bears his 
part in local affairs. 

Mr. Washburn is the only survivor of three 
children born to Seth and Louisa (Hewitt) Wash- 
burn, who died during his childhood. He was 
born in Cook County forty-six years ago, came to 
Will County when aliout ten years old and became 
a resident of Wilton Township. He was thrown 
upon his own resources at a tender age, had very 
limited schooling and has always worked on a farm. 
When nineteen years old his spirit was roused by the 
attempts against the life of the Union and he enlisted 
in Company H, Twelfth Cavalry. The regiment was 
equipped at .St. Louis and sent to New Orleans, 
thence took [lart in the Red River expedition under 



Gen. Banks. Tlie marches, skirmishes and bailies 
of thai expedition are recorded in history, but only 
those who took part can fully realize the gallantry 
and endurance of the boys in Ijlue. After that 
cxpcMlition the company- was stationed at Donelson- 
ville, doing picki't (U1I3'. 

In August, 18()1, a squad of four men was sent 
to carry a dispatch to another f<;rt on the Misssis- 
sippi River, a day's riile from their station. They 
were suriirised by the enemy, one man wi^unded, 
two ca|ilure(l and the fourth made his escaiie. Mr. 
Wasliliurn was one of those talccii |)risoiier. and 
after spending two weeks at Bayou La Kourche, 
La., was inarched through to Tyler, Tex., and there 
placed ill prison. At one lime there was aliout 
eleven hundred Union soldiers imprisoned there, 
and a jjound of beef, nearly all bone, and a quart 
of corn ineal constituted a day's rations. There 
was a dead line and Mr. Washburn has seen men 
shot down there. When guarded b^' regular Con- 
federate soldiers, prisoners received fair treatment, 
but when militia and boys were their watchmen 
the}' were often mistreated. Mr. Washburn was 
afflicted with scurvy nearly all the time he was in 
prison and still suffers from its effects. 

Mr. Washburn was released from (iri-son in .lunc, 
18G5, went to New Orleans, and thence to Baton 
Rouge where his regiment was encamped. He then 
came North on a thirty days" furlough, after which 
he returned to his regiment, joined Gen. Custer's 
command, went back into Texas and remained un- 
til June, 1866. He then returned to Springfield, 
111., where he was mustered out and honoralily dis- 
charged. During his term of service he had been 
promoted to the rank of Cori)oral and won a good 
record for faithful and gallant conduct. 

Resuming tiie agricultural labor in which he linil 
spent his youth, Mr. Washburn also secure(l an in- 
terest in a thresher and corn-shcller, and through 
industrious efforts g:adually accuiiuilatcd means 
with which to purchase a home. Eight years ago 
he secured the deed to one hundred and twenty 
acres of his estate, and last winter i)urcli,ised the 
adjoining seventy-four, making up a good farm of 
one hundred and ninety-four acres. The land is im- 
proved and produces 'ine crops of various kinds. 

The wife of Mr. Washburn was known in her 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



449 



maifleiihood as Miss Sarali AUars and became his 
wife March 23, 1881. She is a daiighler of Will- 
iam and Maiia (Godson) AUars. both deceased, her 
father having been killed by a load of lumber fall- 
ing upon him. He waa an old settler of Kankakee 
County. Mrs. Washburn is thirty -eight years old, 
is industrious, amiable and kind-hearted, making a 
happy home. 

Mr. Washburn votes the Republican ticket, tak- 
itig a deep interest in politics. He is Director of 
School District No. 'J, and anxious to advance the 
cause of education. He belongs to William A. 
Webb Post, No. G57, G. A. R., of Peotone. He 
receives from his fellow-men the respect to whicb 
he is entitled for his virtues and habits. 



L«^$)HOMAS W. JONES. In giving honor to 
whom honor is due, we should not neglect 
'^■/J T. W. Jones, who began life empty-handed, 
and has accumulated a good propert}' by dint of 
energetic and vvell directed efforts. His home is 
located on section 22, 'Wesley Township, and con- 
sists of one hundred and fourteen acres of well im- 
proved land, the neat home being well supplied 
with all of the comforts and many of ihe luxuries 
of life, and the entire estate indicating prosperity 
and a wise use of the conveniences which add to 
the value of farm labor. 

Mr. Jones is of Welsh ancestry and the son of 
natives of Peuns3lvania. His parents, John T. 
and Sarah S. (Rudisill) Jones were married in Ross 
County, Ohio, and resided there until 1850. They 
then removed to Will County, 111., and settling in 
Wesley Township, remained here during the rest of 
their lives. The mother crossed the river of death 
in 1877, and the father March 11,1889. They 
were the parents of sixteen children, eight of whom 
are now living. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Ross 
County, Ohio, April 14, 1831, and received a fair 
education in the district schools of his native county 
and Will County, 111. His father lieing a farmer, 
in his early life he acquired a knowledge of all that 



is necessary to make tilling the soil profitable, and 
laid the foundation for the inilustrious habits which 
have made his life a success. On the afternoon of 
the d.ay on which he became of age he split two hun- 
dred rails. 

Young Jones became a renter for about three 
years, of the John Richoy farm, and he then bought 
forty acres of laud, fenced it, broke the soil on a 
part of it, ard began to make for himself a home. 
On August 4, 1 858, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Emily A., daughter of Chesley L. and Harriet 
L. (Cadwell) Mills, natives of Tennessee and Illi- 
nois respectively. Mr. Mills died in February, 
1844, but Mrs. Mills is still living. They were 
the parents of five children, four of whom survive. 
Mrs. .Jones was born February 26, 1833, is an in- 
telligent and Christian woman, and has been a 
faithful companion and helpmate and a devoted 
mother. 

The first jear of their wedded life was spent Iry 
Mr. and Mrs. Jones in IMorgan County, whence 
thej' returned here, taking u|) their abode in Wes- 
ley Township for three years. They next occupied 
the farm now owned by Frank Williams, in the 
same township, t 'id in 1870 took possession of the 
old homestead, where they have since resided. Mr. 
Jones has added much to the appearance of the 
liouse and other buildings, and has made general 
farming the means of securing a competency. At 
one time he was interested in raising full-blooded 
Berkshire hogs. 

M''. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of three chil- 
dren, whose record is as follows: John W., was 
born April 2, 1860, married Miss Lydia Dingee, and 
lives in Gosper County, Neb.; Carrie, born Feb- 
ruary 16, 1863, is the wife of William M. Henion 
and the mother of three children, her home being 
in Ritchie: Arthur, born September 16, 1872, will 
attend college this fall. AH the children have 
been carefully reared, given good advantages, and 
are doing honor to the family name. Arthur is 
now Secretary of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday- 
school, in which his brother and sister were active 
workers in past years. 

Mr. Jones is one of the three Trustees under 
whose charge the schools of Wesley Township are, 
and in advancing the cause of education he ex- 



4oO 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



liibits souiul sense :iiicl sjood judjimont. At present 
lie holds the office of Towuship Assessor, iinil he 
lias been Hoad Coiniuissioner. In polnies lie hns 
taken a deep interest, allilialinsr witli the Hepuli- 
lican parly. Me has l)ceii a nienilicr of tiie Sons 
of Temperance. He and liis wife beloiij; to the 
.Methodist Kpiscupal Chnrcli. in which he is Class 
Leader. Steward and Trustee; he is also actively 
interested in the Sunday-school, and has been for 
many years, serving as Superinleiulenl or teacher 
almost continuously. 

Mr. Jones Is the fortunate possessor of one of 
those sunny dis|)ositions which cause ;i man to be 
liked by all whom he meets, while his character is 
upright and moral, and his citizenship such as to 
afford a worthy example to his own [irogeny and 
the entire coninuinity. He is thoroughly respected, 
r,nd in the esteem of the community his estimable 
wife has also a large share. 

Alonzo Jones, the brother of our subject, became 
a member of Company A, 100th Illinois Infantry, 
and gave his life for his country during the late 
Civil War. ile was killed at the battle of Cliicka- 
manga, September 19, 18G3. 

Li^^HOMA.S OSCAR MILLS. In this gentle- 
man Will County has a line representative 
of its native-born citizens, one, who, by 
his enterprise, progressivcness and marked abilit}' 
is matcriallj' forwarding its financial welfare in 
several w.ays. He is variously identified vvith its 
interests, as a skillful agriculturist, making a spec- 
iality of feeding cattle; as a tile nlanufacturer, 
owning the largest factory in the county; and as 
proprietor of a well-aiipointed store at Millsdale 
Station. He was born on the old home.stead 
where he now lives, August 27, 1850, and is the 
son of James Mills, a pioneer of this region. 
The maiden name of his mother was Eunice Glid- 
den, she being a sister of Stepiien Glidden, of 
this township. Hcitli her famil}' and her husband's 
were originally from New Hampshire, and re- 
moved to New York, where the parents of our 
subject were married in 1844. They lived a 




while in Ohio, and moved to Joliet about 1817. 
After a year's sta}' in that ciU' they moved on to 
the place where our subject now lives, and where 
the father <lied in 18,">2. Until 1878, the mother 
li\cd with her lirother Mr. (iliddcn. who was [lart 
owner of the farm. At the time of her son's mar- 
riage she became a member of his household, and 
remained a welcome inmate of his home until iier 
death, November 27, 1887. 

Oui subject was reared in tlie place of his birth 
and received excellent educational advantages, 
obtaining the preliminaries of his education in the 
local district schools, afterward pnrsuing a fine 
course of study in .loliet, and linishing his school- 
ing in Channahon, his own township. He early 
gained a practical knowledge of fanning, and at 
the time of his marriage took charge of the home- 
stead, which he still owns and occupies, and 
which is represented by a view elsewhere in this 
work. With characteristic enterprise he lias car- 
ried on his business so as to make a financial suc- 
cess of it, and has greatly increased the value of 
his farm and added to its acreage. It now com- 
prises three hundred and eighty-four acres, all ly- 
ing on section 11, with the exception of eighty 
acres. Our subject has by no means confined his 
operations to stock-raising, but has been engaged 
in other industries. In 1884, he built near his 
place a tile factory, one of the largest in the 
count}-, costing about 110,000, and adapted to the 
making of a fine grade of tile, but at the present 
time the works are not in operation. The Santa 
Fe Railroad and the Chicago & Alton run side be- 
side through his farm. Our subject has a life 
pass over the former road, which in 1887 opened 
a station on his land. Here he has built a store, 
which is well arranged and suitably stocked. 

October 0, 1878, Mr. Mills took unto himself a 
wife, in the person of Miss Anna K. Miller, tlaugh- 
ter of James and Eliza (Fowler) Miller, natives 
respectively- of Scotland and I'oughkeepsie, N. Y. 
Her father was reared in the city of London 
coming to this country in early manhood and 
was married in New York. From there lie came 
to this count}', and purchased the place in Troy 
Townshii) which was known as the old Rock Run 
I house previous to 1853, when he purchased it. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



453 



Tliore lie lived until his death in ISGt!. His widow 
is still living there, and has now attained the ven- 
erable age of seventy-eight j'ears. They were the 
parents of seven children. Mr. and Mis. Mills 
have a very pleasant attractive home, and their 
happy household is completed by their four chil- 
dren; Arthur ,T., a lad of ten years; Erina A., 
Oscar Leroy: and Warren, the baby. Mr. Mills 
is a typical American, tlioroughly wide awake and 
full of enterprise, possessing more than ordinary 
capacity, energy and decision of character, and in 
him his native county has a citizen who is doing 
much to promote its general prosperity. In poli- 
tics he is identified with the Republican party, but 
being a man of independent views he takes the 
liberty to vote as he chooses in regard to local 
affairs. 






IZRA E. JAYNES. The results of good 
management find no better illustration than 
■ ' -'-^ in the life of this gentleman whose fine 
farm is situated on section 29, Manhattan Township. 
The estate comprises one hundred and sixt^' broad 
acres which are devoted to the purpose of general 
farming, about an equal share of attention being 
paid to grain and stock-raising. Two teams are 
required to operate the estate and they are found 
to be fine English draft horses. Holstein and Gal- 
way cattle and Poland-China swine of high grade 
are kept, and another paying part of the establish- 
ment is the poultry yard where about sBSOO worth 
of poultry are raised every year. A fine residence 
with all necessary outbuildings, such as barns, 
granaries, corn cribs, etc., together with a beautiful 
orchard, add to the value of the land and make of 
it one of the most attractive places for many a 
mile. It is surrounded by hedge and divided into 
fields of convenient size. A view of this comfor- 
table home will be found on another page. 

The gentleman of whom we write is a direct 
descendant of one of three brothers vvho came from 
luigland to America in 1G17. His grandfather, 



Elijah Jaynes, was born in Franklin County, Vt., 
devoted his attention to agriculture and became 
the owner of several farms; he vvas a soldier in the 
War of 1812. Chester .Jaynes, the immediate 
progenitor of our subject, was born in the same 
county and also became a farmer. During the 
Aroostook War he fought against the savages six 
months, obtaining a land warrant for his services 
and is now a pensioner of the Government, lie 
secured land four miles east of Lake Cliami)lain, 
but subsequently bought and now resides upon 
the homestead on which he was born. He has 
been engaged in sheep raising and in the dairy 
business, but now, in the ninety-flrst^-ear of his age, 
is resting from his labors and enjoying merited 
repose, lie belongs to the Baptist Church and 
votes with the l\e|)nl)lican part}'. 

Chester Jaynes married Eliza Dee, daughter of 
Gen. Washington Dee, who won fame in the War 
of 1812. The old Bay State was the birthplace of 
Gen. Dee, but when he was a boy his parents re- 
moved to ^"ermont where the latter became Colonel 
in the Home Militia. When the Colonists a second 
time determined to fight for release from British 
tyranny, he raised a regiment and joining the army, 
soon became Brigadier-Cieneral. He served until 
the close of the struggle, fighting on the lake 
and at Plattsburg and retiring with the title of 
Major-General, while his brother, who had gone 
out in his regiment as Major, came home as a 
Brigadier-General. This was the War of 1812. 

Mrs. Eliza (Dee) Jaynes was born in Franklin 
County, ^^t., and became versed in all the useful 
arts which were considered a part of a young lady's 
education. She has now reached the ripe age of 
eighty-eight years. She is a worthy member of 
the Ba))tist Church. The suliject of this sketch is 
the third of the nine sons and daughters whom she 
has borne. In addition the familj^ roll includes the 
names of Homer, now a resident of Kansas; Will- 
iam who died in the Green Mountain State at the 
age of twenty years; Halbert, of Neosha County, 
Kan,; Mrs. Charlotte Ilurlbert, of Franklin County, 
Vt. ; Sarah, who married H. G. Williams and is 
living in Iowa; Addison, whose home is in Kansas; 
Mrs. Helen Caswell, of Vermont; and Mrs. Addie 
House, of Joliet. 



451 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Our subject was born in Georgia Township, 
Franklin Couiily. Vt., ,lune 25, 1835, and being 

ruiirctl on a l';iriii early touU up his share of llie 
labors Ihorion. lie received a good eoramou- 
school education under the free school system of 
his native Slate and also attended Georgia Academy 
from wiiich he was graduated at the age of eighteen. 
Hellion wint lo Delaware County, Ohio, and en- 
gaged in leaching for a year, after which he came 
to Chicago and secured a clerkship in a store on 
Kln/.ie Street. Six months later he went to Galena, 
thence up the river to Hudson City and there em- 
barked on a boat for St. Croix, Wis., where he 
taught two terms of school. 

The next location of young Jaynes was at New 
Richmond where he embarked in the sale of gen- 
eral merchandise, having his goods shipijed to 
Hudson and then hauling them seventeen miles. 
He was a member of the Home Guard, being Ser- 
geant of the compan)', and at the lirst meeting 
after Ft. Sumter had been lired upon, the whole 
conii)any determined to enter the Union Arni}-. 
On April IS, the name of Ezra K. .laynes was 
l)laced upi>n tlie inusti'r roll of Company F, l'"irst 
Wisconsin Infantry, and afier being mustered in 
iC Madison he was sent to join tlie Army of llie 
Potomac. Three uiontlis were passed in skirmish- 
ing and other duties, when, the term of enlistment 
having expired, Mv. Jaynes was mustered out about 
the 1st of August and returned to Wisconsin. 
He settled up his business during the early fall aiul 
in November returned to his native State where on 
December '2d he again enlisted, becoming a mem- 
ber of Company F, Eighth Vermont Inf.antry. 

The regiment was mustered in at Brattleboro, 
assigned to Gen. Butler's Brigade and sent to New 
Orleans on a sailing vessel which landed them at 
Ship Island. An expedition w^as fitted out in the 
spring of 1862, the transports reaching the South- 
ern metropolis and investing it the 22d of M.ay. 
iNl.-. ,l.aynes served on police duty in the city some 
thirty days, until affairs became somewhat settled 
and he was then sent acoss the rivei- to Algiers 
where he operated on the Opelonsas railroad a year. 
During these months he took part in battles and 
skirmishes against "Old Dick Taylor" and the 
Texas rangers, participating at Franklin on the 



Atchafalaya River, etc. He had been mustered in 
as Corporal, but for two years acted as Sergeant. 

The next departure of Mr. .Jaynes was toward 
Natchez, the march taking in Natchitoches and the 
Salt Works. He was one in the first expedition up 
Uie Red River and upon the return crossed to Ft. 
Hudson, May 22, 18G3, and participated in the 
attack on the breastworks on the 27 111. Still later, 
on .lune 14, he and his comiades crawled over trees, 
logs and deail bodies until the}' h.ad reached a 
])oint within four rods of the breastworks when he 
was severely wounded in the right shoulder antl 
side. He w.as leaning forward when one or more 
balls entered the shoulder at the lop coming out 
below the arm and causing paral3'sis. He was also 
struck in the side by a shell, which seriously muti- 
lated the flesh. Not able to stand, he fell back on 
two dead men, lying there iiiialilc to move. 
Toward evening the band came that wa^- and one 
of them recognizing him, he was cairied back to a 
sugar cump(jn a stretcher. There they were taken 
prisoners by the rebels, but their i-aplors had time 
to parole but a few ere Col. Grierson effected the 
rescue of the others. All the surgeon did was to 
wash out the wound and remove from it a few 
maggots, after which IMr. Jaynes was hauled lo the 
river, over fourteen miles of rough cor(Juroy road 
in an army wag(>n. A steamer conveyed him to 
New Orleans and he was placed in the hospital, but 
the fare which lie received was so limited or un- 
palatable that he nearly starved. To aibi to the 
horunsof the situation his wound was not properl}' 
cared for and for three weeks it was a nest of 
insects. 

Mr. .la^'iies was laid u|) in the hospital from the 
20th of June until late in the fall, when he obtained 
a furlough and made his way as best he could lo 
his home. He wasscarcely alile to walk even with 
the aid of a stick, was without monej' and nearly 
naked, Imt made his way up the .^lississippi River 
and linally reached home and friends nearly dead. 
With better care he began to recover and having 
his furlough extended two months he gained so 
rapidly that he was enabled to report at New 
Orleans before its expiration. He w.as, however, 
not (it for campaign duty and w.as therefore placed 
in the Veteran Reserve Corps, One Hundred and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



455 



Sixty-fourth Battalion, wliiciidid guard dut^- at the 
Mechanics Institute Hospital. He acted as >Ser- 
geant in the A'eteran Corps until the spring of 
1SG5, wiien he was ordered to Brattleboro, Vt., was 
uuistered out and honorably discharged. He had 
been ill before the l)attle of I'ort Hudson and the 
doctor had told him not to go out as lie was unfit 
for duty. He, however, felt that be might as well 
be shot as to die of disease ami he had therefore 
joined bis comrades with the result above related. 

After spending a, few days in the enjoyment of 
the comforts of home and the society of his friends, 
Mr. Jayues came West, feeling that bis desire to 
obtain a small piece of land whereon to make a 
home would be more likely to reach fruition in a 
newer countr}' than Vermont, lie rented land in 
Wilmington Township, this county, for four years 
and in the fall of 1868, purchased one hundred and 
sixty acres of raw prairie upon which not a tree 
was to be seen, paying $40 per acre. The fallow- 
ing spring he located upon it, doing the best he 
could to cultivate and improve it, but being 
obliged to hire most of the labor done, as he was 
seriously crippled from his wound and arm}- ex- 
[lusiue. He was able to do some plowing with a 
riding plow, and to do some of the grain cutting 
and hay raking. 

Prudent management, wise plans and frugal econ- 
omy conquered the circumstances which seemed 
untoward, and Mr. Jaynes succeeded in placing his 
land under excellent improvement and making it 
pay so well that he is now independent in finances. 
During the past seven years his sons have done tiie 
work of the place, carrying out his wishes fuUj- and 
reaping a due reward. 

Mr. Jaynes is the best read man in the township, 
having ever found a recompense for his inability to 
enjoy ph}'sical recreations, in the society of the 
1 right minds, which books afford. He belongs to 
Seneca Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M. at Milton Falls, 
Vt. He is a Republican of the stanchest sort and 
it has been the desire of the members of bis party 
that he would rejiresent them in county conven- 
tions, but he has refused the appointment on 
account of bis crippled condition. To all who 
lovp their country he is an object of great respect 
for tlie servi':e which he renderetl in her time of 



need, while his excellent management, high degree 
of intelligence, and personal character win him 
many friends and give him high repute over an 
extended territory. 

The first marriage of Mr. Jaynes occurred in 
Wilmington Township, January 17, 1866. Upon 
this occasion he led to the hymeneal altar Jliss 
Jennie Kockwell, a native of Franklin County, Vt., 
with whom bo lived happily until she was called 
hence in 1870. .She was a daughter of Stephen 
Rockwell, an early settler in this county and the 
owner of a large property. The union was blest 
by the birth of two children — Stella, who died in 
187i», and Arthur, who lives in Wilmington Town- 
shi[) with his uncle. 

A second alliance was contracted by Mr. Jaynes, 
March 12, 1871, at the home of the Rev. W. 
G. Renfrew in Jackson Township. The lady who 
there became his wife was Miss Mary, daughter of 
p]lias Klingler, who came from Pennsylvania to 
Will County in 1867. Mr. Klingler was a farmer 
but has now retired and makes his home in Man- 
hattan. Mrs. Jaynes is a native of the Keystone 
State, is well informed, skilled in housewifely arts, 
and possesses the happy faculty of making a home 
in more than name. She had borne her husband 
five children, namely: Lester, Oscar, Chester, 
Edith and Alfred. All are at home but Oscar, who 
is attending the Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., 
and in the intervals of study joining the home 
circle in tlicir pleasures and duties. 



^1 



Ijrrmic 



,41 /ALTER GRAY. This- gentleman's early 



M identity with the farming and stock grow- 
.^ ^ interests in this part of Illinois entitles him 
to representation in this BiO(jRAi'incAL Alhum as a 
pioneer of the county. His home is in Wheat- 
land Township, where he located many years ago. 
He has retired from the more active life of his 
early years, and though still having an interest in 
the farm that he developed from the wild prairies, 
he has turned over its management to his sons, 
retaining but ten acres of it for his own use. 

Mr. Gray is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, 



i-)t; 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and was Ikhii in llie nioiith of September, 1819. 
He was a son of Charles aii<l Kllcii (Watson) Gray, 
likewise natives of Scotland, lli' was ro.ired on a 
farm princiitaily and reuinved hnt limited odnca- 
tinnal advanliiiios. lie is, however quite a reader, 
and keeps posted on matters of general interest. 

l)ur subject married in liis native land January 
1, 1831), taking as his wife .Tane Wilson. She was 
also of Scottish birth, born Se|)tember 22, 1810, 
and a daughter of .lob and .lanette (Anderson) 
Wilson, natives of Scotland. l''iiur of the nine 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. (ir.ay are now living 
as follows: Charles, in Leadville, Col.; John and 
\\' alter, in \\'heatl.ind Ti)wnship; Jeanetle, wife of 
Alexander .Martin, of Ottawa, Kan. 

In 1 8 It), desirous t)f improving his prospects in 
life and of being able to build up a home for him- 
self and family, our subject emigrated to this 
country, taking passage at (ilasgow, on a sail 
vessel and after a voyage of about tweuty-six 
d.ays, landing in (Quebec, Canada. For a short 
time he lived in the Province of Ontario and then 
coming to the " Slates,"' he took up his abode in 
Will County, and has been an honored resident 
here ever since. He began life here under adverse 
circumstances, having but fifty cents when he 
landed in the country. However, he was well en- 
dowed with brawn and muscle, and with sturdy, 
persevering, industrious qualities, inherited from 
a Scotch ancestr3', and setting to work with cheer- 
ful courage, in the years that followed by per- 
sistent toil evolved a fine farm from the tract of 
wild [jrairie that he purchased. He first located 
in Plainfield Township, was there some three years 
and then took up his abode in Wheatland Town- 
ship, having secured a tract of wild land. He did 
not become prosperous without having to pass 
through the trials ami hardships of early pioneer 
life here and the endurance of many privations 
and self sacrifices. His farm comprises two hun- 
dred acres of land, finely improved and provided 
with excellent buildings, and is under the manage- 
ment of his two sons, John and Walter, he retain- 
ing a life interest in it. He has here a comfortable 
home and has the use of ten acres of land. He 
has been greatly assisted in his labors by his de- 
voted companion, who may well be described iu 



the following words, as: " The housewife, clean 
of lieart and conscience, the buckler and helpmate 1 
of her husband." 

By his life of industry and upiightncss Mr. 
Gray has won not only worldly gain, but the 
affection and confidence of all about him. For 
many years a Presbyterian, he has never wavered 
in his adherence to his faith, and is one of the 
most consistent members of the United Presbyte- 
rian Chureh in Wheatland, his wife also belonging 
to th.it chureh. In (lolitics he is a sturdy sup- 
porter of the Uepublican party. He has been a 
ScIk)o1 Director for a number of years and has 
always favcjred all schemes for the educational and 
moral elevation of the communitv. 






^TfJAMES DOUGLAS BIU>WN, as his given 
name wouhl i)artially indicate, traces his 
ancestry back to a f;imily that has been 
historic for centuries. The Douglas name 
figures largely in Scotch as well as in American 
history. The origin of the family, their original 
coat of arms, and carl}' achievements, are wrapped 
in mystery although many traditions are extant, 
some of which doubtless have solid foundation in 
fact. Efforts have been made by members of the 
family in recent j-ears to snatch from oblivion and 
gather from traditionary and legendar}- lore, all 
that is worth}' of preservation. Such efforts have 
resulted in a work, liberally subscribed for by 
many who boast the Douglas lilood, which shows 
the connection of our subject and his family with 
the name by direct lineage. 

James D. Brown was born iu Raymertown, 
Rensselaer Count}-, N. Y., March 12, 182G, and 
received his academical education in the Lj'man 
Cross Academy in Troy. He completed the 
course of study at the early age of sixteen years 
when he engaged in the drug business with an 
uncle at Lansingburg. The business has now en- 
gaged his attention for over forty years. In 184G 
he came to Joliet, 111., and established himself in 
that line of trade, in -vhich he is still interested. 
In 18GU he associated with himself a brother, J. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



457 



II., since deceased, and more recently his sons, 
Horace II. and Eugene C. Both of tiie young men 
are graduates in pharmacy, Eugene C. having 
completed a course of study in tlie Chicago Col- 
lege of Pharmacy in 1881, and Horace In 1885. 

The trade of the firm aliove mentioned is an old 
and firmly established one and patrons of tlie estab- 
lishment are sure to receive reliable drugs, to have 
prescriptions carefully compounded, and to be 
treated with due courtesy and iionor. The family 
is numbered among the best class of citizens, being- 
earnest, enterprising, and reliable in their duty as 
members of the community, honorable in all their 
relations in life, and possessing the intelligence, 
culture and excellent character thai win the respect 
of their fellow citizens. 




ANIEL C. MASON. Among the estates 
of AVill County which present an appear- 
'^ ance of comfort and home-likeness, none 
are more attractive than one vvhicii occu- 
pies a portion of section 5, Joliet Township, and is 
tlie home of Daniel Mason and his good wife. 
Without having any pretensions to elegance, every- 
thing about the place bespeaks good taste, pros- 
perity, and a care wliich is as far removed from 
parsimoniousness as from a reckless disregard of 
ap|)earances anil results. The dwelling is a pleas- 
ant one, set in the midst of surroundings which 
are quite in keeping with the neatness and order 
wiiich prevail under its roof. It is conveniently 
near to the c'ily of Joliet, affording to its in- 
mates the best of tlie enjoyments which are 
to be found in city life, while avoiding the 
confusion, restricted quarters, and dust of the 
town. Mr. Mason is now living a retired life and 
renting his estate, which originally comprise<l two 
hundred and fifty acres and bears all needful struc- 
tures for the carrying on of farm work. 

The old Ba}- State has the honor of being the 
birthplace of the parents of our subject, who in 
their early life dwelt in Cheshire, Berkshire 
County. In the pleasant New Engl.and village Ar- 
nold Mason ,and Mercy Conian hail opened their 



ej'es to the light and spent their school days, be- 
coming thoroughly acquainted with each other's 
disposition and character, and having their early 
friendship ripened into a regard wliicli led them to 
unite tlieir lives and fortunes. After their mar- 
riage they settled in New Hartford, near Utica, 
N. Y., where they spent their happy wedded life 
and reared a large family. Thirteen children were 
born to them, eleven living to mature years.. 

Tlie subject of this biographical notice is the 
seventh child born to his p.arents, his natal day 
having been January 12, 1811. He grew to man- 
hood in New Hartford, remaining under the pa- 
rental roof until he was about twenty-one years old, 
in the meantime having acquired such a knowledge 
of the ordinary branches of study as afforded him 
a good equi|)ment in business. Upon leaving the 
home of his boyhood he went to New Jersey to 
work on the Delaware & liariton Canal under his 
father, who had a contract for building a portion 
of that highway. After working there a year, he 
joined his fattier in a contract for excavating 
tlirough Bergen Hill for the old New Jersey Cen- 
tral Railroad, and also the contract for digging the 
Morris Canal from tliere to Jersey City. 

After tlie completion of these contracts, father 
and son took one for building two sections of the 
Crotoii Water Works, at New York City. The 
senior Mr. Mason was one of the three contractors 
that built the well-known High Bridge over the 
Ilalem River. After conijileting his work on the 
water works, our subject returned to his native 
place, near which he engaged in farming, remain- 
ing there until the fall of 1869, when he removed 
to his present home where he continued his agri- 
cultural labors for some time. Honest industry, 
persevering efforts, and i)rudetit management, have 
been crowned with success in the career of INIr. Ma- 
son, whose efforts have been alily seconded bj' his 
companion, whose housewifely ability and wise 
economy have prevented the expenditures from 
reaching a figure beyond what could be well af- 
forded, and has thus been instrumental in the ac- 
cumulation of their comfortable means. 

On April 16, 1844, the rites of wedlock were 
celebrated between our subject and ]Miss Cornelia 
H. Kellogg, who was born and reared in the town 



458 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



wliirli \v;is llic oarly lioiiio of licr luisb;uiil, and to 
wliosc union the same words will am<\y which are 
suited to Mie nianiaire of liis imrents. Mrs. Mason 
is the sci'ond in a family consisting of two sons and 
two daugiiters. born to Truman" and Melinda 
(Marsh) Kellogg, both of whom were natives of 
Oneida County, N. Y,, in which they died. Mr. 
Kellogg was a farmer and the family were of ti>e 
(Juaker faith. Mrs. Mason opened her eyes to the 
ligiil .lune 8. 1824. Blessed by nature witii man}- 
fine qualities, her character was strengthened and de- 
veloped by careful training, and she is to-day a fine 
ty|H' of the gentlewoman with motherly (pialities. 
Iler happy union has been blessed by the birth of 
two children — Truman A. and Coinclia M. The 
latter is now a widow, having married Stephen 
Alanson Sherwood, wlio died in April, 187G, leav- 
ing two cliildren — Arthur M. and Louis A., who 
with their mother are making their home on the 
estate with Mr. and Mrs. iSIason. 

Although reared in the t^Hiaker faith. Mrs. Ma 
son is now a member vi the Central Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. INIason is independent in his political 
viesvs, giving his ballot to the candidate whom he 
thinks best ([ualilied to carry out the measures in 
which his judgment concurs. It wouM be hard to 
find a man more highly respected or more <lcscrv- 
ing of the good opinion of his fellow-men than he, 
and it affords the biograi)hical writer pleasure to 
insert this account of his life and that of his wife. 



^^C 



^^ 



r/OSEPH BARTIIELME. The thrifty Ger- 
man American element of .Toliet Tf)vvnship 
finds a wortli3' representative in the subject 
})) of this notice, who owns and occupies a 
well-tilled farm on section 5. Here he has pursued 
the even tenor of his w.aj' since 188.'), making a 
specialt}' of minding his own concerns and living 
at peace among his neighbors. Mr. Barthelmc is a 
native of this county and was born in the citj' of 
•loliet. May 6, 1857, to Joseph and Mary (Wiles) 
Barthelme, who were natives of the Province of 
Alsace, formerly of France but now of Germanj'. 
The parents came to America with their respective 



families at an early .age and were married in Joliet, 
after which the father, for a time, ran a boat on 
the canal and later was variously employed until 
securing land and engaging in agricultural pursuits. 
lie farmed for a period of twent}' years and tlicn 
retiring from active labor, made his home in Joliet 
where his death took place April 4, 1883. The 
mother is still living making her home in Joliet. 
There was born to her and her husband a family- of 
eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, ten 
of whom are living and of whom Joseph was the 
fourth in order of birth. 

Mr. Barthelme lived with his parents until reach- 
ing manhood and w'lon they removed to Jtiliet he 
settled on the farm owned l)y his mother, in Joliet 
Township. He is now successfully cultivating 
seventy acres where he h;is good buildings and 
other improvements. He was m.arricd Noveinl)er 
22, 1 882.- to Miss :Mary, daughter of John and 
Margaret Flynn, who were natives of County Cork, 
Ireland, where the fatherspent his entire life, dying 
in 1 870. The mother subse(]ucntly came to .\merica 
and is now a resident of Iowa City. Iowa. The 
[inrental faniilj' consisted of five sons and three 
il.aughters of whom Mrs. liartlielmc was the third 
in ordfiof birth. Siie is a native of County Cork. 
Ireland, and w.as born Ma^- 22, 18.')i). She was 
eighteen years old when coming to America and 
has been a true helpmate to her husbaml, keeping 
her iiouse in order and piacticing the induslry an<I 
economy which have so much to do in the happi- 
ness and prosperity of a home. The househohl 
circle comprises three bright children, viz.: Joseph 
E., Margaret H. and John W. Mr. Barthelmc 
votes with the Democratic party and both he and 
his estimable wife are prominently connected with 
the Catholic Church, attending services at Joliet. 



-^-*-B-- 



^'/AMES E. HOLMES. In speaking of the 
public-spirited citizens of New Lenox Town- 
ship, the life and labors of this gentleman 
should by no means be omitted. He is the 
owner and occupant of an estate on section 22, 
which forms a home of comfort and good taste, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



459 



such as might well satisfy any but the most ambi- 
tious of men. The farm comprises one liunrlred 
and forty fertile acres on which excellent buildings 
liave been erected aiid other appropriate improve- 
ments made, and the agricultural labor to which 
Mr. Holmes has given his attention for over forty 
years, is conducted according to tlic most improved 
efforts. Nearly the entire life of this gentleman 
has been spent in this county, to whicii lie came 
with his parents in his eighth year. The history of 
liis [irogenitors may be found in the sketch of 
.1. S. Holmes, which occupies anotlier page in tliis 
Album. 

The gentleman of whom wc write was the first 
born in a family of six children. His natal day 
was June 25, 1827, and his birthplace in Chautauqua 
County, N. Y. His parents becoming early settlers 
of Will County, 111., he grew to manhood in New 
Lenox Township, which he has made his home 
from boyhood. After p.assing his school days he 
followed carpentering and blacksmithing for seven- 
teen years, having a general repair shop. The 
most of the time he carrieil on this work on his 
farm although for a time his shop was in Spencer. 
Aiioiit 18G.5, ho abandoned the trades and gave his 
attention exclusively to farm labors for his personal 
avocation. 

On December, 18, 1850, in New Lenox Town- 
ship, Mr. Holmes was united in marriage with Miss 
Susan S. Elsworth, who survived only until April 
15, 1853. She bore two children — Levi A., who 
died when about twelve years old, and Kosetta J., 
who died in infancy. Mr. Holmes contracted a 
seconcl matrimonial alliance January 8, 1854, the 
ceremony being performed at Mokena, and the bride 
being Miss Mary E. StifHer. This lady was born 
in Miami County, Ohio, January 29, 1838, being 
the only cliild of Jacob and Cynthia (Anway) 
Stifller. Her father died in the Buckeye State 
about 1840, and the mother still lives. ]\Irs. 
Holmes possesses a large amount of intelligence, 
pleasing manners, and a noble Christian character, 
and the duties whicli devolve upon her as wife, 
mother and neighbor are cheerfully and carefully' 
performed. She has borne her husbanil four chil- 
dren: Rosella, who died in infancj-; Delia J., wife 
of Isaac M. Gillett, Jr. ; William 1\.; and (ieorge E. 



The abilit3' of Mr. Holmes and his excellent 
character are recognized by his fellow men who 
have desired his services in various positions of 
local trust. He has served as Township Clerk, 
Highway Commissioner, and School Director, serv- 
ing ten 3-ears as an incumbent of the last position. 
He was Postmaster at Spencer from 1856 until the 
spring of 1889, continuously. His political adher- 
ence is given to the Democratic party. Mrs. 
Holmes is a member of the iSIethodist Episcopal 
Church, which her husband also attends. 






>|l^'RANK W. SCUTT, Secretary of the Joliet 
l|-=^ Wheel Company, and also of the Joliet 
/ll, Barb Wire Company, is numbered among 
the active business men of the cit3- and has for 
many years been identified with its leading inter- 
ests. He is the offspring of an old and highly re- 
spected family and the only child of the well-known 
H. B. Scutt, who came to this county about 1802. 
He was born May 29, 1868, and acquired an excel- 
lent education, completing his studies at Phillips' 
Academy in Andover, Mass. 

After leaving the Academy- JMr. Scutt returned 
to his native city and in company with his father 
became identified with the Barb Wire Company, of 
which he was soon made the Secretary in order to 
assist his father who was suffering from ill health. 
It was not long before he virtually assumed the 
whole management of the busines.s, which is now 
being gradually closed out. In 1889, in compau}- 
with R. G. Surb'idge of Chicago, he organized the 
Joliet Wheel Company, which was incorporated in 
December, 1889, with a capital of *25,000. F. W. 
Schroeder was elected President, F. W. Scutt, Se- 
cretary, and R. G. Surbridge, Superintendent. They 
are already giving employment to fifty men and 
expect before the close of the season (1890) to re- 
quire the services of one hundred men. 

Mr. Scutt was recently elected a Director of the 
Pioneer & Commonwealth Insurance Company, of 
Chicago. He is also a Director of the Young 
Men's Christian Association, of Joliet, and a Trustee 



460 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of tlie First Presbyterian Church. He was mar- 
ried M.ay «, 1889, to Miss Man A. I'ayiic. of SUuiy 
Point, N. V. Tiiey have f)iie son, born iM.ny 11, 
1890, named llarrold Benjamin. Tliis lady was 
born November 15, 1869, at Astoria, Long Island, 
and is the daiigiiter of tlie Hon. A. T. I'ayne. The 
father is a prominent and suecessful atloniow of 
Hrookl\n. He was at one lime C'or[)or;iliuii Coun- 
sel of Long Isl.'ind City and a Representative to 
the(!eneral Assembly of New York State, at Al 
baiiy. Mrs. Srutt was given a good education -it 
Rockland College, Nynck, N. Y., then completing 
her studies at the Delaware Literary Institute, I'rank- 
lin, Delaware County, N. Y. 

Hiram B. Sttult, tiic father of our subject, was 
born November 14, 1842, in Delaware County, N.Y., 
and came to this county about 18(52, becoming tlie 
employe of Ciiarles Ward, who oi)erated a planiug- 
mill. After the outbreak of the Civil War he en- 
tei-ed the I'ldon Army as a member of the .Second 
Illinois Light Artillery. For valiant services he 
was, near the close of the war, promoted to a Cap- 
taincy, but did not receive his commission until 
after his return home. 

Mr. Scutl, about 1868, engaged as a traveling 
salesman for the Geneva (N. Y.) Nursery, and was 
thus occupied until 1871. Then returning to the 
West he was instrumental in establishing tiie first 
barl) wire business in Jollet, associating himself in 
partnership with William Watkins, under the firm 
name of Scutt & Watkins. l>ater the Joliet Wire 
Fence Companj' was organized, of which Mr. Scutt 
was made President. The most successful enter- 
prise in which he engaged, however, was as a mem- 
ber of the firm of II. B. Scutt ik Co., which included 
James R. Ashley, and engaged in the manufacture 
of wire in tlie Joliet Penitentiary, and gave em- 
ployment to one hundred and fifty men. The com- 
pany sold out in IH84 to Messrs. Oliver Bros. & 
Phillips, of Pittsburg, Pa., who now continue the 
business under the firm name of H. B. Scutt it Co., 
(limited). 

The father of our suliject was not engaged in 
any business for a j'ear afterward but not being 
content in idleness, organized the .loliet Barb Wire 
Company, of which he was made President. In 
1884 he put up a handsome residence, the finest in 



the city, and pleasantly located on North Broad - 
wa\*. He was the first man to introduce the electric 
light in the city, as President of tin; Citizens' Klec- 
tric Ligiit Company-. He never aspired to political 
honors. 

Hiram B. Scutt received a good education and 
during his early manliood employed himself in 
teaching school. He left home about 1861, coming 
to Illinois and locating on a farm in Delvalb 
County. He w.as married in 1866, to Miss Adaiaidc 
Ward. This lady vvas born in 1842', in Rutland, 
N't., and whose parents si)ent their last years in 
Vermont. She is still living, making her home in 
Joliet. Of her union witii Mr. Scutt there were 
born two children, F. W., the subject of this sketch, 
and Grace, who died in infancy. Mr. Scutt de- 
parted this life at Lake Geneva, Wis., July 29, 
1889, his death being caused Ijy jiaresis — an over- 
straining of the mental faculties. He was tiior- 
oughly respected by his neighbors and business 
associates, and during the last Presidential election 
was quite prominent as having cham])ioned the 
cause of free trade .as adopted by the Democracy*. 
Prior to lliis he iiad been a .stanch Kcpulilican. 

F/I'ER BERSCHEID. This young gentleman 
is of Prussian ancestry, representing a fam- 
ily of good standing in the old country'. His 
parents, Bernard and Susan(Zahrn)Berscheid 
em ignited from Prussia to America in 1853, locat- 
ing at Lockport, III., where Mr. Berscheid carried 
on milling operations. The family included eleven 
children, of wl\.oin the subject of this sketch is the 
third in order of birth. He opened his eyes to the 
light in Mendota, .May 9, 1859. After obtaining a 
good education in the coinniou schools he started 
out in life as a barber in Joliet. continuing in lh„t 
business about four years. 

Mr. Berscheid then engaged as an engineer in 
the Fire Department, remaining in the seiviee 
three years, but in 1881, entering the .Sehring 
lirewing Co. in the capacity of engineer of their 
extensive brewer}-. Tiicrc he has since continued 
U> labor satisfactorily, ilischai'<j;ing the duties de- 












^T-rT^T-^-^TT-CU 



/k. ^Q^^u^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



465 



volving upon him and winning commendation 
from his employers. He lias already represented 
the Third Ward in the City Council two terms, and 
for the tiiird time was elected in the spring of 1 8'JO, 
rniining o>i this occasion without opposition. Po- 
litically he is a pronounced Democrat. In religion 
he is a Catliolic. Iiolding membership in .St. Aloy- 
sius Society. 

At tlie home of the bride December 28, 1882, 
llie rites of wedlock were celebrated between 
our subject and Miss Louisa Erb, an estimable 
lady of (lerman descent, domestic virtues, and a 
similar faith with himself. Tlieir liapp^- union has 
been blessed by tiie birth of two children, named 
respectively: Allia and Bernard Roland. 



^= 



^^EORGE VAN DUSER. This fine old gen- 
||( I- — tleman and his equally- estimable wife, whose 
'%i^\ portraits appear on tiie opposite pages, are 
numbered among the early settlers of this county, 
who came hither when the country presented a 
widely different appearance from that of to-day. 
They bore with their neighbors the usual toils and 
liardsliips of pioneer life, and have made for them- 
selves a good record morally, socially and flnan- 
ciall}'. They commenced their wedded life together 
with moderate means and by the exercise of un- 
flagging industry have made for themselves a home 
and a competence, and are now passiug down the 
sunset hill of life in the midst of peace and plenty, 
enjoying the comforts which they have so justly 
earned, together with the unqualified esteem and 
confidence of those around them. They have a 
pleasant home and much that makes life desirable. 
In noting the early history of the Van Duser 
family, we find that the father of our subject was 
one John Van Duser, who was born in Johnstown, 
Montgomery County, N. Y., February 3, 17T2. 
lie spent his earlj' life amid the quiet scenes of the 
country, obtaining a common-school education and 
becoming familiar with farm pursuits. When re.ady 
to establish a home of bis own, he was wedded to 
Miss Catherine liingliam, a maiden of his own 
township, and who w.as born October 2(5, 178;j. 



The parents of our subject for a time after their 
marriage lived in Madison County, N. Y., but in 
18.37 decided to seek their fortunes in what w.as 
then the Far West, and came to this county in .June, 
that year. The father secured a tr.act of land in 
New Lenox Township, where he cng.aged success- 
fully in farming, building up a comfortable home- 
stead, where he and his estimable partner spent the 
remainder of their d.ays. The mother passed away 
August 25, 1852. John Van Duser departed this 
life April 21, 18G0. Both were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, .'uid there was born 
to them a family of eleven children, George Van 
Duser being the only one surviving. 

The subject of this sketch w.as the sixth child of 
his parents, and was born July 19, 1817, in Lenox, 
Madison County, N. Y. He there spent the daj^s 
of his boyhood and youtli until 1836, then starting 
out for himself, made his way westward, arriving 
in Chicago in the fall of the year, and sojourned 
there until the following June. He then came to 
this county, and selecting his future location, com- 
menced the development of a farm, which has since 
been his home. He was married at .JoUet, Novem- 
ber 25, 1840, to Miss Elmina, daughter of the Hon. 
Nathaniel and Acsah (Wheeler) Mellen. The 
j'oung people commenced their wedded life together 
at the homestead which they now own and occupy, 
and have labored faithfully together in the build- 
ing up of a home for themselves and their chil- 
dren. 

The father of Mrs. Van Duser was born in Farm- 
inghani, Mass., January 1, 1794, while his good 
wife was born in Connecticut, November 27, 1791. 
After marriage they settled in Bennington County, 
Vt., but .finally decided to seek their fortunes in 
the AVest, and emigrated to what is now Kankakee 
County, this State, arriving here in October, 1838. 
Mr. Mellen selected a tract of land along the Kan- 
kakee River, wiiere he opened up a good farm, and 
there with his estimable partner spent the remain- 
der of his days. Mr. Mellen died March 27, 1866, 
The mother survived her husband for a period of 
nine j'ears, her death taking place October 27, 1875. 
They were Universalists in religious belief and 
honest and u|iright people, who gained the esteem 
of all around them. Nathaniel Mellen was a prom- 



466 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



inent man in llie town of Winliall. Bennington 
County, ^'t., where lie served :is Justice of the 
Peace. Townsiiip Clerk .inil Selectman. He fairly 
earned his title of Honorable hy sei-ving several 
terms in the State Legislature m \'erinont. 

Mr. and Airs. Mellen were the i)arcnts of seven 
children, si.\ of whom are living. Mrs.\'an Uuscr 
was the second born, and first opened her eyes to 
the light in Bennington County, Vt., IMay ;?0, 1818. 
She obtained her education in the common schools, 
."ind remained a member of the parental household 
until her marriage. Her family, as did t'.iat of her 
parents, numbered also seven children. The eldest, 
a daughter, Kmily A., is the widow of John Wid- 
i.ey; Elmina A. married Joshua Barrett; (Jeorge 
Jerome is married, and is a resident of Franklin 
County, Iowa; Gilbert M. lives in Wilson County, 
Kan.; Eddie H. remains at home with his parents; 
Flora 0. is the wife of Frank Gorham, of Monona 
County, Iowa; Ida E. died when twelve jears old. 

Mr. Van Duser is the only survivor of his father's 
large family. He has alwaj-s been content to fol- 
low agricultural pursuits, and has a wcU-tillcd farm 
of ninety-three acres, which yields him a comfort- 
able income, and upon which he has made good im- 
provements. His honored father was the first 
Supervisor of New Lenox Township, to which he 
gave its name in honor of Lenox, Madison County, 
N. Y., where he had formerly lived. While a resi- 
dent of the Empire State, he held the oflice of Jus- 
tice of the Peace for the long period of sixteen 
years in succession. 



Robert FERGUSON, deceased, was a pio- 
,-p., neer of Will County, and as one who ma- 
iii \V terially contributed to develop its rich ag- 
ricultural resources, and as an early settler 
of Plainfield Township, where he built up for 
himself and family a desirable home, he is well 
worthy of representation in this Biooraphk'ai. Al- 
m-M. County Derry, Ireland, was the birthplace of 
our subject, and also of his father, who bore the 
same name, lie being of Seolcli antecedents. The 
latter was a trader, dealer in linen fabrics, and 



in 1840 he emigrated to this country and located 
in Faston, Pa. He resided there for two years 
and then came to Will County, and spent the re- 
mainder of his life at the home of our subject, dy- 
ing in March, 188-1, at the advanced age of eighty- 
eight j'ears. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Nancj- McDougall, preceded him in death many 
years, dying in Easton, Pa., in 1852. They had 
but one son, our subject, and one daughter, Mary 
A., who married John W. .Tnlmson and lives in 
Will County. 

lioljert Ferguson was reared in his native land 
until he was eighteen j'ears of age, when he came 
to America and located at Easton, was employed 
in ft wire manufactory and resided there until 1852. 
Then in the vigor and prime of manhood, he came 
to this county intending to devote himself to farm- 
ing. He first purchased eighty acres of wild prai- 
rie land on section 35, Plainfield Township, paj'ing 
therefor ^5 an acre. He immediately set about 
its improvement, preparing the land for cultiva- 
tion and erecting a temporary building for the 
shelter of his family, which he replaced some j'ears 
later by a frame house. He was much prospered in 
his undertakings and was subsequentlj' enabled to 
buy one hundred and sixtj- acres more land in (he 
same section, upon which he erected a fine set of 
frame buildings, replete with .all conveniences, and 
here his useful life was brought to a close bj- his 
untimely death, May 31, 1888. 

Mr. Ferguson was greatly indebted for the posi- 
tion he attained, to the help he received bj- bis 
worthy wife to whom he was united in marriage 
in 1841. She still occupies the old homestead, the 
farm being ably managed by her son James. Mrs. 
Ferguson's maiden name was Nancy McDougall, 
and she is also with her husband, a native of 
County Derrj', Ireland. Her father, Edward Mc- 
Dougall, is supposed to have been a native of the 
same county, where he carried on the occupation 
of farming. Later in life he came to America to 
join his children, and resided for a time in New 
York, his last years were spent in this county. The 
maiden name of his wife was Mollie Smith, and 
she too was born in Countj' Derry, her father, 
Jacob Smith, being also a native of Ireland, where 
he carried on farming and spent his entire life. She 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



467 



(lied in New York. ]Mrs. FerRuson's only brother, 
James died in New York. She had tluee sisters, IMol- 
lie, wlio married a Mr. McClnnahan and is now de- 
ceased ; Sallie, who marrieil Thomas Leggett and 
is novv deceased; Eleanor, wiio married Joseph 
RlcClintock and lives in Joliet. Mr. and Mrs. Fer- 
guson had seven children all of whom are living: 
Rol)erl M., John J., Joseph M., Eleanor, James, 
Mary and Jennie. 

INIr. Ferguson possessed in a large degree the 
qualilics necessar3' for success in a farmer's call- 
ing, and as we have seen attained it, placing him- 
self among the solid well-to-do citizens of the 
townsliip. His inherent traits of character won him 
a good name and a good standing in the commun- 
ity, and as a pioneer his memory will ever be re- 
s|)eeled in Plainfield. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson 
were reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church 
but after coming liere, identified themselves with 
tlio Congregational Church and Mrs. Ferguson is 
still a faithful attendant. 

.ILLIAM ERB, Treasurer of the People's 
r^lll Loan & Homestead Association at Joliet, 
is also engaged as a money loaner and 
dealer in real estate. He is a man of unquestioned 
business ability, and in years is still on the sunny 
side of forty, having been born May 26, 1813. 
His native place was on the uther side of the At- 
lantic in the Grand Duchj' of Baden, Germany, 
and he comes of unadulterated German stock. He 
inherits from a substantial ancestry the qualities 
which have made this nationality one of the best 
on the face of tlie globe. 

Pantale Erb, the father of our subject, emigrated 
to America in the fall of 1845, locating in Louisi- 
ana, and four years later sent for his family, which 
consisted of the mother and two children, William, 
our subject, and Hannah, now Mrs. Kaffer, of Joliet. 
The family remained residents of Louisiana until the 
si)ringof 1856, then came to this county and located 
in Joliet, where they lived until the death of the 
father, which took place February !), 1887. Two 
more children in the meantime had been adch'd to 




the family circle, viz: Louisa, l\Irs. Peter Beirschiet, 
whose husband is an Alderman from the Third 
Ward, and Anthony, who died in Joliet March 27, 
1889. The m*()ther is still living, making her home 
with her daughter, Mrs. Beirschiet, in Joliet, and 
is now seventy-seven years old. 

Mr. Erb acquired a good, practical education in 
the common school and at an early age imbibed the 
habits of industry which have been the secret of 
his success in life. When leaving school he em- 
ployed himself at whatever he could find to do to 
earn an honest dollar, and with the thrift and pru- 
dence which is, almost without exception, charac- 
teristic of his countrymen, he was soon enabled to 
store away a snug little sum of money. He re- 
mained unmarried until a man of twenty-eight 
years and was then wedded, June 7, 1871, to Miss 
Sophia Trabing, of .loliet. Soon afterward he em- 
barked in the coal business at which he continued 
successfully until the spring of 1876, when he sold 
out and established himself in the retail grocery 
trade of Washington Street. This enterprise also 
proved successful, he building up a fine trade, and 
he was thus occupied until September, 1885. Then 
selling out he embarked in his present enterprise. 
He is now in the enjoyment of a competency with 
the prospect of sufficient means to defend him 
against want in his old age. 

Mr. Erb, in the spring of 1883, was elected to 
his present position as Treasurer of the Loan & 
Homestead Association, in which he has been a 
Director since 1878. He was one of its first stock- 
holders and has always been warmly interested in 
its success. He owns and occupies one of the finest 
houses in the city and has large real estate-interests 
aside from this. To him and his estimable wife 
there have been l>orn three children — George, 
Louise and Edwin. They are all under the home 
roof, and it is the intention of their father to give 
them the best advantages within his power. 

Mrs. Erb was born in the German Province of 
Hesse-Darmstadt, in 1853, and came with her par- 
ents to the United States when a child of twelve 
3^ears. Her parents, Jacob and Louisa Trabino-, 
were also of (Tcrman birth and ancestry and are now 
residents of Will County. 

The People's Loan & Homestead As.sociation 



468 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



wns organized in April, 1875, largely through the 
instnimeiitalily of Kdnin H. Mason, jind h.ivhigfor 
its first President, James (1. Elwood. Its second 
President was Charles Pettigrew. Upon his retire- 
ment F. \V. Plant was elected J'resident and is still 
serving. The other olHcials are: I. C. Norton,Vice 
President; "William Krh, Treasurer; Horace Weeks, 
Secretary. The Directors are : Henrj- Pohl, .lohn 
Lyons, William Ireland, and G. N. Reistad. The 
capital stock at the present time aggregates $'-i,- 
000,000, while the twelve imndred dei)ositors make 
a inonlhl3' deposit of $25,000. The institution is 
thus in a most nourishing condition, wliich speaks 
admirably- for those in charge, among whom ]Mr. 
Erb is no unimportant factor. Its loans at this 
writing amount to over three-fourths of a million 
dollars. 



EPPERSON BUMP. The substantial ele- 
ment in the community of Homer Township 
linils a worthy representative in the subject 
of this notice, who is a man careful and 
conscientious iii his habits of life and his business 
affairs, and who has made for himself a good rec- 
ord, gaining the confiilence and esteem of those" 
around him. He makes his headquarters at a well- 
regulated farm on section lo, which is supplied 
with good buildings, and has about it all the other 
evidences of enterprise and prosperity. 

The native place of Air. Bump was in Chautau- 
qua County, N. Y., and the date of his birth Jan- 
uary 31, 1826. His parents were Jacob and Lydia 
(Bowen) Bump, who were natives of New Hamp- 
shire, and emigrated to the Empire State at an 
early day, settling in CUiautauqua Countj-. They 
lived there until 1831, then caine to Illinois and 
settled on section 15, of what is now known as 
Homer Township. The father followed agricultu- 
ral pursuits, and assisted by his estimable partner, 
made a comfortable home for his family', and there 
both parents spent the remainder of their lives. 
There was born to them a family of twelve chil- 
dren, Jefferson being among the younger ones and 
two of whom are living. 

Mr. Bump, of whom we write, was a lad of eight 



years when he came with his parents to this county. 
He grew to manhood in Homer Township, where 
with the exception of seven years ."pent in Califor- 
nia he has since resided. He went to the Pacific 
Slope in 1852, and during the 3'ears mentioned 
was engaged in mining, meeting with fair success. 
Since returning he has devoted his entire attention 
to farm |)ursuits, and is the owner of one hundred 
and eightj' acres of choice land, which with its im- 
provements makes one of the most desirable coun- 
try estates in Will County. 

When ready to establish matrimonial and do- 
mestic ties, Mr. Bumji was married at Plainfield, 
111., December 20, 1860, to Miss Fannie M., daugh- 
ter of James and Nancy (Bump) Rockafellow. Mrs. 
Bump was born April 30, 1844, in Plainfield, to 
which her parents removed from Lake County, 
Ohio, in 183',). The father, who was a native of 
New York State, died at the homestead in Plain- 
field Township in 1856, and the mother is still liv- 
ing and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. 
Bump. They were the parents of two children 
only, of whom Mrs. Bump w.as the younger. 

Seven children have been born to our sulyject 
and his estimable wife, viz.: Sarah A., the wife f)f 
Alonzo Bump, of Nebraska; Nelson .1., Clarence 
J.;"Nanc3' 11., the wife of Mathias Homerding; 
Frank G., Loretta L. and Kate L. Mr. Bump cast 
his first Presidential vote for Van Buren, and con- 
tinues his allegiance to the Democratic party. He 
is a man of decided views and opinions, and keeps 
himself thoroughly informed upon the leading 
topics of the day. He has never .aspired to office, 
being content to occupy himself with his farming 
interests and the comforts of his familj'. 



\f| OHN J. HUNT. The Nation in which we 
take such just pride is indebted to the lands 
across the sea for man}' of her most reliable 
citizens and enterprising workers in various 
lines of life. Among this chass is numbered the 
gentleman above named, who owns and occupies a 
fine estate in .loliet Township, not far from the 
city limits. It comprises two hundred and fiftj'- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



469 



fjiii- and a half acres, four and a half acres on sec- 
tion 22, fifty acres on section 23, and two hundred 
acres on section 1, Manhattan Townshi|3, which 
is marked witli the improvements usually made by 
a man of enterprise, but which are above the aver- 
aije in llioir durability and design. Mr. Hunt has 
spent the greater part of his life in tlie pursuit of 
agriculture, connecting stocij-raising witli the tilling 
of the soil to a considerable extent. 

In Somersetshire, England, November 7, 18;32, 
the eyes of our subject opened to tiie light, and in 
tiie mother country he remained until the age of 
eighteen years. He then crossed the briny deep 
for the land whicli had attr.acted him by its promise 
of a Ijroader field for the energy which he felt, and 
after landing on the Eastern coast he came to the 
Prairie State, making his entrance into Joliet July 
17, 1851. He found employment on a farm on 
Hickory Creek, where he worked by the month 
about seven years, after which,~with his brother 
Mark, he rented the same estate for about four 
years. His next enterprise was the rental of a 
farm lielonging to AVilliani Ferguson, for a twelve- 
month, the following three years being spent as a 
renter on an estate belonging to William Hughes. 

While living upon the Hughes estate Mr. Hunt 
took a companion in life in the person of Miss 
Olive J. Wheeler, the marriage ceremony taking 
place May 7, 1861. Mrs. Hunt was born in "N'er- 
mont, June 23, 1839, and exemplifies in her person 
the housewifely ability and unbounded energy of 
the Yankee character. Her parents, David N. and 
Lydia (Stanley) Wheeler, are also natives of the 
Green Mountain State, whence they came to Illi- 
nois early in the '50s. They made a permanent 
settlement in Frankfort Township, where they are 
still living. Their family consists of live sons and 
five daughters, Mrs. Hunt being the eldest. 

For nearl}' two years after their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Hunt resided upon the Hughes farm, after 
which they bought an estate in Manhattan Town- 
ship, and removing there made it their home thir- 
teen years. Having bought the present estate and 
erected upon it a most excellent dwelling, thej' re- 
moved here on March 26, 1876, with the intention 
of making this their permanent home. They are 
the parents of four children, their daughter, Edna 



K., who is the j'oungest child, being the only one 
who remains with them. Joseph C. married Cora 
Jane Mapjjs, and lives iu Joliet; Cora E. is the 
wife of John C. Love; John W. is now in the em- 
ploy of the Michigan Central liailroad. 

Air. Hunt exercises the right of suffrage in sup- 
port of the princi[)les and candidates of the Repub- 
lican party. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the First 
Bai)li.st Church of Joliet. Among their associates 
the}' have many friends, and b}' all to whom they 
are known they are classed among the most res- 
pectable and intelligent members of the commu- 
nity. 

The parents of Mr. Hunt were Joseph and Char- 
lotte (Green) Hunt, both natives of the mother 
country, who died in Somersetshire. They had 
three sons and three daughters, he of whom we 
write being the second member of the family 
circle. 



I Ann's CUSHING, D. V. S. The subject 
of this notice is a prominent man in his 
profession and occupies a conveniently 
arranged establishment at No. 108 Ex- 
change Street, Joliet, in which he has conducted a 
successful practice for the last six years. His wide 
experience and his strict attention to the duties of 
his chosen calling have rendered him more than 
ordinarily expert and he avails himself of all the 
means at his command to inform himself in regard 
to the various matters connected therewith. He has 
gathered around him the various appliances re- 
quired for a successful business and personally, as 
well as in business circles, is highly spoken of in 
business community. 

The subject of this sketch, a native of Utica, N. 
Y., was born September 7, 1852, and is the son of 
James and Margaret (McQuade) Cushing, the for- 
mer of whom was born in County Queens, Ireland, 
and the latter in the city of Paisley, Scotland. 
James Cushing when a young man, emigrated to 
America and settled in Utica, N. Y., where he was 
married. In the spring of 1854, resolving upon 
seeking the farther west he came with his little 
famil}' to this State and settled in Joliet. James 




470 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Cusliiiif,' (lied Novi'inhi'i- 0, 1S84. The widow still 
resides in .loliet. 

Dr. Gushing afqiiired a pi;ielir;il cdncution in 
the city sciiools of .loliet and when apiiroaclunu 
manhood was variously ent-af^ed until coninieneinK 
the studios of veterinary surgery. Indue time he 
entered upon a course of lectures at the Columhia 
Veterinary College, in New York City, and subse- 
quently spent two years in the American College, 
in New York City, graduating from the latter in 
188."), with a thorough knowledge of the methods 
of proceedure in ordinary i)ractice. lie at (juce 
located at .loliet and has now all tiic business wiiich 
he can attend to botii in the city and country. In 
connection with this he established a livery busi- 
ness in partnership with his brother James, in the 
city of .loliet, in 188'.), putting up a fine stone 
buililing which is conveniently arranged for hos- 
pital and operating purposes located at No. 108, 
Exchange Street. 

Dr. Cushing has distinguished himself as a lib- 
eral and public spirited citizen, and after filling 
other positions of trust and responsibility, was in 
1889 elected a member of the Cit}' Council on the 
Democratic ticket. 

^p5^ HARLES S. COCKETT, late Secretary of 
(li the Ashley Wire Company, departed this 

^^{' life at his home in Joliet, September 20, 
1888, at the age of fifty-three years, having been 
born March 3, 1835. His native place was Kirk- 
land, Oneida Count}', N. Y. and his father was 
Thomas Cockett, who was of Elnglish descent and 
spent his last years in New York. The paternal 
grandfather settled on the Susquehanna River at 
an early day and built a number of mills in that 
vicinity, where it is probable he spent the remain- 
der of his life. He was a skilled workman and 
successful man and became prominently known 
throughout that region. 

The subject of this notice grew to mature years 
in his native county and obtained a good educa- 
tion, completing his studies in one of the schools of 
Cooperstown, Otsego County. For several years 



thereafter he occupied himself in the mercantile 
l)u.sincss in the store of his uncle at Cooperstown. 
Then leaving his native State he emigrated to De- 
catur, Mich, and engaged in the insurance and ex- 
press business until after the outbreak of the Civil 
^Var. Determining then to have a hand in the 
preservation of the I'nion, he enlisted in Comjiany 
15, this being :issigned to a regiment of Michigan 
Infantry, and which later became a part of the 
Excelsior Brigade of New York State. He served 
nearly four years, engaging in many important 
battles and receiving an honorable wound at the 
battle of Williamsburg. He was mustered out 
after the close of the war and received an hon- 
orable discharge. On account of having con- 
tracted a severe cold from the effects of which 
he was unable to entirely recover, he was given 
the post of Commiss.ary Sergeant, which he held 
most of the time during his army life. Upon leav- 
ing the service Mr.Cockett returned to Decatur, 
Mich., and resumed operations in the insurance 
and express business which he conducted success- 
fully for .some j-ears. On the 10th of April, 1867, 
he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss 
Mary J. Smith, and made his home in Decatur 
until 187.5. 

In the \ear above nH'nlione<l, Mr. Cockett 
disposed of his business interests in Michigan, 
and coining to Joliet, began dealing in grain and 
w.as thus occupied for two years. At the expira- 
tion of this lime he became connected with 
Messrs. H. B. Scott & Co., manufacturers of barb 
wire, and when the Ashley Wire Works was or- 
ganized he was made the .Secretary and held this 
j)osilion until his llc^lh. He was a ca[)able ami 
reliable business man and enjoyed the esteem and 
confidence of his fellow-citizens. 

Mrs. Mary J. (Smith) Cockett was born June 8, 
1839, in New Lyme, Ashtabula County, Ohio, and 
is the daughter of H. B. and Mary (Clapp) Smith. 
Mr. Smith rcTuuved from Trumbull County, 
Ohio, to Benton Harbor, where his death took 
place. Mrs. Smith died June 20, 1839, a few 
days after the birth of her daughter. Mr. Smith 
lived until his daughter had reached womanhood. 
Mary remained a member of the household until 
her marriage, which resulted in the birth of one 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



471 



child only, a son, BretHarte, who was born March 
16, 1871, at Decatur, Mich., and remains at home 
with his mother. Both mother and son are mem- 
bers in good standing of the Central Presbyterian 
Church. 



\f AMESF. MOERLSEY. It would be hard 
to find a gentleman of the same age who 
lias reached so high a position in business 
circles, and held so prominent a place in 
iu ()ublic affairs, as the subject of this biograph- 
ical notice, who is now serving as a member of 
the Common Council of Joliet. He represents the 
sixth ward in the aldermanic body, and is serving 
his second term. In addition to ids public labors, 
ho carries on the sale of agricultural implements 
and seeds, at No. 205 Washington Street, also deal- 
ing in road carts, etc. 

Mr. Morrisey is a native of the city which he 
liouors l)y his ability and service, his natal day 
having Ijeen April 25, 1859. His parents were 
.lames and Catharine Morrisey, both natives of 
Irchunl, who came to America prior to their mar- 
riage, that event taking place in this city, where 
the father died. He of v\diom we write grew to 
maturity here, at the early age of thirteen j-ears 
being graduated from the .loliet Business College, 
lie then engaged with G. C. Erliard, dealer in ag- 
ricultural implements, remaining in that gentle- 
man's em[)loy eleven 3-cars. 

The ne.xt move of j'oung Jlorrisey was to un- 
dertake the sale of the same line of goods on the 
road, as an agent for the Kleinfelter & Dillman Com- 
[lanj', with which he was engaged eight years. At 
the close of his term with them, he began business 
for himself, oiiening his place of business in Janu- 
ary, 188'J. Thus far he has had a very sticcessful 
trade, the prospects for the future being bright 
and encouraging. The long experience of Mr. 
Morrisey in the Hue of trade that he has adopted, 
gives him a perfect knowledge of that in which he 
deals, and his methods are strictly honorable, while 
marked by a spirit of enterprise and '-push" highly 
commendable and such as wins success. 

The public life of Mr. ]\lorrisey began iu 1886, 



when he was elected Assistant Supervisor of Joliet 
Township, the office being so acceptably filled that 
he was re-elected the following year. The next 
year he was sent to the Council Chamber, and here 
also his efforts to advance the interests of the com- 
munity are recognized by his constituents, and re- 
flect credit upon himself. He is a member of St. 
Mary's Catholic Church, which was organized with 
his father as one of its early members. 

On October 20, 1882, the rites of wedlock were 
celebrated between our subject and Miss Etta M. 
Ardagh, of Channahon Township. The bride was 
born in that township, her parents, Patrick and 
Mary Ardagh, being old residents there. She also 
belongs to .St. Mary "s Church. The union has been 
blessed by the birth of five children. The3' are 
named respectively, James R., Mary, Etta, Dora 
and John D. 



:^ lM^^^ .'i 




ERBERT H. BALDWIN, M. D., one of the 

younger members of the medical fraternity 
ii.\^ of Will County, has evidently entered upon 
a successful career in his chosen profession, 
making a specialty of electro- vapor and medica- 
ted baths. He maintains that this treatment is 
superior, usually and in most diseases, to the in- 
ternal administration of medicine. He was born 
in Blue Island, Cook County, this State, Septem- 
ber 22, 1857, and is the son of Henry and Sarah 
J. (Alexander) lialdwiu, the former a native of 
London, England, and the latter of Pensylvania. 

Henry Baldwin came to America about 1855-56, 
and died in the 3ear 1858. He was a well-edu- 
cated man and followed the profession of a teacher. 
The mother, after the death of her husband, made 
her home in Blue Island, and is now assistant 
Principal of one of the public schools of Chicago. 

The subject of this notice was the only child of 
his parents, and attended the schools of bis native 
place, graduating from the High School there. 
Later he supplemented his education by attend- 
ance at the Cook County Normal, at Englewood, 
from which he was graduated in 1876. For five 
years thereafter he occupied bimself as a teacher 



472 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



in tlie Sfliools of Couk and Will Counties. In the 
niuiuitinie lie wiis l'rineii);il of tlie seliooKs of New 
Lenox. Prospect Avtnue and Wasliington lleiylits. 
lie conimeneed tlie study of medicine under the 
instiuetion of Dr. II. W. Alexander, with whom 
he remained as student and associate for seseral 
years. 

The Doctor finally entered the Chicago Medical 
College, from which he was graduated in ISS.i. 
He commenced the practice of his profession in 
Joliet, where he remained something over a year 
then, crossing the Mississippi, went to llanUinson, 
N. Dak., where he remained until the death of Dr. 
Alexander, IMay 27, 188'.). lieturning then to Jol- 
iet, he took up the Doctor's practice and is huild- 
ing up a fine business. He belongs to the Will 
County Medical Society, and keeps himself posted 
upon modern methods of treatment, both in con- 
nection with his specialty and the regular practice. 

Dr. Baldwin was married June 25, 1888, at the 
bride's home in ^Minneapolis, Minn., to Miss Min- 
neaxie A. Folsom. This lady was born in that 
city, and is a daughter of Prof. J. Folsom, also of 
Jlinneapolis. The Doctor and his amiable lady 
occupy a neat home on North Broadway, and en- 
joy the acquaintance and friendship of its best 
citizens. Politically he is a Republican, and both 
he and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 



•^^ 



OSEPH FREDRICK. The enterprising sons 
of the Fatherland have permeated through 
all parts of the United States, and left their 
ineffaceable mark as the sign-manual of in- 
dustry, energj' and a perseverance which has never 
admitted the existence of any such word as '• fail." 
Thej' have brought to their adopted country- the 
steady habits which were transmitted to them from 
a substantial ancestry, and liy which the}- have 
arisen to prominent positions ni the industrial as 
well as the political world. The}' came to the Ter- 
ritor}' of Illinois when it was first opened for settle- 
ment, and have built up some of its most fertile 
farms and valuable homesteads. 



The subject of this notice — one of the niostsidi 
stantial farmers of Joliet Township — is a native of 
the province of Alsace, then a province of I' ranee, 
but now of Germany, and was born April 20, 
1820. He was the eldest in a family of seven chil- 
dren, the offspring of Mothen and Kathrina (.Steck) 
Fredrick, who were natives of the same province 
as their son, and where they spent their entire 
lives. 

In 1S4I(, when a young man of twenty years, the 
sul)ject of this notice emigrated to America, land- 
ing in New York City. Thence he made his way 
to Buffalo, and from there emigrated to Chicago, 
111., and a short time afterward we tind him in 
Joliet, this county, occupied at whatever honest 
labor he could find to do. For a time he was em- 
ployed on a canal, but later worked for a farmer in 
DnPage County, remaining with him three years. 
In the meantime he made the acrpiaintance of Miss 
tSarah Wise, to whom he was married at .Naiierville, 
in 1844. After the birth of one child, Mr. Fredrick, 
in 1848, removed to Joliet where he lived one 
year. His next removal was to the farm which he 
now owns and occupies, and which lies a short dis- 
tance west of the city limits. 

Since his removal to this place Mv. Fredrick has 
given his entire attention to agricultural [)ursuits. 
His fine farm with eighty acres is embellished with 
good buildings, while he has made fences, planted 
fruit and shade trees, and gathered together all the 
comforts and conveniences of modern farm life. 
To him and his estimable wife there has been born 
a family of twelve children, eight of whom are liv- 
ing. Joseph married Sarah Smith and lives in 
Joliet; Frank E. married Miss Margaret Parks and 
is a resident of Joliet; Sarah is the wife of Thom.as 
Bossom, and they live in' Joliet; Josephine, Charles 
A., Oswahl J., William W. and Anna A. are at 
home with their parents. The deceased children 
were taken from the household circle at a tender 
.'ige. Mr. Fredrick politically, afliliates with the 
Democratic party. He was reared in the faith 
of the Catholic Church, to which he still loyally ad- 
heres. 

Jlrs. Fredrick is the daughter of Jacob and 
Sarah (Martin) Wise, who were natives of the 
kingdom of Bavaria and of German parentage and 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



475 



anccstiy. The}' emigrated to America in 1831, 
settling first in Pennsylvania, wliere they lived 
seven rears. In 1837 they came to Illinois, settling 
in DuT'age Connty, wliere they spent the closing 
years of their lives. There vfas born to tliem a 
family of seven children, fonr of whom are living. 
^Irs. Fiedriek is the lliird child and likewise is a 
native of Bavaria, her l3irtb taking place August 4, 
1827. She was a child of three or tour years when 
coming to America, and remained under the paren- 
tal roof until lier marriage. 



.- — ■ ^o» < o 



►» f * S « |" »^ 



,^^EORC,E ALKXAXDER, who ably repre- 
(/[ (— ^ sents the townsliip of Channahon, on the 
^^Jj County Board of Supervisors, and whose 
l>ortrait will be noticed on the opposite page, in 
the oldest native-born citizen now living here. He 
is well known tiiroughout this part of Illinois as 
one of its keenest and most sagacious business men, 
and one who has been various!}' identified with Its 
interests for many years; by his energetic and res- 
olute force of character and talent for affairs he 
has given a great impetus to the growth of this 
section of country, and is still actively forwarding 
various schemes for its advancement in important 
directions. lie is one of the foremost farmers 
and raisers of stock, and owns one of the largest 
and finest farms in this part of the State. 

Sir. Alexander was born on the Reed place, 
in the cast part of this county, October 27, 1837. 
lie comes of an old pioneer family, his parents, 
.lohn and Elizabeth (Turner) Alexander, coming 
here in the early d.ays of the settlement of the 
country, and moving on the farm where our sub- 
ject now resides, when he was a year old. The}- 
lived there until death, the mother <lying in 1853, 
and the father in 1856, he being killed by a kick 
from a horse. He was a native of Scotland but 
was reared in England, and was there married and 
in 1836 came to this country with hi.s wife, and 
located here permanently. He crossed the Atlan- 
tic five times, and in 1835 first set foot in Chicago, 
which was then but an in.«ignificant hamlet. 

Our subject is the third in a family of six chil- 



dren, and was reared amid pioneer scenes to a 
stalwart manhood, bred to agricultural pursuits. 
His father was a well-educated man, and taught 
school in the early da}"'s of the settlement of this 
cour.ty, and our subject besides attending the local 
school received the benefit of instruction from his 
father, and thus obtained a liberal education. He 
started in business for himself with thirty-five acres 
of land, and luas met with more than ordinary suc- 
cess, lieing now the possessor of seven hundred 
and fifty-five acres, all of which lies within five 
miles of his home. His homestead is on section 
15, Channahon Township, lying on the banks of 
the Desplaines River. The Chicago & Alton and 
Santa Fe Railroads run through the farm near his 
house, and a station has been located about a mile 
from there. He early gave his attention to the* 
grain and cattle interests, .and also to raising 
horses, having made a specialty of the stock bus- 
iness, shipping to Chicago, Buffalo, and even, to 
Albany, and has been thirteen days on the road 
with his cattle. This he followed a long time, be- 
ing in partnership with C. C. Smith for nineteen 
years; they also opened a butter factory in the 
village of Channahon, which they managed to- 
gether for several years, handling as many as six- 
teen thousand pounds of milk per day, making 
butter and cheese. Our subject has by no means 
confined himself to agricultural pursuits, but has 
been engaged in other directions. He was con- 
nected with James Bruce in quarrying and ship- 
l)ing stone, furnishing the fluxing stone to the 
rolling mills, he having a specially fine stone on his 
place adapted to that purpose. At different times 
he contr.acted with the State to furnish the prison 
with meat, in company with C. C. Smith. 

February 14, 1860, Mr. Alexander was united in 
marriage with Miss Emeline, daughter of Nelson 
Bedford, of New Jersey. They have had seven 
children, five c>f whom survive, namely: Xcttie, 
Hattie, INIary. John .and Ruth, the latter a child 
living with her parents. Nettie, the eldest keeps 
house for her brot er John, who is now managing 
one of his father's farms in Wilmington Township; 
Hattie is the wife of William Jennings, formerly 
of Will County, now residing in Crawford County, 
Kan., and they have three children — Emma, George 



476 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and Blanche; Mary is the wife of Allison Tryon, 
of Channaliun, and they have two children — George 
and Louis. 

Mr. Alexander is iinian of line physical and men- 
tal endowments and his honorable, conscientious 
course as a business man, liis far-seoint; qualities, 
tact and enterprise make him an invaluable citi- 
zen of his native county, and it is to the inlluence of 
such men of fertile brain and liberal spirit that Will 
County is indebted for its high standing and pros- 
perity. He is generous, frank and kind, genial 
and courteous in his intercourse with others and 
occu pies a warm place in the hearts of his many 
friends. He is a leader among the Democrats of 
this section, takes a prominent part in public 
affairs and was elected Supervisor on that ticket, a 
position for which he is peculiarly well fitted. He 
is identified willi ClKUinalion Loilge, No. 202, A. F. 
it A. M. 



»r— 



EVI HARTWELL. "Deacon" Hartwell 
as he has been known from lioyhood, is 
-^ numbered amo'.ig the oldest and most hon- 
ored settlers of Homer Township. There are living 
l)ut two or three of the men whom he found in 
this township when first coming to "Will County. 
Not only has he maintained his residence here for 
the long period of fifty-seven years, but he has 
been one of the township's most prominent and 
useful men, identifying himself with its most worthy 
enterprises and giving his moral and sidjstantial 
aid to whatever was calculated for the promotion 
of its best interests. He is a man whose opinions 
arc thoroughly respected and who is looked up to 
by his neighbors as one possessing more than or- 
dinary ability and whose integrity has been main- 
tained unquestioned during the changes of a long 
and useful life. His occupation has been that of a 
farmer, in which he has been successful, securing a 
Lome to defend him against want in his declining 
years. 

Mr. Hartwell is descended from excellent stock 
which flourished in New England during the Colo- 
nial days. His father, the late Samuel HartweU, 




was a native of Hadley, Mass., and born in 1789. 
His mother who bore the name of Abigail Davis, 
was born in 1791), and it is believed was of French 
parentage, being also herself probably born in 
France. The parents after marriage settled in 
Rochester, N. Y., where the father occupied hiiu- 
■ self as a carpenter and farmer. Later thc3- became 
residents of Pittsford, Monroe County, where the 
mother died in 1828.- 

After tiie <lece.ase of his wife Samuel Hartwell 
returned to his native State, and in 1834 met an 
accidental death by falling from what was known 
as Dry Bridge, near Hadley, where he was found 
with life extinct. The parental family consisted 
of tliree sons and two daughters, of whom our 
subject was the eldest. He was born in Il.adley, 
Mass., December 10, 1817, and at the earl^- .age of 
eleven years was thrown upon his own resources 
and compelled thereafter to look out for himself. 
He entered upon an apprenticeship at blacksmitli- 
ing, serving seven years with the late John Lane. 
In June, 1833, he came in comi)any with Mr. Lane, 
to this count}' which was then a p.art of Cook 
County. After completing his apprenticeship he 
followed his tr.ade mostly in Homer Township, un- 
til 1870, but at the same time ojierated his farm in 
connection therewith. In due time he engaged 
in business for himself and nianufiictured steel 
plows which were sent all over the country-, there 
being shipped to California alone seven hundred 
of these, which was suflicient indication of their 
poi)ulaiity and utility. Mr. Hartwell also manu- 
factured other agricultural implements and from 
this source realized handsome returns. 

In 1839, Deacon Hartwell purchased thirty- acres 
of land on section 20, Homer Townshij), and which 
was considered practically worthless, being mostl}' 
a marsh. Its condition to-d.a}' illustrates in a 
marked manner the results of good management, 
industry and perseverance, as combined with wliat 
he subsequently purchased, it now comprises some 
of the most valuable soil in Will County. 

Wisely making provision for a family- before he 
assumed the responsibilities of one, Mr. Hartwell 
remained unmarried until approaching the twent}'- 
fifth 3ear of his age and was then wedded Novem- 
ber 3, 1812, at the bride's home in Homer Town- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



477 



sliif) to Miss Luuisa. daiigbtei- of Edward and Sarah 
(Morris) Poor. Tlie \()ung i)eoi)ie commenced the 
joLinioy of hfe together at their own homo, and la- 
lioi'ed witli a mutual jnii'|)ose in gatliering around 
thouisolves the comforts of life and acquiring a 
ctiui[)etencc for the future. Mrs. Hartwell was lil<e- 
wise from an excellent family. Iler parents were 
natives of South Carolina .ind came to Illinois in 
1 830, locating among the earliest pioneers of Homer 
Townsiii)). The father secured land and followed 
farming and built up a good home where he and 
liis estimable partner spent the remainder of their 
days. 

Mis. Hartwell was born near Attica, Inil., Septem- 
ber 11, 1823. Her parents Iiad emigrated to that 
State when it was practically a frontier, and thus 
endured twict! the ex|)eriment of life in a new 
country peopled i)rincii)ally by vvild animals and 
Indians. The}' were most excellent and worthy 
people and without making any great stir in the 
world, performed their duty faithfully to those de- 
pending upon them and are held in kindly remem- 
brance by all who knew them. Edward Poor, is 
supposed to have i>urchased the first land secured 
from the Government in Homer Township, the 
deeds of which were the Drst entered upon the 
county records for this township. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell there were born five 
sons, the eldest of whom, William E., died when 
tvvo years old. William K., second, during the late 
Civil War served in the Union Army as a member 
of Company A, Third Illinois Cavalry, and died in 
the hospital at EastjKirt, Miss., during tiie early 
part of May, 1865, at the age of nineteen \-ears. 
Charles R. died at the homestead of consumption, 
lie being also nineteen years old; Levi, Jr., also 
died at the age of nineteen years. Thus Mr. and 
Mrs. Hartwell were called to part with three prom- 
ising sons upon whom the\- had fastened ninny 
hopes. In their great affliction tlie}^ were tendered 
the sympathy of many friends. Samuel follows 
agricultural pursuits and lives at the homestead. 
He married iVIiss Emma West. Mrs. Louisa Hait- 
well departed this life at the homestead in Homer 
Township, October 26. 1867. 

On the 22d of April, 1868, Mr. Hartwell con- 
tracted a second marriage in Chicago, 111., with 



Miss Emma A. Trask. This lady was born in St. 
Lawrence County, N. Y., November 10, 1846, and 
died of diphtheria in Homer Township, March 3, 
1886. The Hartwell farm is embellished with first- 
class buildings and now embraces one hundred and 
ten acres all of which has been brought to a high 
state of cultivation. In politics our subject is in- 
dependent and although not a member of any re- 
ligious denomination, believes in the establish'nent 
and maintainance of churches and contributes to 
the support of the Gospel. He held tlie ofHce of 
Constable in 1838. being the first official of this 
kind in the town of Homer. He has been a School 
Trustee in his district and Overseer and Commis- 
sioner of Highways for many years. He repre- 
sented Homer Township in the County Board of 
Supervisors two years, and was the Poor Master for 
one year. No man has taken a warmer interest in 
the advancement of the best interests of the com- 
munity- and none have given a more cordial support 
to the enterin-ises calculated to aid its progress, so- 
cially, morally and financially. 

RS. ELIZABETH M. FARGO, widow of 
Orange T. Fargo, is a native of Rock Is- 
land County, 111., where she was born 
May 24, 1841. Her parents, Lueias and 
Harriet (McLean) Mears, moved to Kendall 
County when she was six years of age. Her father 
was a carpenter and upon the breaking out of the 
gold fever he went to California. While on his 
way home he was stricken b}- cholera and died on 
board a Mississippi steamer. May 24, 1851. The 
widowed mother is still living, now in Chicago. 
She has one son, J. M. i ng.-iged in the commission 
business in that city, and two daughters, Mrs. C. 
N. Check and Mrs. W. A. Taylor, residing there. 
The lady whose name stands at the hand of this 
sketch has been twice married. She has a son, II. 
II. Delos, by her first husband, a noble 3'ounginan 
of whom she is justly proud. He is now Treasurer 
of the Chicago and Aurora Refining and Smelting 
Company. He has recently taken a companion in 
life, his bride being Miss Edith, daui>hter of 




478 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Charles Pcttigrew, of tlii' Illinuis Steel Company, 
with wludii hi' was iiniliil in iiiariia^c Jaiiuai}' "22, 
1890. 

On l'"el)iiiaiy IS, liS72, our subject was united 
in inaniage with Orange T. Fargo, with whom she 
lived iiappily until November 3, 1871, when he (mi- 
lered into rest, lie was a native of the Empire 
.Slate in whiih he oi)eued hisej'es to tlie light Feb- 
ruary 10, 1820. He was a most excellent man 
highly spoken of by all who knew him, his lialiits 
being unexceptional)le and his whole life most ex- 
em plar}'. 

Mr. Fargo, politically, during his life wis a 
stanch Republican. When first widowed in 18G8, 
Mrs. Fargo, then Mrs. Delos, began dressmaking 
in Chicago, and has pursued that vocation ever 
since. She has enjoyed a very large patronage 
among the best citizens of Joliet, and has made 
many friends in the years of her residence here. 
She owns the elegant buiding known as the Fargo 
Block, on the corner of Ottawa and Van Buren 
Streets. She is a devoted member of the Presb3'- 
terian Church in whose work she takes deep in- 
terest. 






'#NUD PEDERSON derives a comfortable in- 
come from his farming operations, which 

i*^ he is carrying on verj' successfully in Will 
V^ County. He is a representative of the 
Scandinavian element that lias played so important 
a part in the settlement and development of the 
great West, and his thrift and intlustry make him a 
most desirable citizen. 

Mr. Pederson was born October 7, 1827, in the 
province of Thronhyem, Norway, a sou of Peter 
and Anna (Knud) Lawson, also natives of that 
country. His father w.as a tailor by occupation, 
but in the Swedish Norwegian War he .served as a 
soldier four years. lie departed this life in 18.'59. 
He and his wife were the parenLs of eight children, 
three of whom died young, live of whom are still 
living, as follows: Mrs. Emily Erickson, of Evans- 
ton, III.: Knud and Lewis; Mrs. Anna Hanson, of 
Chicago; Mrs. ReganaSchellstad. of Seattle, Wash. 



The paternal grandfather of our subject was Lewis 
Pe(lerson, a native and a farmer of Xorwaw He 
was the father of three sons and two daughters, of 
whom two sons and one daughter reared families. 
The mother of our subject came to the United 
.States with him, and dii'd in his lionie iu 1871, at 
the venerable age of eighty-three years. She was 
a daughter of Knud (jarmo, who took his name 
from the farm on which he lived. -•He and his wife 
reared a large faniil\- of sixteen children. 

The subject of this brief biogra[)hy passed his 
early life on a farm, and after his father's death, 
worked out as a farm lidjorcr by the mouth until he 
was twenty-seven years old. He then took to a 
seafaring life, which he abandoned after lieing 
wrecked in 18()2, ami subsequently came to Amer- 
ica to try his fortunes here, accompanied by liis 
mother and sister Anna. They located in Chicago, 
to which place his other sisters had preceded him 
some three years before. After settling here, he 
again became a sailor, and was engaged on' the 
lakes three j-ears. In the spring of 1866, he came 
to Will Township, having decided to resume the 
calling to which he had been bred. He bought one 
hundred and fourteen acres on section 6, and since 
then has been busily engaged in its improvement, 
and h.as wrought a great change, putting the land 
under excellent tillage and providing it with suit- 
able buildings and everything needful to carr^^ on 
his operations successfully. 

Mr. Pederson hsis had the assistance of a good 
and faithful wife since his marriage, February 11. 
1864, to Inga Margretta Olson, a native of Norway, 
and a daughter of Ole Schinner. She crossed the 
waters alone from the land of her nativity in 1863, 
her ))arents following her in 1872, with three of 
their children. Our subject and his wife have been 
blessed by the birth of six children, four of whom 
are living — Peter, Oliver, Louie N.and Arthur W. 
The great sorrow of their wedded life has been the 
death of their daughter Clara, at the age of fifteen 
years, and their son Arthur (second), at the age of 
two and one half years. 

Mr. I'eclerson has managed his affairs shrewdly- 
and well since turning his attention to agriculture 
nearly a quarter of a century ago. and may well be 
pleased with what he has acci>uiplished by his own 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



479 



hands (vitli steady and persevering toil. He and 
liis wife are greatly esteemed in the neighborhood, 
and are among the respected members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. 



'jl^, ETI<:R KNEPPER. The results of iiulnstry, 

Jjj thrift and wise judgment have been mani- 

''M <■' fested in the career of this gentleman, 

I \ wiio in all matters pertaining to iiis finan- 
cial standiug has fairl)' earned the title of a self- 
made man. He owns and occupies eighty acres of 
valuable land on section 14, Green Garden Town- 
ship, and every part of the estate gives evidence of 
the prudence and good judgment of its owner, and 
likewise betokens that he is a man of good taste 
and domestic instincts. 

It will not be amiss to devote a brief sp.ace to 
the progenitors of our subject ere entering upon 
our outlining of his own life. His father, .Tolin 
Knepper, a native of Luxembourg, was a farmer 
and stock-raiser who gained independent circum- 
stances and a landed estate of one hundred and 
forty acres, which is a large farm for tliat countr}-. 
lie w.as a participant in the Franco-lJelgian War, 
was Mayor of IMerlzig six years and Treasurer of 
his home district twenty-eight years. He lived to 
the ripe age of eighty-two years, dying in 1885. 
His wife, formerly- Alary Welter, was born in Pla- 
ten, being a daughter of Philip Welter, a well-to- 
do farmer of that province. She had a bi'other in 
tlie Franco-Spanish War four ^-ears, and who after- 
ward took part in the Franco-Russian War. She 
died in 18S7 at the age of eighty one years. 

The parental family comprised seven children 
of whom our subject is the sixth in order of birth. 
The first-born, Mary, is deceased; Lena, Mrs. Ma- 
jarus, living in her native duchy; Anna is de- 
ceased; John is living in Luxembourg; Philip 
resides in LeMars. Iowa; Frank resides in Chicago. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born at 
Mertzig, Luxembourg, February 2, 1842, and was 
reared in his native |)lace, having the advantages of 
good schools from his sixth to his fourteenth year. 



He acquired a more than ordinarily good education, 
receiving instruction in both German and French, 
which languages he speaks readily. 

The young man remained upon the home farm 
until twenty-seven years of age when, being desir- 
ous of securing a home of his own and land being 
high in his native country, he determined to come 
to America, where he thought he could better his 
financial condition. He therefore bade adieu to 
home and friends in 1869, and set sail from Havre, 
January 14, on the steamer "Manhattan"' which 
reached Liverpool three days later. There he era- 
barked on the steamer "Palmyra" which anchored 
in New York llarboi', January 28. Mr. Knepjjer 
started for Dubuque, Iowa, but when he reached 
Chicago w.as somewhat ill and so remained there 
some days. Mr. Eisenbrandt persuaded him to lo- 
cate in this State and in Will County. He there- 
fore came into Green Garden Township on the 2d 
of February, and spent the j'ear in working for Mr. 
Eisenbrandt. His services was engaged by the 
year the second time and after that experience as 
an employe, he began farming for himself. 

Mr. tnepper rented one hundred and twenty 
acres from his former employer and operated it 
quite successfully. In 1874, he purchased the 
eighty .acres which he now occupies and which at 
that time bore some old buildings. On this he en- 
gaged in the labors which h.ave brought him a 
competent support and a reputation which is cred- 
itable to his intelligence and enterprise. He at one 
time ow^ied forty acres adjoining, but sold it, re- 
taining but his first purchase. The land is ail till- 
able, is well fenced, tiled and furnished with a full 
set of adequate and substantial buildings. Mr. 
Knepper has set rjut groves and orchards which 
add to the beauty of his home as well as to its 
monetary value. The residence is five miles from 
Frankfort. ISIr. Knepper divides bis attention be- 
tween the raising of grain and graded stock, in- 
cluding Norman horses. 

In Joliet October 12, 1870, the interesting cere- 
mony took place which gave Mr. Knepper a wife. 
The lad}' with whom he was united was Miss Mar}' 
Henzpeter, who was born in Mecklenburg, Ger- 
many, and .accompanied her parents herein 1869. 
She is well informed and h.as the knowledge of 



480 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



housewifely arts which is almost inseparable from 
the training of a German maiden, while her charac- 
ter is an amiahic and loving one. Her parents, 
Kred and Dora (Koester) Henzpeter, have five 
children of wliora she is the first-born and the only 
daughter. Her brotlicr Fred lives in Frankfort 
Township; Charles, in Marcus, Iowa; John, in 
Joliet; and Henry in Iowa. The parents are living 
in Green Garden Township and the father is en- 
gaged in farming. 

The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Knoppor has 
been blest by the l)irth of four children, three of 
whom — IJertha, Clara and Charles — are at home. 
The liisl-bor!!, Caroline, is residing in Joliet. Mr. 
Knei)per is an active Democrat and has l)eon a 
delegate to county conventions. He has served in 
public capacities, among them being that of Col- 
lector, which he held one year. Township .School 
Treasurer, in which he has served during the p.ast 
six years and of which ofUce he is yet the incum- 
bent, and Scliool Director which position he held 
six years. lie lielongs to tlie G reen Garden Evangel- 
ical Clairch. His knowledge of tlie English language 
w.is acquired by personal effort, his evenings being 
devoted to study until lie had sulliciently mas- 
tered it. 



■i^^m- 



W^ILLIAM DAY, deceased, was for many 
years a well-known and greatly respected 
member of the farming community of 
Whatland, and his name is linked with its growth. 
He was of English birth and antecedents, born in 
Lincolnshire, November 1, 1833, a son of John and 
Rebecca Day, who were also natives of England. 
lie was reared to man's estate in the country of 
his birth and was engaged mostly in farm work. 
His educational advantages were limited, but he 
made up for that by the knowledge that he gleaned 
as an observant, intelligent man. He was ambitious 
to secure a competence, and having an idea that he 
could do so more advantageously in the United 
Stales of America, he crossed the waters to this 
country, accompanied by his young wife, in 1861, 
taking p.assage at Liver|)Oolon a sailing-vessel, and 
after a voyage of thirty-one days, landing in the 



great metropolis of the country. He and his wife 
came directlj' to this count}', and he finally selected 
the farm now owned and occupied b}- his widow as 
the most desirable in every way for his purposes. 
It is in an excellent condition, is provided with 
neat buildings, its fields arc uiuler admirable cul- 
tivation, and it is every way a most desirable 
place. 

February 15, 18G0, Mr. Day and Miss Sarah 
Fisher were united in the holy bonds of matri- 
mony. Her birthplace was in the same English 
shire as his, and there slie was born in the mouth 
of August, 1840. She is a daughter of John and 
Maria Fisher, both natives of England. The mar- 
riage of our subject and his wife was blessed by 
the birth of seven children, four of whom are now 
living: .lohu W., Frank F., Lucy R. and Grace M., 
all residing in Wheatland Township, and the latter 
living with her mother. 

Mr. Daj' was prosi>ered in his calling, and from 
a i)Oor man w!io vvas obliged to work out b}' the 
month, he became independent and the proprietor 
of a \nlualil<^ farm, .'is we have seen. His death, 
December 11, 18.S1, w.as a loss, not only to hi.s 
bereaved household, but to the cf)mmuMity at large, 
where he had conic to niiike his home so iiiaiiy 
years ago. His neigliliors ;ilways found him hon- 
orable and fair in his dealings with them, and in 
his domestic relations he was a kind :ind loving 
father, and a devoted husband, ami always did the 
best that he could for his family. He was a loyal 
citizen to his .adopted country, took an intelligent 
interest in its politics, and supported the Repub- 
lican party. 



^f/OHN GF:01<GE GEITHER. The home 
farm of this gentleman is one of the finest 
pieces of land in the Prairie State, and has 
been so improved that it forms a dwelling 
place of great attractiveness and comfort. It com- 
prises two hundred acres of tillable land on section 
1.5, Frankfort Township, which is watered by 
Hickory Creek, and bears improvements which are 
unexcelled in the township. The residence is of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



481 



pleasing architectural design, and it and the various 
outbuildings are sufficiently commodious for their 
|)urpose. There are several barns on the place, 
which are needed to house the stock and crops, in 
the raising of which Mr. Geuther is engaged. A 
windmill and tank, and the latest improvements in 
farm machinery make the labors performed more 
easy than was the case in the olden time, and or- 
chards and gardens furnish an abundance of the 
fruits of the earth, beside adding attractive features 
to the landscape. 

Mr. Geuther is engaged in general farming, keep- 
ing three teams constantly employed on the farm, 
and also raising good grades of cattle, hogs and 
draft-horses, Jiaving now some twenty head of the 
latter. lie is the largest land-owner in the town- 
ship, and one of the largest in the county, owning 
in all about sixteen hundred acres, the different 
farms being well improved and occupied b^' tenants. 
His landed estate is divided into the following 
tracts: One hundred and seventy-seven acres on sec- 
tion 22; one hundred and fifty-seven on section 23, 
Frankfort Township; one hundred and sixty-three 
acres in Green Garden Tovvnsliip; one hundred and 
sixty acres on section 25, Manhattan Township; one 
hundred and twent\' acres on the townsliip line of 
New Lenox and Frankfort Townships; and five 
liundretl and sixty acres in Cherokee County, Iowa. 
On the different places in Frankfort Townsliip he 
has over fifty acres of timber land. 

The father of our subject was John George Geu- 
ther, Sr., who was born in Weidhausen, Saxe- 
Coburg-Gotha, (Germany, and the son of John 
Nicholas Geuther, a baker. When a young man, 
he was quite poor, but being hard-working and 
having a capable helpmate, he ere long was able to 
purchase a small piece of land and add to it from 
time to time. He and his wife had begun by mak- 
ing baskets, and added to their real estate until 
they possessed forty acres, which was a good farm 
for that country, and in the securing and operating 
of which they were ranked as the most successful 
farmers in their neighborhood. 

In 1848 Mr. Geuther emigrated to America with 
his familj', except his oldest son, who had crossed 
(^Iji3 Atlantic two years before, and after living in 
\ew York Cit}- for a time, had gone South and 



been lost track of. The father came to Illinois, 
and i-enting a farm in Frankfort, this county, 
operated the same for a year. He then purchased 
one hundred and sixt}' acres on section 3, the price 
being $500, and there he lived for three years, put- 
ting the place under excellent improvement. He 
next purchased what is now the home farm of our 
subject, and locating here, continued his agricul- 
tural work for a time. He then let our subject 
take charge of it, and lived with him during the 
remainder of his life. He breathed bis last April 
26, 1889, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. 
In addition to the property mentioned, he had also 
bought one hundred and sixty acres in Green Gar- 
den Township, and having tliree sons, he gave each 
of them a farm. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Kunigunda Fitzemeir. Siie was born in Weid- 
hausen, Germany, and died at her home in this 
county, in 1881. Her oldest child, John Nicholas, 
is now farming in Green Garden Township. He 
came to America in 1841, and having drifted to 
Charleston, .S. C, remained there during the war, 
and was lost to tlie paternal hotiseliold for twenty 
years, as he did not know they had come to Amer- 
ica ; he came to Northern Illinois in 1866. John 
George, Jr., was a farmer in Frankfort Township, 
and was run over by the Rock Island Railroad train 
In the spring of 1890. 

The gentleman of whom we write is the youngest 
member of the parental household. He was born 
in Weidhausen, (Jermany, May 16, 1838, and was 
reared until his tenth jear in his native land. He 
then accompanied his parents to America, leaving 
Bremen in April, and spending forty-two days on 
the briny dcei). After landing in New York City 
the family traveled by river, canal and lakes to 
Chicago, where they secured teams to carry them 
to Frankfort Township. The lad attended the 
common schools, and in the interims of study 
hunted and assisted his father on the farm. When 
the family rcuK^ved to their present home, he and 
his father did all the work, and he broke soil, drove 
oxen, and bore a hand in other arduous labors. 
They operated a sawmill several years in connec- 
tion with their agricultural work. 

Ere long the young man took charge of tlie 



4.S2 



PORTIIAIT AND BIOGUAPHICAL ALBUM. 



phico, renting of his fallier until he came into pos- 
session of it. and making the various improve- 
ments whieli now mariv it as one of the linest farms 
in the township. He gradually drifted into stock- 
raising, and hi.s liaid work and perseverance se- 
cured for him a high rank among agriculturists 
and stockmen, and gave him possession of his 
large amount of realty. He has ever been uprigiit 
and straightforward in his dealings and active in 
his support of all worthy movements which prom- 
ise to increase the [irosperity of those about them. 

The first marriage of Mr. Geuther was celebrated 
in this township in IHGl, his bride l)eing Miss Mina 
Eisenbrandt. This worthy woman was born in 
Germany, and came to the United St.ates with her 
parents when two years old. She breathed her 
last in 1872, leaving four children, named resi)ect- 
ively — John, George, Henry and Mary. All are 
still residing under the home roof. 

The second matrimonial alliam e of Mr. Geuther 
was also celebrated in this township, the date of 
tiie happj' event being March 1, lb7.5. The bride 
was >Hss Dorethea Kaedlein, who was born in Ger- 
inanj' February 28, 1852, and was well educated in 
her native clime. In 1874 she sailed from Bremen 
on the steamer '• Mosell," which dropped her an- 
chor in New York harbor fourteen days later. The 
young lady came at once to Mokena, 111., to the 
home of her aunt, Mrs. Miller, with whom she re- 
mained until her marriage. She is the mother of 
si.x children — Annie, Bertha, NichoLis, iMidie, 
t'liira and Otto. 

The |)arents of Mrs. Dorothea (icuthcr arc Kob- 
ert Raedlein, who is still living in his native prov- 
ince of Saxe-Coburg, and Kunigunda (CoUis) 
Uaedlein, deceased. The latter was born in Bava- 
ria, and bore her husband ten children, nine of 
whom are living, six in (Germany and three in 
America. Mr. Raedlein is the son of a prominent 
and successful nieichant, and became "squire" 
when twenty- .years old. He held the position 
until he became one of the leading oflicials of 
the province in an ollice similar to that of an 
American senator, which he has now held for 
twenty- five years. He is also a merchant with a 
large trade. He belongs to the Lutheran Church, 
as did his worthy wife, and their daughter was 



carefully reared in accordance with its principles. 
Mr. Geuther is much interested in the advance- 
ment of the cause of education, and has served as 
.School I )irector, although he t)therwise declines pub- 
lic honors. In former years he was Trustee of Frank- 
fort Township, having been elected on the Demo- 
cratic ticket. He holds membershi]) in the (ierman 
Lutheran Church, in Frankfort Township, their 
place of worship being located on his farm. His 
father gave an acre of land as the site, and was one 
of the organizers of the congregation, and his son 
has followed his example in being an active sup- 
porter of religion. 



ACOB BUEHLER. A farm of moderate 
extent, but well improved and managed, 
and located near the city of .L.liet, is the 
/ home of the subject of this notice He is 
engaged in the dairy business, finding sale for all 
the products of his farm in this city. The estf>t" 
is sup[)lied with a full line of w(ll-l>udi, edifictt 
which .afford adequate shelter for stock anil storage 
for the products which are yielded b^- the lanit or 
manufactured upon it. 

'Jhe owner of this comfortable home is of .Swiss 
lineage and birth. His parents, I'lrich and Mar- 
garetta (Soch) Buehler, came to America a score of 
years ago, settling in the Empire State, where the 
fat er died. The mother is ^et living and still 
pursuing a career of usefulness. She is the mother 
of twelve children, of whom the subject of this 
sketch is the first-born. His natal day was Febru- 
arj' 16, 1850, and in his native land he accpiired a 
fair stock of information, and derived from his 
worthy parents principles of conduct which give 
him a good standing among his fellow-men. lie w.as 
about nineteen years of age when the removal to 
America took place, and he took his [ilace at once 
among the workers of the country. 

After having become a resident of Illinois, Mr. 
huefileP took a companion in life, the rites of wed- 
lock being celebrated between him and Miss Eliza 
Engcmaiin, OctdbiT 21. 1H75. The bride is the 
oldest of the twelve children Ixu'n to .K)hn and 




^ /^ ^^^^</e.^z^^.Jy 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



485 



Elizabeth (Lebmann) Eiigemann, and opened her 
eyes to the light in Switzerland, August 11, 1S52. 
Her [lareiits also were natives of the land so famed 
for the beauty' of its scenery and the libert\'-loving 
spirit of its people, and became citizens of America 
in 1872. 'I'hey landed in New York, and went at 
f)nce to Ohio, where they resided a year, after 
which they took up their .abode in Joliet. Here the 
father died in August, 1884. 

Mrs. Buehler possesses all the energy, persever- 
ance and zeal which characterize the race, together 
with the neatness and love of order which are also 
prominent traits in Swiss character, and having ob- 
tained much useful knowledge and skill in earlier 
years, she conducts the affairs which are entrusted 
to her oversight in a manner which proves her 
ability ns housewife and helpmate. She has borne 
her husband three children — Albert, Mary and 
Freda. Mr. Buehler supports the Democratic 
p.irty by his vote and personal influence. 



EWTON P. HOLDEN, M.D. This well- 
/, bred and well-informed gentleman was a 
^.:M^. successful practitioner of the profession of 
medicine for many 3'ears, but is now living a re- 
lircd life at Frankfort Station. He has accumu- 
lated a fortune, and is enjoj'lng merited repose 
after a life spent in activity and usefulness. His 
portrait, presented on the opposite page, represents 
one of the oldest settlers in the township, the 
wealthiest man therein, and also one of the oldest 
practicing physicians of the countj'. Having always 
led an active life, he is not content to idle away 
his time, but occupies himself in looking after his 
financial interests, and in traveling. He loans 
money, and now has over twenty farm mortgages 
in different States, and he likewise has real estate 
which he rents. 

Dr. Ilolden is of New England birth and an- 
cestry, and of English extraction. His father, 
Phineas H. Holden, w.as born in Middlesex County, 
Mass., and was Captain of a canal boat on the 
Middlesex Canal. He shipped the brick which was 
used in the construction of the first factory built in 



Lowell. Being the son of a New England farmer, 
he had a goo'l knowledge of agricultural pursuits, 
to which he finail3' turned his attention. He 
owned eighty acres of land in New Hampshire, but 
in 18.36 removed to Northern Illinois, settling in 
Will County, in what w.as then called New Lenox 
Precinct, but is now Frankfort Township. He 
entered a tract of Government land, and although 
poor when he came here, ere long became the 
owner of a fine farm. In his political views, he 
was first a Whig and then a Republican, and his 
religious belief coincided with that of the Univer- 
salist Church. He breathed his last at his home in 
1872. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Betsey Parker. She was born in Westfleld, 
Mass., and was the daughter of Levi Parker, a 
blacksmith and a Revolutionary soldier. He was 
First Lieutenant in a Massachusetts regiment, par- 
ticipated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was 
present at the hanging of Maj. Andre. His daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Holden, was reared in the Bay State 
under the care of p.arents who were devoted mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. She, like her husband, 
died in the Prairie State at the home of their son, 
our subject. 

The parental household comprised nine children, 
of whom our subject is the second in order of birth. 
The others are: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Wilson, of 
Ft. Madison, Iowa; Emeline, wife of Dr. Freer, 
who died in Chicago; Sarah, deceased; Mrs. Jane 
Brown, of Chicago ; David L., of Matteson ; Charles 
C. P., in Chicago; George M., of Ft. Madison, 
Iowa; and Levi P., of Hampton, Iowa. The latter 
enlisted in the Twentieth Illinois Infantry, in 
April, 18Cl,_and after serving three months was 
discharged only to re-enter the anny as INIajor of 
the Eighty-eighth Infantry, known as the Second 
Board of Trade Regiment. Although he had 
horses shot under him on more than one occasion, 
he escaped any personal injury. David L. also 
served his country, being a member of the Fifty- 
third Illinois Infantry, from 1863 until the close of 
the war, and having the rank of Commissary 
Sergeant. 

Dr. Holden, the subject of (his notice, w.as born 
in (irafton County, N. H., June 20, 1820, and was 



48G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



leiirtd upon a farm, in the work of which he par- 
ticipated from Ills tenth jear. lie received a 
good ediieatioii under the [irivileges afforded l)y 
tiie subscription sciiools. In liS.'il the family re 
moved to llailford, \'t., where they remained some 
(ive years, and then, in the spring of 183(i, aecorn 
plislied tlieir journey to what was then the Far 
West. Our subject was in iiis sixteenth year when 
the removal looic [ilace, and tiie scenes and inci- 
dents of the journey are well remembered liy him. 
A canal boat was tln'ir lirst conveyance, and upon 
it they journeyed from Whitehall to lUilTalo. There 
they embarked on a steamer for Vl. Dearborn, now 
Chicago, while ox-teams conveyed them from that 
trading post to their new home in Will County. 

Young Ilolden assisted his father in the improve 
ment of the farm, and when seventeen years old 
became a mail carrier, his route being from Joliet 
to LaPorte, Ind., through Crete, Crown Point an<I 
A'alparaiso. Me made the trijionce a week, travel- 
ing on horseback and being obliged to swim the 
rivers, often losing his way on account of the bad 
roads, which delayed him until nightfall, when he 
found it impossible to keep his route in the dark 
ncss. Jn 1840 he was sent to Chicago to pay a 
ilebt which his father owed to a man in that place, 
and there he remained a year, working as clerk in 
an hotel. Chicago was then but a small town, 
which gave little promise of its present large popu 
lation, grandeur of improvements and great com- 
mercial importance. Dr. Holden says that he feels 
old when he recalls the Chicago which he first 
knew, and thinks of the great changes which have 
taken place. 

Returning to his father's home in the fall, Dr. 
Holden began teaching before he had reached his 
raajoritj-, his first school being in New Lenox. He 
continued his pedagogical labors in Frankfort 
Township during the summer and winter terms, the 
scene of his labors being a log schoolhouse with 
slab benches and the other primitive appointments 
of which we have heard so much. Deer roamed 
over the prairies adjacent, and Indians were camped 
at Wilton not far distant. 

In 1841 Dr. Ilolden spent one term In studying 
in the Chicago Academy and two terms at Joliet. 
During the summer he read ]..atin with Father 



DuPondaris, and in the fall he again turned his 
attention to leaching. He taught in Plainficld in 
1842-43, after which he gave up that profession 
to study one on which his heart had long been set. 
II(^ went to Bristol, now Yorkville, Kendall County, 
and began the study of medicine under Dr. Whee- 
ler, with whom he read three years. When Rush 
Medical College in Chicago was opened he entered 
that institution, being one of the students who 
were present during the first course of study. 
After three years of application he was graduated, 
in February, 184G, immediately after which he 
entered into [)artnershi[) with his former instructor. 
Dr. Wheeler, at Bristol. 

The connection proved agreeable, and Dr. Ilol- 
den was succeeding well in his labors, when his 
comfort was so interfered with l)y the ague — 
Bristol being situated on the Fox River and sub- 
ject to malarial intiuences — that in 1850 the part- 
nership was dissolved. The discovery of gold on 
the coast having aroused his desire to see some- 
thing of life in that far country, the young doctor 
started across the plains with five horses and two 
wagons. He crossed the Missouri River at Ne- 
braska City, April 2, and followed the Platte River 
westward, reacliing PlacerviUe, Cal., July 2, his 
outfit being a part of the first train over the 
[jlains. He engaged in mining and prospecting 
during the winter, and selling his outfit in Decem- 
ber, 1851, went to SanFraneisco, and returned to 
the Prairie State via the Isthmus of Panama, New 
Orleans and St. Louis, taking the stage from the 
latter point to Springfield, 111., and locating again 
in Bristol. 

The ague fastened its clutches upon the Doctor 
once more, and he made a second journey to Cali- 
fornia with a similar outfit as that of his first jour- 
ney, having a splendid time en route. The spring 
of 1852 was the date of his second overland jour- 
ney, and he remained in the AVest some time, prac- 
ticing his profession on the Yuba River, and the 
succeeding summer in the Napa Valley. He re- 
turned again to the States in the fall of 1853 by 
steamer, and then settled in Mokena. He was the 
first physician there, and prior to the opening of 
his office there had been none nearer than Joliet. 
He soon had a fine practice, and although the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



487 



nexl year he went to his father's farm to take care 
of his iwreiits, he continued his professional labors, 
liding all over the country. The chief means of 
travel was on horseback, and with phj'sicians this 
was especiall3' common, as the roa;ls were not the 
best, and tiiey could get along much better in this 
way than with vehicles. 

Not only did Dr. Holden have an extensive 
practice in several townships, but he also carried 
on the farm, and made it successful in a financial 
way. He kept about five hundred head of slieep, 
and from time to time purchased additional land 
until his possessions amounted to over five hun- 
dred acres. He applied liiraself thoroug!il3r to 
whatever he undertook, and being always busy, 
accomplished a v.ist amount of professional and 
agricultural labor. In 1873 he removed to Chi- 
cago, where he spent tlie greater part of his time 
until .January, 1878. In December, 1875, he was 
appointed County Physician of Cook County, and 
held the ollice two years, during which time lie had 
[ilenty to do and had no assistant. 

When he left Chicago he returned to the farm 
wilh the intention of retiring from his profession, 
but for .some time ho was not able to do so, as he 
wns continually called upon for his services. He 
mnnaged the farm until 1881, when he sold it, and 
removing to town, finally gave up his active pur- 
suits. He owns some three hundred acres of land 
between the Michigan Central Cut-off and the 
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroads, which forms a 
large pasture, well watered by Hickory Creek, and 
rented to advantage. He is also the possessor of a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hardin 
County, Iowa, near Iowa Falls. 

The wife of Dr. Holden is a finely educated and 
cultured lady, who in her maidenhood was engaged 
in teaching, doing honor to the profession to which 
she devoted herself. She bore the maiden name of 
Caroline Parrish, and was born in Iloneoye Falls, 
N. Y., .Tanuary 17, 1826. When ten years of age 
she accompanied her mother and stejjfather to the 
Prairie State, coming all the way in a buggy. She 
distinctly remembers the incidents of the journey, 
and vividly recollects seeing parties with heavy 
loads get stuck in the mud. Upon reaching Chi- 
cago they slopped at the Tromont House, which 



was at that time the best hotel in the city. Miss 
Pnrrish attended a young ladies' select school at 
Aurora, and after completing her studies taught 
until her marriage, which was celebrated in Bristol, 
Kendall County, June 30, 1847. 

Doctor and Mrs. Holden are the parents of four 
children, only one of whom is yet spared to them. 
The only daughter, Sarah, possessed musical talent 
of a high order, and was sent to the Conservatory 
of Music at Boston, to perfect herself in the art to 
which she was inclined. She studied there two 
years, but died soon after her return homo. The 
second child, Wright, was graduated at the High 
School in Englewood, and studied law with Judge 
Dickey. He was admitted to the bar at Ottawa, 
and became a practicing attorney in Chicago. 
While on his way to New Mexico he was taken 
alarmingl}- ill in Newton, Kan., and there passed 
away. Milton, the second son, is a broker in 
Michigan, and deals in railroad stocks and grain. 
Franklin was graduated at Rush Medical College 
in Chicago, with the class of '86, he receiving the 
highest standing of any of the class. He was ap- 
pointed House Surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital in 
Chicago, but the confinement which his many du- 
ties occasioned affected his health, and six months 
after he assumed the position he was stricken with 
fever which developed into consumption and 
caused his decease. He went to Pueblo, Colo., 
hoping to be restored to health, but it was too late, 
and his parents and friends were compelled to bow 
to the severe aftliction occasioned by his loss. 

Dr. Holden has served as Highway Commis- 
sioner one year, as Township Clerk an equal length 
of time, and as School Director ten years. His 
political adherence is given to the principles and 
candidates of the Democratic party. As would be 
expected of a man of his mental attainments and 
earnestness of character, he has ever manifested a 
deep interest in all that tends to develop the 
material prosperity and add to the mental and 
moral growth of the community of which- he is a 
member. Mrs. Holden has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church since she was sixteen 
years old. 

The parents of Mrs. Holden were Loomis K. and 
Sarah (Dodge) Parrish. Her paternal grandfather, 



488 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Abraliam Panish, a native of Massachusetts, was a 
Captain in tiie War of 1812, and became an early 
settler of Monroe County, N'. Y., where he l)oui,fht 
n tract of the Holland Purchase near Lima. He 
reared thirteen ciiildren, most of whom settled in 
Michigan. Two of his brothers were taken pris- 
oners by the Indians, and kept in captivity som-j 
years, during which time they became familiar 
witii the Indian language. They acted as inter- 
preters at the time of the Purchase, receiving for 
their services a large tract of land. Loomis Par- 
rish was reared in the Empire State, learned the 
trade of a tanner and currier, and became partner 
in a large tannery at Honeoye Falls, where he died 
about 183G. 

Asahel Dodge and iiis daughter Sarah, afterward 
Mrs. Parrish, were natives of Connecticut, vvhence 
they removed to Monroe County, N. Y., during 
the maidenhood of the daughter. After the death 
of her first husband she married S. B. Craw, who 
removed to Illinois in 1835, occupying a large 
farm on the Fox River, where he erected the first 
barn in the vicinity. In 1850 he went to Califor- 
nia, dying of cholera on his iioraeward way. The 
widow subsequently removed to Quincy, and mar- 
ried a Mr. Bradford. In that city she died in 
1885, at tiie age of seventy -seven years. Mrs. 
Holden is the only child of the first union, and the 
second resulted in the birth of two children — 
Clare E., now Mrs. Wheeler of (.iiiincy,and Wilbur 
F. Oraw, who belonged to the AVeslern Army 
Corps ill the late war, and died from dropsy. 



♦^J^^»«^^^J^ 




<?*tf^-*«ffi«~- 



fff^ RS. LUCY HAWES, widow of William 
Hawes, and a iiighly esteemed resident of 
Ll^ Dn Page Township, is a daughter of well- 
known pioneers of this county, her parents, 
Nathaniel and Jane (Cousin) Welch, having been 
early settlers of this township. Her father was a 
native of New York State and of Irish descent, 
while her mother was of German descent. The 
earl3' years of their married life were passed in 
Ohio among its pioneers. In 1836 the father came 
to this county and for a time worked on the Illi- 



nois and Michigan Canal, and then farmed as a 
renter for two years, and at the expiration of that 
time purchased eigiity acres of land, upon which 
Mrs. Hawes now makes her home. In 1837 his 
wife and family joined him here and located on 
this property, he having erected a large log house, 
in which they lived for a number of years. He 
subsequently built the residence in which Mrs. 
Hawes lives, with the exception of the kitciien, 
which was erected at a later date. His land, which 
he had bought directly- from the Government, 
pajing therefor $1.25 per acre, was in a wild con- 
dition, and his was the pioneer task to prepare it 
for cultivation. Weil did he do his work, and in 
time h.id here a good, well-tilled farm, with all the 
desirable improvements. Here his mortal career 
was brought to a close by death. May 28,, 1867, at 
which time one of our most worthy pioneers passed 
aw.ay. He had served as Township Road Commis- 
sioner, and had aided in wiiatsoever way he could 
the advancement of his adopted township, whose 
development from its primitive condition he h.ad 
watched with pride .and pleasure. In his political 
views he was a strong Democrat. He began life 
with practically no means, but at his death he was 
(comfortably well off. He was the father of eleven 
children, who grew to maturity, and seven of 
them are still living: Ophelia, wife of Koliert 
Goudy, of Du Page Township; Eliza, wife of Asa 
Park, of Nebraska; .Julia, residing in Will Count}'; 
Mrs. Hawes; Benjamin, a resident of Lemont 
Cook County; Anna M., wife of Edward Horsley, 
of Lockport Township. 

Mrs. Hawes was reared to womanhood in this 
county, and was carefully trained in all the duties 
that go to make a good housekeeper. She received 
her education in the district schools of the county. 
On .July 3, 1858, her marriage with William Hawes . 
was duly solemnized, and proved of mutual benefit. 

William Hawes was a native of England, born 
December 8, 1830, and was a son of William and' 
Ann (Porter) Hawes, his parents being likewise 
natives of England. In 1851 he acconipanied them 
to this country, and coming to Chicago, resided I 
there a number of 3-ears. He was engaged mostly 
in teaming, and by constant attention to his busi- 
ness accumulated a comfortable sum, and in 1873 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



489 



retired with his wife to this farm on section 29, 
Du l^tige Township, to make his permanent home. 
He tlien devoted himself exclusively to agricultural 
pursuits, and under his careful management the 
farm of one hundred and three acres was greatly 
improved. Here his busy and useful life was 
rounded to completion May 29, 1887, thus dying 
before old age had overtaken him. In his death 
Du Page Township sustained a loss, as he had iden- 
tified himself with its progress and had aided in 
advancing its growth. He had served acce|)tab;y 
as a School Director. In his political views he was 
a sound Democrat. Coming to this country with 
little or no capital, by years of industry and 
close application to his work he succeeded in 
acquiring a comfortable competence. His wedded 
life with our subject was blessed by the birth of 
two sons, Charles R. and William H. 

Mrs. H.awes was of great assistance to her hus- 
band in his work, and is now enjoying the compe- 
tence slie helped him to secure. She is a woman of 
much capacity, is kind in heart and manner, cheer- 
fully giving assistance where needed and charitably 
inclined towards all, a worthy type of the pioneer 
daughters of Du Page Township, who were import- 
ant instruments in its upbuilding. 



"SIOHN HACK. In the southeastern part of the 
II town of Beecher is a thriving mercantile 



! 

^.,^1; establishment owned and operated by the 
(^^- above-named gentleman, who began this 
enterprise in 1878. The building is a good one and 
a well-selected stock of general merchandise is kept 
within it. Mr. Hack has been quite successful in his 
business career and has become well known to the 
residents of this vicinity as one from whom they 
are sure of honorable dealing and courteous treat- 
ment. From an honored ancestry he inherits many 
sterling qualities, while from worthy parents he 
received excellent home training. 

Mr. Hack was born in Schwerin, Mecklenburg, 
Germany. September 1, 1825, being the first-born 
in a family of four sons and one daughter. One 
son is now living in Germany, one gave bis life in 



defense of the Union during the late war, and the 
other members of the household Ijand .are living in 
Illinois. The parents were Gotlieb and Sophia (Re- 
kopf) Hack, the former being a small farmer in their 
native duchy. There they lived until 18G4, when 
they accompanied their son, our subject, to Amer- 
ica, living with him during the remainder of their 
lives. The father died in Washington Township, 
this county, in 1875, h.aving passed his four-score 
years of age. The mother survived some years, 
brcatliing her last in Beecher when quite old. Both 
belonged to the Lutheran Church. 

After "receiving a good education under the laws 
of his native land, young Hack learned the trade 
of a shoemaker, which he followed so long as he 
lived in that country. Having been led to believe 
that a better field for his energies would be opened 
to him in the New World, he crossed the Atlantic, 
.as before stated, and coming direct to the Prairie 
State began agricultural work on a farm in Wash- 
ington Township, this county. In 18G5 he took 
possession of another farm, which was in almost a 
raw state and which he placed under excellent im- 
l)rovement. It consisted of one hundred and sixty 
acres on sections 2G and 35, and under his efficient 
control became valuable and attractive. He con- 
tinued his agricultural labors for there nearly a 
decade and then embarked in the business which he 
is still conducting so successfully. 

At ihe bride's home in Mecklenburg, Mr. Hack 
was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Luth, an 
estimable lad}" who was l)orn in the same town as 
her husband. Her natal day was October 12, 1828, 
and her ])arents, Joachin an<l Sophia (Sclioder) 
Luth, who lived and died in Mecklenburg. Both 
were members of the Lutheran Church and lived 
to a good old age. Tiie father was occupied in 
farming. Mrs. Hack is the unly daughter and h.as 
four brothers, all still living in tlie Fatherland. 
]\Ir. and Mrs. Hack remained in the land of their 
birth for some j'ears after .their marriage, finally 
settingsail from Hamburg on the steamer "Saxony," 
from which they lauded in New York. They have 
had eight children, five of whom were born in 
Germany.* William, William C. and Theodore died 
in early life; Herman married Eva Ruge and lives 
on a farm in Ash Grove Township, Iroquois County; 



490 



I'ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ni!i)iy inai-iicd Mnry Hiolfolilt and Is now running 
llie Hic'lfi'ldl House at Uoeclier; Carl A. resides in 
the same place, being a meinljer of the firm of C. 
Hielfeldt it Co., whose business is sinking tubular 
wells; Frank is a clerk in his father's store, resid- 
ing under the parental roof; Ktnma L. is still at 
home, and she also assists her parents in the store. 
The entire family belong to the Lutheran Church 
and are lo(jke(i uiioii with regard by all who know 
thera. Mr. Hack has served as Postmaster for a 
time. His political iulhience and vote is given to 
the Reiiublicau parly. 



-^^- 



,.| ,j or.KUT PATTKRSON, a prominent farmer 
!Lsi;v and stock-raiser of Du Page Townshii), 
owning and managing a choice farm on 
(©Isi^ctlon 7, is one of the native-born citi- 
zens of this State, who, since attaining manhood, 
has lieen closely connected with its growth and 
progress, materially, sociall}- and morally. 

Our subject was born in Du Page County, No- 
vember 18, 1844, and is a son of Mvingo and 
Agnes (Clow) Patterson. The father is, and has 
long been, a prominent resident of Wheatland 
Township. Both he and his wife came from 
Scotland in the year 1837, and lived for several 
years in New York. Ju 1844 they came to Du 
Page County, this State, and in 1845 removed to 
Will Count}' and were amoiiy the early settlers of 
Wheatland Township. The father purchased a 
tract of raw prairie land on which a squatter had 
previous!}' settled and had attempted some improve- 
ment, plowing a small patch of the land. Mr. Pat- 
terson located thereon and immediately entei'ed 
upon the bard task of redeeming the land from a 
state of nature, and in the years that followed he 
evolved a fai-m that is considered one of the finest 
in that vicinity, and here he now, in his seventy- 
flftli year, makes his home, surrounded by all the 
comforts of life. When he came to this country 
he was a poor man, and it is only b}' years of 
toil well directed and by the shrewd management 
of his affairs that he has placed himself in good 
circumstances. In the early days of the settlement 



of the country he suffered tbe privations and hard- 
ships common to the pioneer settlers of the State. 
The country, in a wild condition, had no good 
roads at first, and he used to draw his grain to 
the market in Chicago over the wild prairies where 
there were no highways of travel. He has never 
cared for public office although he has served on 
the School Board and has always interested him- 
s( If in politics, being a sturdy supporter of tlie 
Republican party. He is in his religious belief a 
firm believer in the doctrine of Presbyterianism, 
and has for many years been identified with the 
church of that faith in Du Page Townshi[), as one of 
its most zealous members. In the death of his 
amiable wife, in 1890, he sustained a severe loss, 
as she had ever been a helpmate in the truest 
sense of the word. l!y their marriage they became 
the i)arents of seven children, of whom the follow- 
ing five survive: John, a resident of Benton 
County, Ind.; Robert; William, living in Du Page 
Townshii); Sarah, wife of Robert Wightman, of 
Wheatland 'i'ownsliip; and Adam, also a resident 
of Wheatland Township. The names of those de- 
ceased are Agnes and Helen. 

Robert Patterson, of this biograph}-, was reared 
to man's estate in Will County, and was a witness 
of much of its pioneer growth. His early educa- 
tion was conducted in the district school of Wheat- 
land Township. He did not enjoy the advantages 
that the youtli of to-day have, but by reading and 
observation has become a well-informed man. He 
has for many years actively engaged in farming 
and stock-raising on his present beautiful farm. 
This comprises one hundred and forty acres of 
land, finely tilled and under excellent improvement 
\n every respect, its buildings being of a neat and 
substantial order, and the machinery for carrying 
on agricultural operations of the most ap|n'oved 
kind. 

In his marriage with Elizabeth Sinton, March 
31, 1866, he secured the choice blessing of a good 
wife, who contributes to his comfort and has 
been a factor in the attainment of his prosperity. 
She is a native of Scotland and a daughter of 
Robert and Mary (Dickson) Linton. By their 
union they have six children: Isabelle, the widow 
of Joseph G. Emery; Robert. Ruth, Mungo, Will- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



491 



iam and Ida. Since taking up his abode in Du Page 
Township our subject has placed himself among 
its most prominent citizens and has thoroughly 
identified himself with its highest interests, cordi- 
ally supporting all feasible schemes for its advance- 
ment. He served as Justice of the Peace for five 
years, making a good record in tliat otilee. He is 
identified with the Presbyterian Church as one of 
its leading members, and officiates as Elder, and 
also serves as Treasurer of the church. A strong 
temperance man, he favors the Prohibition party 
in politics. As a farmer, he has shown good abil- 
ity in the management of his affairs; as a citizen, 
he is animated with true public spirit; as a neigh- 
bor, he is friendly and helpful; as a husband, he is 
thoughtful and attentive; and as a father he is 
wise and loving, and is, in all respects, a manly, 
straightforward, upright man. 




AMUEL B. ERASER. In this gentleman 
Wheatland Township has one of its leading 
farmers and stock-raisers, and one of its 
most efficient civic officials. He is a native 
of Sullivan County, N. Y., born September 24, 
1832, to Robert and Elizabeth (Brown) Eraser. 
His parents were natives of the North of Ireland, 
and emigrated to this country early in the present 
century. His father took part in the War of 1812 
as a soldier in the American Army. 

Our subject was reared in his native State till 
1847, when he accompanied his parents and other 
members of the family to this county. While in 
Chicago on their way, the father and children were 
sadly bereaved by the death of the mother. The 
father settled in Plainfleld Township, among its 
early pioneers, and there died In 1857. Of his 
married life eleven children were born, of whom 
the following survive: Thomas B., living in Man 
itoba; Elizaljeth. wife of James H. Smiley, of this 
county; Samuel B. ; Harvey R., residing in Den- 
ver, Col.; Louisa C, living in this county. The re- 
maining years of the boyhood of our subject were 
passed on his father's farm in Plainfield, he having, 
as it were, grown up with the county. He re- 



c(iived his education partly in New York and 
I)artly in the district schools of Illinois, for a 
time attending a private subscription school at 
Plainfield. After his marriage JMr. Eraser farmed 
in Lockport Township for several years, but in 
1865 he came to Wheatland to make his perma- 
nent home here. Possessing much energy and en- 
terprise he has [»laced himself amongst our most 
able and [irosperous farmers and stock-raisers of 
the count}', his farm being as well improved, as 
well cultivated and as well stocked as any in the 
neighborhood. It comprises two hundred and 
forty acres of lanil, whose fertility and produc- 
tiveness are scarcely surpassed, and from its rich 
harvest he derives an ample income. 

Our subject has here a cozy home replete with 
all the comforts, and to her who has so substan 
tially aided him in its establishment, he was united 
in marriage Eebruary 17, 1858. The maiden name 
of the wife of our subject was Ami A. Brown, 
and she was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., 
March 3, 1832, being a daughter of the late James 
and Mary P>rown. Her mother now makes her 
home in Plainfield, 111. The husband was a na- 
tive of the north of Ireland. By their union Mr. 
and Mrs. Eraser have had six children, of whom 
two are now living: Herbert A., a student in the 
college at Evanston, 111.; and Ernest J. An other- 
wise happy wedded life has been shadowed by the 
death of four of their children: Thornton R., 
Erank, Gillian and Harry. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eraser are people of high repute in 
this community, and are greatly esteemed for the 
true worth of their character. Mr. Eraser is a 
man of excellent habits, is careful and conscien- 
tious in his dealings with others, and so has won 
the confidence of all with whom he comes in con- 
tact. He is a hard and constant worker, exercising 
much practical ability and sound sagacity in the 
pursuit of his calling, and is higlih' deserving of 
the prosperity that has followed his labors. He is 
a strong Prohibitionist in his political sentiments, 
and never fails to give his hearty support to the 
candidates of that party. He is one of the leading 
members of the United Presbyterian Church at 
Wheatland, and for a number of years has officiated 
as an Elder. For many years he has been School 



492 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Director of his district, and has actively aided in 
forwarding its cduciilional inleresls. lie has been 
serving in tlie important office of Township Road 
Commissioner, for many years, and lias boon a 
prominent factor in the great improvement in the 
highways of travel in this township. 






^ IfelLLIAM DINGLEY. In the employ of 
fl|^ ■Jli the Joliel Branch of the Illinois Steel Com- 
\5^ pany's works are many skilled iji the var- 
ious departments of labor. To this class belongs 
William Dingley, day foreman in the converting 
works, and whose honest, earnest labors have been 
rewarded by a responsible and remunerative posi- 
tion, the confidence of his employers, and the 
esteem of his fellow-men. 

The gentleman with whose name we introduce 
this sketch is the only son of William and Harriet 
A. (Kimball) Dingley, the paternal family being of 
Scotch origin. William, Sr., was a foreman in the 
shoe making business in his eastern home, but upon 
coming West, which he did in 1858, he exchanged 
his former occupation for the more congenial busi- 
ness of raising and racing horses. For thirty j'ears 
he was a well-known and respected citizen of Illi- 
nois. He was a cousin of Representative Dingley. 
He died in Joliet, Januar}' 21, 1888. His wife had 
long preceded him to the other world, having died 
at Mount Blue, Me., November 5, 185G. 

William Dingle}^ .Jr., opened his eyes to the light 
in Cochituate, Mass., October 29, 1849, and after 
the death of his mother lived with his grandparents 
until he had attained his twelfth year. He then 
went to work for a firm in Chicago in the boot and 
shoe business, but coming to .Joliet the same year 
he found employment with ^Firman Mack, in the 
same line of industry. In that business he con- 
tinued to labor here and in Chicago until 187G, 
when he entered the employ of the Joliet Iron and 
Steel Company. 

Beginning as a laborer on the lowest roiuid of the 
ladder, Mr. Dingley by virtue of close application 
to business, combined with a natural aptitude, rose 
step by step to the position of foreman in the con- 



verting works, whicli place he attained in 1885, and 
has since held. I'olitically, he is a most ardent 
Kepul)lican. He has a decided taste for music and 
in its gratification finds a large measure of enjoy- 
ment. He is a member of the well-known Orpheus 
Glee Club. 

Realizing that it is not good for man to live 
alone ISIr. Dingley wooed and won for his wife 
Miss Sarah Alexander, of Lockport, with whom he 
was united in marri.age June 25, 1881. James L. 
Alexander, the father of the bride, was one of the 
early settlers of this county, whence he came from 
Wayne County, N. Y., in 1857. He took contracts 
on the Illinois anfl Michigan Canal, first'on the sec- 
tion at Kankakee and subsequently in other locali- 
ties. He was a well-read, thorough going business 
man, ami enjoyed the respect of his neighbors in a 
marked degree. He died December 29, 1876. His 
daughter, Mrs. Dingley, received good advantages 
in the way of education and home training, and 
has made such use of them as fairly entitles her to 
a place among the more intelligent, useful, and 
honored members of the community'. 



^= 



■ifr^ENNIS L. IIOGAN. In the vilhage of Spen- 
cer may be found a general mercantile es- 
tablishment, which is under the control of 
the young gentleman above mentioned. Although 
the business is still in its infancy, having been es- 
tablished in December, 1889, the young pro[)rietor 
is already having excellent patronage, as his stock 
is well selected and his dealing honorable and 
courteous. The life of our subject has been passed 
in New Lenox Township, where his eyes opened 
to the light of day December 15, 1861. He re- 
ceived a good education and excellent home train- 
ing, and bids fair to become a man of note in the 
community. 

The gentleman with whose name we introduce 
this sketch comes of honorable Irish lineage, botli 
of his parents having been born on the Emerald 
Isle. His mother, formerly Miss Mary McCabe, is 
a native of Dublin. Dennis Hogan and his wife 
came to America a number of years ago, settling 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



495 



in New Lenox Township, this county, at quite an 
early (la3-. Tiiey were the parents of five children, 
of whom the subject of this biographical notice is 
the third in order of birth. Tlie husband and 
father breathed his last in March, 1887, but the 
widowed mother still survives. 



APT. JAMES MILLER, Superintendent of 
the machine deiiartnieiit of the General Ma- 
tgSr chine Manufactory of E. R.Brainard & Co., 
was formerly chief engineer of the Illinois State 
Penitentiary, and has seen a service of twenty-two 
years in this line of business. He is a man highly 
spoken of by those who have known him long and 
well, and needs no further introduction to the 
people of Will County. 

Capt. Miller comes from one of the best nation- 
alities on the face of the globe, having been born 
in Lanarkshire, Scotland, the date thereof being- 
March 11, 1828. He received a practical educa- 
tion iu the schools of his native ahirC, and when of 
suitable years, commenced an apprenticeship at 
marine engine building ou the Clyde. After be- 
coming master of the business, he, in 1853, when a 
young man of twenty- five years, determined to 
seek his fortunes in America. Upon crossing the 
Atlantic, he lirst located in Sharon, Pa., and estab- 
lished a foundry and machine shop, which he con- 
ducted successfully until about 1857. Believing 
then that he could belter his condition in the far- 
ther West, he came t(.) this State and established a 
similar business at Morris, Grundy County. 

After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Miller, 
who had become strongly attached to the institu- 
tions of his adopted country, determined to assist 
in the preservation of llie Union, anil raised a com- 
panj' called the Mechanics Fusileers. He repaired 
with them to Camp Douglas, Chicago, but met with 
a great disappointment on account of their services 
not being required. They were accordingly mus- 
tered out, but Mr. Miller, going to Cairo, enlisted 
in the navy and was assigned to the Mississippi 
Squadron. Soon afterward, on account of his evi- 
dent understanding of the business and his fidelity 



to his duty, he was i)romoted from fireman to, chief 
engineer, anfl held this position for three 3ears, 
participating in many of the engagements whicli 
followed, and making for himself a fine record in 
connection therewith. 

Mr. Miller continued in the service until the close 
of the war, and then being given an honorable dis- 
missal, returned to Morris, 111., and resumed his 
old business. He now enjoyed the reputation of 
being la first-class machinist, and a year later re- 
ceived the appointment of chief engineer of the 
Illinois State Penitentiary, a [iosition which he 
iield for the long period of twenty-two 3ears and 
until 1889. He then became Superintendent of 
the E. R. Braiuard il' Co. machine shops, a position 
which he has since held. He assisted iu organizing 
the People's Loan & Homestead Association, in 
which he is a Director, and he is also a Director of 
the Joliet Press Company, and is connected with 
various other important enterprises. 

Capt. Miller was married, in 1857, in Scotland to 
Miss Elizabeth A. Miller, a distant relative. The 
wife of Capt. Miller is also a native of Scotland, 
and was born in 1828. They are the parents of 
five children, viz.: James. Eilwin, Frank, Maggie, 
the wife of A. W. Smith, of Channahon Township, 
and Lillie. The children of Capt. Miller have re- 
ceived excellent school advantages, and have be- 
come fitted for their proper position in life. The 
family residence is properly located in the east 
part of the citj', among whose people they count 
their friends by the score. 

On another page of this work the reader will 
notice a portrait of Capt. Miller, who is conceded 
to be one of W^ill County's representative citizens. 



■^»!^^^ji^4^^.^-4- 



O-^ 



^p5)E0RGE LAMBERT. Among the citizens 
f(| (_-, of DuPage Township who have retired 
^^J) from arduous labors and are enjoying the 
fruits of former industry iu a beautiful home, is 
George Lambert, whose life presents a picture of 
perseverance and uprightness. His home farm 
consists of one hundred and sixty acres on section 
30, and his entire landed estate comprises two 



496 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



hundred and sixty acres. He had no financial 
start in life otiier than the means to reach Amer- 
ica, therefore liis comfortable circumstances result 
from his own endeavors. 

Tiie e3'es of our subject opened to tiie light of 
of daj- in Lincolnshire, England, July 1, 1827. 
He is the ihird child of William and Elizabeth 
(Scoffin) Lambert, was reared to farming and from 
about ten 3- ears of age was hired out on a farm, 
working by tlieyear in that way until he emigrated 
to America. In England he had practically no 
educational advantages and his intelligence is the 
result of natural talent and self endeavor. When 
he determined to seek a home in the United States 
he embarked on the sailer 'Slacob E. Westerfield." 
which left Liverpool early in May, 1851. Cross- 
_ ing the Atlantic to New Vorlc, the voyage was 
continued via the Hudson Hiver, Erie Canal and 
fireat Lakes to Cliicago, whence the Illinois and 
Michigan Caual was the water-way to Lockport. 

The first work done by Mr. Lambert was dig- 
ging a cellar for Ceorge R. Dyer, of DuFage 
Townshii>, and the winter was spent at his home. 
The following spring work w.as secured on the 
farm of Leander Hamlin, in riainfield Township, 
and there our subject remained three or four years. 
He then purchased eighty acres of land in the same 
township, upon which he lived a number of years, 
removing from it to his present home farm. Here 
he has erected all the line buildings that mark the 
estate, and otherwise made of it what it is to-day, 
a well-regulated and valuable farm. 

The first vote cast by Mr. Lambert was for 
Abraham Lincoln, and from that daj' he has acted 
with the Republican i)arty. He has manifested an 
interest in all that will advance the real prosperity 
of the section and elevate the standard of morality, 
and in his own life has borne himself in an upright 
and strictly honorable manner. He and his esti- 
mable wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Plainfield. He has served as School 
Director with discretion, and none are more deeply 
interested in the cause of education than he. 

Mr. Lambert was fortunate in his choice of a 
companion, gaining a true helpmate and wise coun- 
selor. Miss Carrie Bird became his wife on Feb- 
ruary 20, 1855, and has borne him ten sons and 



daughters. Of this family seven are now living, 
three having crossed the River of Death to await 
their parents on the farther shore. The survivors 
are Elizabeth, wife of William Walker of DuPage 
Township; William, now Township Clerk; Mary, 
wife of Harley Walker, of the same township; 
Frank E., an enterprising j'oung man who carries 
on the farm; Enoch, Ilattie and Sarah. All are 
intelligent and are winning reputations such as re- 
joice the fond hearts of their progenitors. 



^4l IVLLLIAM JONES.. Am 
\r\j// farmers of Florence Tc 
^^ occupies a leading pc 



/ILLIAM JONES.. Among the younger 
.'ownship, Mr. Jones 
position and is in 
possession of a fine body of land on section 1 . 
Enterprising, industrious and progressive in his 
ideas, he has obtained a good start in life, not 
only as a thorough and skillful farmer but as a 
useful member of the comunuiitj. His native 
place was Yorkshire, England, and the date of 
bis birth June 10, 1861. His immediate progen- 
itors, John and Anna (Hall) Jones, were also na- 
tives of Yorkshire and of [)ure English stock 
as far back as is knovvu. 

John Jones occupied himself as a farmer in his 
native shire until 1870, and then not satisfied 
with his condition or bis prospects resolved upon 
seeking his fortunes in America. He accordingly 
crossed the Atlantic with his family when William, 
our subject, was a lad of nine years, and coming to 
Illinois settled in Wilton Township, this county. 
He purchased a farm upon which he made man}' 
improvements, and upon which, with his estimable 
wife, he still resides. He has become well-to-do, 
being the owner of two hundred acres of thor- 
oughly improved land, which with its various ap- 
purtenances, buildings and mactiiner}', forms one 
of the most valued estates in the township. The 
elder Jones is now seventy-four years old, while 
his estimable partner is seventy-six. 

Four sons were born to the parents of our sub- 
ject, these being named respectively, John. Will- 
iam, Joseph and George. The}' are all industrious 
and thrifty young men, and all occupied at farm- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



497 



ing in this county. William, our subject, lil^e his 
brothers, S|)ent his boyhood .and 3'outli under the 
home roof, and acquired a practical education in 
the common school. He assisted his father on the 
farm until reaching his raajority, and then com- 
menced operations on his own account on the land 
which he now owns. He lived prudently and 
economically and saved his earnings, and, in 1884, 
his wife received from her father's estate his pres- 
ent farm, which embraces eighty acres of valuable 
land, under a good state of cultivation and with 
substantial improvements. 

About the time of removing to his present 
homestead Mr. .Jones was married, March 30, 1880, 
at the bride's home in Wilton Township, to Miss 
Emma Holmes. The 30ung wife survived her 
marriage less than a j'ear, her death taking place 
December 28, 1880. On the loth of November, 
1884, Mr. .Tones contracted a second marriage 
witii Miss pjUiraa Geiss, of Florence Township. 
The present wife of our subject was born in .Tack- 
son Townshi|i, this county, .Tune 30, 1865, and is 
a daugliter of Miram K. and ]\Ialinda E. (Wliit- 
sen) Geiss, who were natives of Pennsylvania and 
Illinois, and who are now deceased. The house- 
hold circle now embraces three briglit children, 
viz; John, Florence and Lloyd, Mr. Jones li.as 
started in life under favorable auspices and with 
the best wishes of liosts of friends. 



p^RED PLAGGE. Tiiis gentlemen is the 
•^^^{si) owner and occupant of a fine farm on sec- 
[, ^ tion G, Washington Township, where he is 
engaged in general farn^ing and stock-raising. The 
estate comprises two luiudred aci'es, all improved, 
and supplied with a complete line of well-built 
structures suitable for the various purposes and 
needs of his occupation. The present appearance 
of the farm is the best monument which could be 
erected to the energy and untiring perseverance of 
the owner who has brought it from the primitive 
condition of an unbroken prairie to that of culti- 
vated fields. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born in 



the Ivingdom of Hanover, Germany, June 20, 1840, 
and was but a few months old when brought to 
America by his parents,who settled in Cook County, 
HI. There he grew to manhood, obtaining his ed-. 
ucation in the common schools and acquiring on the 
home farm a knowledge of agricultural pursuits. 
In 18G3, lie took possession of his present estate 
and began his successful career in this county. By 
his own efforts he has accumulated a sufficiency of 
this world's goods to surround himself and family 
with comforts and to give the promise of an ample 
support in declining years. 

The lady who has been Mr. Plagge's efficient 
helpmate for a number of years was known in her 
maidenhood as Miss Christina Kerning. She was 
born in the Kingdom of Hanover, July 16, 1839, 
and was sixteen years old when she came alone to 
America and began making her livelihood as a do- 
mestic in Cook County. After a few years she 
was followed by her parents, who settled in that 
county, dying there when past sixty years of a<>-e. 
They were members of the Lutheran Church. The 
happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Plagge has been 
blest by the birth of eight children, all at home 
excei)t two. These are Augusta, wife of Henry 
Withkening, a farmer in Washington Townshrj), 
Will County, and Emma, the wife of William Nar- 
gers, who lives in the village of Beecher. The 
other members of the family are William, who as- 
sists his father on the farm; Louis, Gnstaf, L'red, 
Bertha and Herman. Mr. Plagge is a Republican 
in politics. The family attend the Lutheran Church. 

The ancestral line from which our subject derives 
his descent was a respectable one and the blood 
pure Hanoverian German. His father, William 
Plagge, was reared to farm work and pursued it iu 
his native kingdom until late in the year 1840. He 
then with his wife and two sous — Charles and Fred, 
— sailed for America, taking passage at Bremer- 
haven. After some weeks they landed in New 
York City, coming thence to Chicago by the Hud- 
son River, Erie Canal and great lakes. They set- 
tled at Elmhurst, Cook County, fifteen miles west 
of Chicago, securing a small piece of land there. 
About two years later the mother died in the prime 
of life when less than fiftj^ years old. The father 
survived until 1875, breathing his last when sixtv- 



498 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



five years of age. He had married a second time; 
his wife is still living in Cook County and is now 
sevonty-tlnec years old. He had no children by 
this marriage. The parents of our subject, as well 
as the stepmother to whom he owe's his early train- 
ing, belonged to the Lutheran Churcli. 



^^ 



E"^ 



<¥/ OIIN H. WHITSON. It is u pleasure to in- 
corporate in this volume the biography of a 
gallant soldier, worthy citizen and enter- 
prising farmer, to whom the town of Man- 
hattan owes its existence and its name. The home 
of Mr. Whitson is on one hundred and ten acres of 
line land on section 20, the buildings being within 
the corporation limits of Manhattan. The place 
has been thoroughly improved with a complete line 
of buildings, orchards, groves and fences, and is 
under complete and careful tillage. Grain and 
stock-raising are carried on by the owner, who op- 
erates some one hunilred and sixty acres in all, and 
he also deals in real estate. 

Jlr. Whitson is of English ancestry, his grand- 
father having removcu from the mother country to 
Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in distilling. 
In that State, Benjamin Whitson, the father of our 
subject, was born and reared. From Lancaster 
County he removed to the vicinity of Reading, 
Ohio, Init after sojourning there a few years onlj-, 
continued his journey westward, locating in Law- 
rence County, 111., about 1840. Paying $500 for 
eighty acres of land, he operated it until 1852 when 
he sold for ^1,100. His purchase money had been 
secured principally by making apple butter and 
selling at from thirt}'-five to fifty cents per gallon. 
After selling his estate Benjamin Whitson re- 
moved to Iowa, but a year later returned to his 
former location, and after a short sojourn came to 
Will County. His new home was near Plainfield, 
where he continued his agricultural labors on one 
hundred and sixty acres of land for a number of 
years. He finally removed to .Toliet, aljandoned 
active pursuits and, enjoying the comforts of life, 
is still living there, .aged seventy-seven j'ears. He 
is a member of the Evangelical Methodist Cluirch, 



His wife, who died in 1875, was a native of the 
Keystone State, and bore the maiden name of Leah 
Dudmorc. Her father, Philip Dudmore, was an 
early settler in Lawrence County, 111., whence he 
removed to Plainfield, and in which place he 
breathed his last. 

The parental family comprised nine children, of 
whom our subject is the third in order of birth; 
William is now living in Chicago; Mrs. Rebecca 
Cook in Joliet; David and Jacob in ftlanhattan 
Township; Mrs. Mary Fouser at Ringgold, Iowa; 
Jackson, in Frankfort Township; Liljb^' is deceased; 
Benjamin lives in Frankfort Township; William 
was a Sergeant in the company to which our subject 
belonged and served the same length of time during 
the Civil War; David was a Corporal in the same 
regiment, enlisted for the same length of time and 
was wounded at the siege of Ft. Blakely. 

The subject of this sketch was born March 24, 
1839, iu Re.ading, Ohio. He was twelve months 
old when his parents journeyed westward by means 
of horses and a wagpn, and his boyhood was spent 
iu Lawrence County, 111. He enjoyed the advant- 
ages of the free schools and acquired a good prac- 
tical education in Lawrence and Will Counties. 
He was about fourteen years old when the removal 
to the latter took place and the family settled upon 
the wild prairie. In the intervals of study he was 
emi)loyed upon his father's farm, becoming thor- 
oughly skilled in the details of agricultural labor 
and competent to judge of the relative value of 
lands and tlie best means of insuring good crops. 

AVhen he had reached his majority, Mr. Whitson 
rented land .at Rockville, Kankakee County, and 
there labored for his own .advancement until the 
Civil War broke out. His heart was thrilled with 
[jatriotic fervor and, finding that the struggle was 
likely to be a more protracted one than was at first 
supposed, he and iiis brother David, who was his 
associate in business, enlisted in Comjianj- I, Sev- 
enty-sixth Illinois Infantry. They were mustered 
into the service at Kankakee, in August, 1862, and 
and sent to the Department of the Southwest, their 
duties for some time consistin»^ chietl}- of skirmishes 
throughout Tennessee and Mississippi and later in 
IMissouri. They then took part in the siege of Vicks- 
burg, the battles of Jackson, Holly Springs, an(l 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBDM. 



499 



the others of that campaign, from which tiiej' re- 
turned to ^'icksburg. 

The tedious and dangerous duties which de- 
volved upon the soldiers during the Yazoo expedi- 
tion and Banli's expedition up the Red River, were 
assisted in by our subject, who under ail the trying 
circumstances by which he was surrounded, dis- 
played tlie utmost devotion to the cause for which 
he was willing to risk his life. Having joined Far- 
ragut's expedition to Mobile, he and iiis comrades 
had a weary march to that cit}' and to Ft. Blakely, 
wlierc they lost more men than at any other place 
where thej' had been engaged. Subsequently they 
were sent to Galveston, Tex., where they spent 
three weeks doing guard duty. After this they 
returned to the North and were mustered out of 
service and honoralily discliarged at Ciiicago. At 
Holly Springs Mr. WhiLson had been taken pris- 
oner by the rebels, but was in the bands of his 
captors only one day when the prisoners were left 
by the retreating Confederate force. 

When his services were no longer needed to up- 
hold the Government, Mr. Whitson returned to 
Will County and, with his brother David, bought 
one hundred and sixty acies of land in Manhattan 
Township, lie operated his own share of the farm, 
improving it and making it his Jiome until 1880. 
He then sold it and bought one hundred and 
twenty acres where he is now living, and lo- 
cating here began its systematic improvement, 
which he had continued but one year when the 
Wabash Railroad came through. He at once laid 
out about ten acres on the east side of the- railroad, 
which is called J. AVlutson's sub-addition. When 
the subject of a name for the village which sprung 
up was being agitated, be suggested Manhattan, 
and thus it was christened. 

An important step in the life of any man is bis 
choice of a companion, and Mr. Whitson displayed 
good judgment in his selection. He won for his 
wife Miss Lucinda Ettcr, who was born in Cumber 
land County, Pa., November 5, 1842. She was 
educated in Ohio and Illinois, Richland Seminary 
having been her Alma Mater, and when eighteen 
years old began scliool teaching. Her professional 
labors were principally at Plainfield, III., where she 
enjoys an enviable reputation as an instructor, 



and was considered a valuable addition to society 
by reason of her fine education and pleasing traits 
of character. Her marriage to our subject took 
place in that town February I, 1866, and has been 
blessed by the birth of Ave children. The first- 
born, George, attended Aurora College and spent 
one year as a teacher, but is now engaged in 
Beecli's general store in Joliet; the second child, 
Nettie, is the wife of George Steele, of Chicago; 
Jessie, Walter and Edna are at home with their 
parents. 

The parents of Mrs. Whitson are Lewis and 
Mary (North) Etter, natives of Pennsylvania, the 
one of German and the other of Scotch descent. 
The father was a shoemaker in his native State, 
whence he removed to Stark County, Ohio, where 
lie was engaged in farming a number of years. He 
then came to Plainfield, 111., where he is now liv- 
ing, his age being four-score. He l:)elongs to the 
Evangelical Methodist Church. The surviving 
brothers and sisters of Mrs. Whitson are Louis, 
Ezra, Jacob, Mrs. Elizabeth Wirtzbower, and Mrs. 
Mariah Smith. The deceased are Samuel, and 
Mary, wife of David Whitson. 

Mr. Whitson has served as School Director. In 
politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church of which he is a most 
active member, being Trustee, Steward, Class- 
Leader, and Superintendent of the Sunday-school, 
and bearing a part in every movement in which 
the congregation is interested. He gave an acre of 
ground upon which to erect the house of worship 
and served on the building committee while it was 
being constructed. 



ENRY J. SCHMUHL. Although quite 
young, this gentleman is becoming well 
known in New Lenox Township as a 
farmer of ability and a citizen of the most 
honorable character. He owns one hundred and 
twenty acres of good land on sections 22 and 23, 
where he is industriously and successf ullj- prosecut- 
ing the career to which his taste led him, and where 
good buildings and other improvements arc to be 




500 



"- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



seen. He is the second of five children born to 
Henry and Mary (Kit/.crow) Schmuhl, who came to 
this neigliborhood in the s|)ring of 1851. lioth 
were natives of Germany, the one having been born 
July fi,and the other August 13, in the year 182G. 
Uesiilc our subject their family includes Ida M., 
Charles, William and Emma. 

Tli<> gentleman of whom we write has been a life 
resident of New Lenox Township, in which he 
was born October 10, 1859. He enjoyed the 
school privileges by which a good practical educa- 
tion is insured to all who desire to learn, and in 
the iiiiMie schools became well informed in the 
ordinary l>ranches. He remained with his father 
until Ills marriage, when he established his own 
liousehold on llie farm wliicii he still occupies. 
Among the natives of his own township, Mr. 
Schmuhl knew many estimable ladies, but none 
who were so attractive to him as Miss Henrietta 
Sehoop. His regard for this j'oung lady being re- 
ciprocated they were united in marriage February- 
H, 1883. Mrs. Schmuhl was born December 15, 
18G3. and is the elder of two children comprising 
the family of Christoph and Caroline (Striclier) 
Sehoop. Her parents were born in (Germany and 
her father died in this township May 9, 1882. 
The happy union of our subject and his estimable 
wife has been blessed by the birth of three children 
— Alma C, Elsa I. and Erwin C. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Schmuhl belong to the German Lutheran 
Church. He is a stanch Republican. 

IDNEY B. PEASE. To the architectural 
skill and reliable workmanship of S. B. 
Pease, Joliet owes many of her most 
beautiful and substantial edifices, among 
being the Union Block, the residences of 
Charles Thayer, E. M. I?ray,nnd others too numerous 
to mention. No citizen of this flourishing city stands 
higher in the respect of the community than he, 
and b^- his own efforts he has risen to this position 
and a good financial standing. 

Mr. Pease was born in Lawrence, N. Y., June 9, 
1839, to Samuel and Irene (Hamlin) Pease who 




were natives of the Green Mountain State. The 
father was born July 4, 1811, and died in 1887; the 
mother was born in 1810, and breathed her last in 
1883. Their son of whom we write was educated 
in the common schools and remained in the place 
of his birth until he was seventeen years old. He 
IIku in 185G, came west and locating at Dwight, 
III., endiarked in the vocation of a farmer. In that 
occvipation he continued until the spring of 1861, 
when the call for troops to put down the rebellion 
fired his spirit and he determined to give his strength 
to the service of his country. 

Going to Springfield young Pease was soon en- 
rolled as a member of Company B, Twelfth Illinois 
Infantry, and under the command of Capt. T. D. 
Moffat, of Chicago, and Col. McArthur, he went to 
the front. He first smelled the smoke of battle at 
Belmont, after which he took part in the contest at 
Ft. Donelson, where he was wounded on the bloody 
field of Shiloli anfl at Corinth. Beside the minor 
skirmishes that fell to the lot of all soldieis in a 
greater or le.ss degree, he was in all the engage- 
ments in and around Chattanooga until Gen. Sher- 
man started on the famous march to the sea. He 
accompanied the forces to Savannah and back 
through the Carolinas. taking part in the Inst battle in 
the campaign, that at Bentonville. At Kesaca he 
had been wounded and also before A.tlanta. After 
the surrender of I-ee he took his place at the Grand 
Review, did some service at Louisville, Ky., and 
was finally mustered out at Springfield. He had 
been promoted to the raidv of First Lieutenant for 
meritorious conduct. 

Upon resuming the peaceful arts of civil life 
iSIr. Pease took up the pursuit of a contractor and 
builder in which he has been actively engaged from 
that time. Success has crowned his efforts and he 
has become known as one who fulfills his contracts 
in an honorable manner and performs his duties to 
society and his family, as an upright and kind- 
hearted man should. He is a member of the 
Congregational Church, and belongs to Bartleson 
Post, No. 6, G. A. R. 

The lady whom Mr. Pease chose as his compan- 
ion in life and with whom he was united in mar- 
riage in New York State in 1867, bore the maiden 
name of Jennie Eggleston. She was boin in Ver- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



501 



mont whence she had removed to the Kmitire 
State prior to her marriage. She has borne him 
five children — William II., Mary, Bertie, Carrie 
and Marion. Mary an:! Bertie died in infancy ; the 
survivors are a handsome and partienlarly interest- 
inij trio. 



<if(OSEPH F. NACHBOUR. The sons of the 
Fatherland, upon the first settlement of this 
country, hastened hither in large numbers 
@/' and are to be found in all the ranks of life. 
Their perseverance, energy and industry are pro- 
verbial and they have been no unimportant factors 
in developing the resources of the New World and 
especially the great W^ost. They are looked ujion 
as forming a portion of the bone and sinew of 
America. While the fathers have passed awa^' 
the^y have transmitted to their sons the qualities 
of which they were so admirably possessed, and 
thus we find the latter occup3'ing positions of 
honor in all the channels of business and of so- 
cial life. 

The subject of this notice, who is the senior 
member of the firm of Naclibonr & Nicolaus, the 
leading dealers in dry goods in Joliet, is a son of 
Lewis Nachbour, who was born in Germany and 
came to America in 1847. The latter ik[jon reach- 
this country proceeded from New Orleans, where 
he landed, up the Mississippi to Davenport, Iowa, 
and thereafter followed his trade of a stonemason. 
He was married in Germany to Miss Amelia Wohl- 
ganaut, a native of his own country and there 
were born to them seven sons, three of whom are 
living, viz: Frank, the Sheriff of Cedar County, 
Iowa; William, a farmer residing near Atalissa, 
that State, and Joseph F. our subject. The parents 
are still living and residents of Atalissa. 

Mr. Nachbour was born in the city of Daven- 
port, Iowa, January 15, 1856,and acquired his carlj' 
education in the common schools. He commenced 
his business career in the dry goods store of A. D. 
Dyer at Atalissa and remained with him for a 
l)eriod of six years in that place. He then came 
with Mr. Dyer to Joliet and continued with him 
another six years. In the meantime he had been 



prudent and saved what he could of his salary and 
on the i;3tli of February, 1882, associated himself 
in partnership with a dry-goods firm of .Toliet and 
they commenced business under the firm name of 
Dinet, Nachbour & Co. 

Ten months later there was a change in the bus- 
iness and the firm assumed its present style. It 
has been steadily gaining ground and at the jires- 
enttime transacts a business of ^175,000 annually. 
The firm started with a capital of $2,000. The 
business now occupies the lower floor of the Bar- 
ber Building, the most elegant business block in 
the city. The firm carries a full line of all the 
articles pertaining to this branch of trade. The 
store is fitted up with all the modern conveniences 
and the courteous treatment of its customers is 
made a specialty. V>y fair dealing and a thor- 
ough understanding of the business in all its de- 
tails, this firm is rapidly gaining prominence in 
the county and securing the patronage of its lead- 
ing people. Mr. Nachbour and his i)artner are 
also interested in fine horses and own some first- 
class equines, principally roadsters. 

Politically, Mr. Nachbour is a sound Republi- 
can and is justifiably proud of the fact that he 
cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant. 
Socially he belongs to the Union Club and the 
Irish-American Club, at Joliet, also the Sunset 
Cluli, of Chicago. 






^^^'<' 



r/AMES H. FEB RIS, President of the Joliet 
News Printing Company, is worthily filling 
the responsible position, to which he brings 
a large amount of experience and practical 
knowledge. The Mews was established in April, 
1877, by a rambling jirinter, named Charles F. 
Dutcher, and published in the Phamix office, then 
under the editorial control of Mr. Ferris. Octo- 
ber 1, of that year, a firm composed of R. W. Nel- 
son, James H. F'erris and H. E. Baldwin, bought 
the little Neivs plant for a "song," and continued 
the publication. The last two above-named part- 
ners have continued the business to this date, ex- 



502 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



cepting the yoars 1881-82, when IMr. Feiris pub- 
lished a pai)er in Maine. 

Tlie politics of tlie Daily News, with its four 
thousand circulation, has been ( Jicenback-ijabor 
ever since the fall of 1877, and the weekly edition 
ten years after that turned its forces in with the 
Prohibition party. Its circul;ition is two thou- 
sand. 

Mr. Ferris was born in the town of Oswego, 
Kendall County, 111., in IK 10. His father, AVilliani 
II. Ferris, removed from C'lintou County, N. Y., in 
the '40's, and now resides at Bristol, Kendall 
County, tjiis State. His wife's maiden name was 
Eliza M. Brown, and her native home, Erie County', 
Pa. 

The suliject of this sketch began his newspaper 
career at Yorkville, 111., where he and Frank H. 
Hall [Hiblished a Peter Cooper Greenback p:q:)er a 
year or two, both finally coming to Joliet in 187(1. 
Mr. Ferris married Miss Olive E. Hunt, of Hunts- 
ville, Canaan Count}^, Conn., in July, 1880. 



'\Y/ERRY KENI8TON, whose title of "Honor- 
able" was gained as a member of the State 
Legislature, but applies equally well to his 
(^sjj^ private life, owns a fine estate in Wilton 
Township, where he has lived since 1854. A fine 
tract of land is the farm upon which he devotes 
his attention to farming and the stock business, 
and its accumulation has resulted mainly from his 
own good management and industry, as he had but a 
small capital upon which to begin life. The fer- 
tile and improved estate comprises two hundred 
and thirty- five acres on section 16, and is excelled 
by few, if any, in the vicinity. For several years 
Mr. Keniston has given the raising of Short-horn 
cattle considerable attention. Well read in abroad 
sense, more than ordinarily intelligent, and full of 
enter|)rise and public spirit, it is not to be won- 
dered at that this gentleman commands the re 
spect of all who enjoy his acquaintance and that he 
is pointed out as a worthy exponent of the Chris- 
tian faith and practice. 

The name donates the .Scotch origin of the Ken 



iston family that has been known and honored in 
New England for many years. In the Green 
Mountain State, .Foseiih and Sallie (Glidden) Ken- 
iston were born, and lived until 18o4, when they 
caine west and took ui) their residence in the Prai- 
rie State. A settlement was made in Wilton Town- 
shii), this County, and the [larents tarried here un- 
til 1865, when they removed to Aurora, Kane 
County, in whicli city they si)ent the remainder of 
their lives, both living to an advanced age. The 
elder Mr. Keniston devoted himself to farming 
as a life work, and w.as in easy financial circum- 
stances. For many 3'ears prior to their deaths, he 
and his wife were active members of the Baptist 
Church. The parental family consisted of eleven 
sons and daughters. John B., Elizabeth, and 
Sarah, are deceased; our subject is the fourth 
in order of birth; Emeline is the wife of William 
Urie, a carpenter at Minneapolis, Minn.; Noah G. 
is engaged in farming in Montgomrey County, 
Iowa; Simeon G., is deceased; Hi ram B. lives in 
Oregon; .Joseph J. in Iowa; Henry and Julia are 
deceased. 

In Sheffield, Caledonia Countj', Vt., the eyes of 
the Hon. Jerry Keniston opened to the light, of day 
March 2, 1829. He received a good common- 
school education and on the farm acquired the 
knowledge of agriculture that is the common herit- 
age of farmer's sons. When about twenty-five 
years old he came to Illinois with his parents, and 
in this count}' he resided until after the Civil War 
began. He then determined to assist his country 
in her hour of need and abandoning the peaceful 
pursuits of his former yenrs, took his place in the 
ranks as a member of Company H, One Hundredth 
Illinois Infantry. 

Soon after his enlistment, Mr. Keniston was 
niade Second Lieutenant of his company and at 
the close of the war held a Captain's Commission. 
He took part in every battle in which his regiment 
was engaged until the contest at Chickamauga, 
where he was captured by the enemy and taken 
to Libby Prison. There he was held a prisoner 
seven months, and then removed to points farther 
south, and on March 2, 1865, released at Wilming- 
ton, N. C. Returning to the State whence he had 
entered the Union Army, Mr. Keniston resumed 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



505 



the peaceful occupation of farming, settling on the 
land which he still owns and operates. 

Mr. Keniston has served as Township Supervisor 
three terms. In 1879 he was elected to the State 
Legislature on the Republican ticket and repre- 
sented this county abl}'. He has always taken an 
active interest in polities, believing that all loyal 
citizens should understand fully the needs of the 
Nation and aid in the Government bj' their vote 
and influence on the side of right when no more 
prominent work is given tiiem. He is a member of 
llio Baptist, while his wife belongs to the Congre- 
gational Church. 

Inl85H,]Mr. Keniston married Miss Martha A. 
Tiffany-, of Pike, Wyoming County, N. V.,witli whom 
lie lived happily until she was called hence in 1SG2. 
Ill 18GG, he married Miss Martha Lynde of Wil- 
lininstown, Vt., who has ably managed the house- 
hold affairs and wisely governed the children com- 
mitted to her care, winning friends l)y her gr.aces 
of heart and niiml. The union li.as been Messed 
by the birth of nine children — Henry C, John L., 
Lchi, Laura, Charles II., Mattie, Carroll, Raymond 
and Daiscy. Lela and Mattie have been removed 
by the hand of deatli; Henry is now living in Chi- 
cigo; the others remain at home. All are single. 



\fl OHN WILLIAMS, Sr. The oldest settler in 
Wesley Township, and one of the oldest in 
the county, this non.agenarian has the love 
and respect of the entire neighborhood, and 
more especially of the younger members of the 
community. Nothing affords him greater pleasure 
than to sit and talk of the old times, whose inci- 
dents are as vividly impressed upon his memory as 
though they liad transpired but yesterday. His 
general health is good and his mind j^et active, al- 
though he so long since passed the allotted age of 
man. He has a home with his son Frank and fam- 
ily, but is otherwise alone, seven members of his 
family being buried in the cemetery near by. 

The gentleman of whom we write was the first- 
born in the parental family and ojiened his eyes to 



the light of day in Greenbriar County, Va., April 
5, 1801. His education, a common-school one, 
was obtained in Greenbriar and Monroe Counties, 
in the latter of which the family resided for a time. 
At the age of twent3'-one years, he began his per- 
sonal career in life as a farmer, that being an occu- 
pation to which he had been reared, and his whole 
life has been spent in open air employment. He 
had a deed for tliree hundred and forty acres of 
Maj. Hamilton, of West Virginia, and worked that 
farm until September, 1831, when he took the 
Western fever. 

On October 7 of that year, Mr. Williams started 
with a four horse team toward the setting sun, and 
u|)on arriving in the vicinity of Danville, 111., 
made a settlement, remaining there until April, 
1834. lie then came to Will County, and located 
one-half mile from his present home. At that time 
Will County had been subjected to no improve- 
ment worthy of mention, and the laud was being 
surveyed by the United States Government. Mr. 
Williams' nearest neighbor was George N. Beck- 
with, three miles distant, and he remained at that 
time but a few days. Indians were here two sea- 
sons after Mr. Williams' arrival, but they were 
peaceable. 

The house built bj' Mr. Williams was the first in 
this township. It was of logs, and being lGxl8 
feet in dimensions, was looked upon as quite a man- 
sion. The first year our subject plowed forty 
acres, two-thirds of which he planted in corn, rais- 
ing from the sod four hundred bushels of good corn 
and enough soft grain to keep his cattle and horses 
all winter. He had twenty-two head of cattle and 
two horses. Having had some money with which 
to start here, Mr. Williams had not the struggle 
which some pioneers had. His first purchase was 
three hundred and twenty acres, but he sold off 
twenty to a new neighbor. Very few settlers ar- 
rived prior to 1836, at which time there was quite 
an influx of immigrants. 

In October, 1819, Mr. Williams united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has 
been identified since that lime, and in the work of 
which he took an active part for many a long year. 
He helped to organize the first congregation in this 
township, in 1835, and was Class-Leader from 1836 



506 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



to 1839. In 1837 the congregation numbered fifty- 
two members. The first regular minister was the 
Rev. Mr. Springer, father of Congressman S|)ringer. 

The first scliool in tliis vicinity was also organized 
in 1 835, and John Frazer selected as its teacher. Mr. 
Williams was one of tiie first School Directors, and 
has frequently served in the same capacity in later 
years. He was here when the county was organized, 
and has therefore been as closely connected with 
its history as anyone now living. The first house 
uhich he built is now used by T. W. Jones as a 
stable. In July, 1871, he came to his |)resent home. 
Mr. Williams lias always taken an interest in poli- 
tics, and from the time of casting his first Presi- 
ilontial ballot, which was given to John Quincy 
Ad.ams, he has never failed to deposit his ballot 
in the interest of good government. His father 
was a Federalist and he has been a Whig and Re- 
publican. 

The first marriage of our subject took place Sep- 
tember 5, 1832, the bride being Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Aaron Burr, cousin of Col. Aaron 
Burr. That estimable lady survived until 1845, 
when she joined the sheeted nations of the dead. 
She had borne seven children of whom the sur- 
vivors are LcRoy, now living in California; John, 
in Colorado: Clarke, in Kansas; and Mrs. Rebecca 
Withroe in Kentland, Ind. 

On June 22, 1847, Mr. Williams contracted a 
second alliance, his companion being Miss Susan 
Groff, wliose home was near LaFayette, Ind. This 
union was blessed by the birth of four children, 
with tiie youngest of whom, Frank L., our subject 
makes his home. The others are James W., Mrs. 
.Icnnle Shefler and Mrs. Lizzie Grey, who live in 
Kansas. Mrs. Sus.an (Groff) Williams departed 
this life in August, 18G0. The third marriage of 
Mr. Williams was celebrated March 27, 1862, on 
which occasion he was united in marriage with 
Miss Mary Moiehead, who survived until Novem- 
ber 13, 1884, when she too was laid to rest in the 
silent tomb. 

The father of our subject was Richard Williams, 
who was boin in (ireenbriar County, W.Va., Octo- 
ber 17, 1776. In the same county in 1780 a child 
was born who was christened Thankful Morrison, 
and who in due time became the wife of Richard 



Williams. In 1808 they removed to Monroe 
Count}', of the same State, settling upon a farm, 
which they made their home for twenty-three years. 
They then returned to their native county, where 
Mr. Williams breathed his last in 1843, and his 
good wife in 1852. This wortlij- couple were the 
parents of eight sons and threes daughters, three of 
the family yet sur\iving. 

A lithographic [lortrait of this venerable citizen 
of Will County appropriately accomi)anies his per- 
sonal sketch. To attain to a happy and healthy 
old age is the lot of only a few, and Mr. Williams 
is fortunate in that principles of honor and upright- 
ness were early inculcated in his inind. and thus he 
is enabled to consider the past without regret and 
the future without fear. 



^^EORGE W. YOUNG, LL. B., is one of the 
ill ^-—, prominent and rising young members of 
^\^^ the bar of this county, his office being in 
the Barber Block, Joliet. He was born in Man- 
hattan, this county, March 25, 1864, and came to 
Joliet with his parents when twelve years old, re- 
ceiving his education at the grammar and high 
schools of this city. In 1883 he took a position on 
the staff of the .loliet Republic and Sun, where he 
i>'mained until the fall of 1885. He then entered 
the School of Law in Columbia College, New 
lork City, taking also the course in political science. 
He was graduated in 1887, receiving the degree of 
Bachelor of Laws, cum laude. 

The same year Mr. Young was admitted to the 
bar in Illinois, and at once began to practice in 
Joliet. During the last Prcsiilential campaign 
he w.as elected Secretary and Treasurer of the 
Lincoln Club, an organization of young Repub- 
licans, and still holds the office. He was also a 
member of the Township Campaign Committee. 
He is now a Director of the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association, and was recentlj' elected Vestry- 
man in Christ E|iisco|)al Church. These facts 
thoroughly establish his reputation as one of the 
upright, energetic and trustworthy' young men of 
the city, and indicate that his life is to be a useful 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



507 



one, not onlj- in advancing his personal interests, 
but in carrying forward tiie liiglier vvelfare and 
civilization of the coninuinit3' to which he belongs. 
It furtlier demonstrates the fact that the family 
name, which is ah'cady an honored one, promises 
to become still more honorable through the merits of 
the 3'oungcr generation of the name. 

On September 5, 1889, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Corabelle Beers Rugar, a cultured 
and refined j'oung lady. She was born at Gales- 
burg. III., April 2, 18G4, and is a daughter of Capt. 
Francis Rug.ar, U. S. A. .She was educated at 
Kiiox College and afterward pursued the studj' of 
art in the Art Institute, of Chicago, and the Acad- 
emy of Design, of New York. 

The Hrst memlier of the Young family in Amer- 
ica was the Rev. .John Young, who was sent to this 
countiy about 1635 as a missionar^^ of the Church 
of England, as previously there had been none in 
New England. He made a permanent home near 
.S.ag Harbor, L. I. He had two sons, Edward and 
Alexander, who left home about 1700. the former 
giiing to New Jersey and the latter to Westchester 
County, N. Y., where the descendants of Alex- 
ander Young lived for many j'e.ars. His son, also 
named Alexander, was the father of Edward, and 
the grandfather of a third Alexander, who married 
Miss Elizabeth Lawrence about 1787. Miss Law- 
rence was the daughter of John Lawrence, of New 
York City, and cousin of the noted Capt. John 
Lawrence, of the United States frigate -'Chesa- 
peake," whose memorable command "Don't give 
up the ship" is still a poi)ular motto in the navy. 

The last-named Alexander Young was a promi- 
nent Orthodox Friends preacher, well known 
throughout the country. He owned and operated 
an extensive mill at Esopus, Ulster County, on 
the Hudson. He and his wife reared a family of 
six children, the third of whom was John Young, 
the grandfather of our subject.' He was born in 
Esopus July 18, 1798, was considered one of the 
most highly-educated men of his day. and was for 
some time in charge of a private school in New 
York City. He had previouslj' established the 
Brooklyn Collegiate Institute, which he continued 
until 1844. In 182G he was appointed United 
States Surveyor for tlie District of Cincinnati, but 



never undertook the active duties of the office. In 
the fall of 1848 he came to Illinois, and locating 
in Manhattan, this county, was joined Ijy his 
family in the spring of 1849. He became well- 
known throughout the count}', being a prominent 
and extensive farmer, and serving as Supervisor of 
his township for ten years. In 1876 he re- 
tired from active life, removing to Joliet to spend 
the remainder of his da3's with his son Edward. He 
was one of the organizers of St. Paul's Epia- 
coi)al Church, at Manhattan, and was largely in- 
strumental in building the church edifice. He was 
for several years liefore his retirement President of 
the Will County Agricultural Society. He was 
also p.atentee of several agricultural implements. 

In 1825 John Young became the husband of 
Miss Caroline Thompson, daughter of the Rev. 
James Thompson, a well-known Episcopal clergy- 
man, of Ulster Cou.iity, N. Y. Four children sur- 
vive him. They are James Thompson, President 
of the Staten Island Dj'eing Establishment in New 
York City; Mansfield, a resident of Hartland, 
Kan.; Caroline E., wife of Francis L. Cagwiu, of 
Joliet; and Edward. 

The youngest son, Edward, who is the father of 
our subject, was born in Durham, N. Y., February 
6, 1837, and came to this county with the familj'- 
in 1849. He received his education at private 
schools in New York City, and after reaching his 
maturity succeeded his father in the management 
of the farm, upon which he remained until 1876. 
He then removed to Joliet and engaged In the hay 
and grain business, buying in different parts of 
the country and shipping to the South and East, 
carrying on an extensive trade. In order to still 
further extend the business he -has recently re- 
moved to Kansas, with his headquarters at Anthony, 
where he gives his attention exclusively to grain 
dealing. He married Miss Ann Eliza, daughter of 
the Rev. Warner Hoyt, an Episcopal clergyman 
at Ridgefield, Coijn- She was born June 15, 1839, 
and educated at Pelham Priory. 

The family of ilr. and Mrs. Edwa^l Young is 
made up of five sons and a daughter, George 
Warner, the subject of this sketch, being the eld- 
est. The second one is Charles Herbert, who is 
now attending Trinity College. Hartford, Conn., 



508 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



being a nandldale for the Episcopal ministry; the 
tliinl is .Idliii Mansfii'ld, city editor of the .loliet 
Press; Hcnsted T., the foiirlh chihl, is private sec- 
retary to the General Freigiit Agent of tlie Erie 
Raih-oad, at Cliicago. Tlie younger inemljers of 
tlie family circle are Francis Edward, who is now 
in school, and Margaret Iloyt. The family have 
long been members of the Episcopal Church, the 
father having been Vestryman and Warden of 
Christ Church, of Joliet, since 1876. 









y»ILLIAM L.\MBE. Among the many at- 
/ tractive, rural homesteads of this county 
none are more deserving of a special men- 
lion than that belonging to Mr. Lambe, and which 
in its appointments is indicative of the true char- 
acter of both himself and his excellent wife. The 
farm com pri.ses three hundred and twenty acres of 
land on section 30. embellished with good buildings 
and all the other appurtenances naturally suggested 
to the mind of the enterprising and progressive 
agriculturist. Mr. Lambe is well-to-do financially, 
owning, besides this farm, three hundred and sixty 
acres in Clinton County. He is largely interested 
in stock raising and has that thorough understand- 
in" of his calling which seldom fails of success. 
Jlrs. Lamije is in all respects the suitable partner 
of her husband and their hospitable doors are con- 
tinuously kei)t oi)en to the hosts of friends whom 
they have made since their sojourn in this county. 

The subject of this notice was l)orn in County 
Tyrone, Ireland,Septcmber,'20, 1820, and lived there 
until 1852, occupying himself mostly as a farmer. 
He obtained such education ,as was afforded by 
the common schools and at an early age contracted 
those habits of industry and economy which have 
been the secret of his later success. Before leav- 
ing his native land he was for five or six years a 
resident of the city of Belfast, employed in the 
Government Custom House. 

Upon reaching America in the fall of 1852, Mr. 
Lambe sojourned brielly in New York Cit3' upon 
landing, and thence made his way to St. Louis, Mo., 
where for three years he was employed as a pork- 



packer, conducting his own business. His estab- 
lishment and its contents were destroyed by Are 
and for four years afterward he engaged as a rail- 
road contractor. Sul)Sequently he was in the trans- 
fer business for the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis 
Railroad Company, and later engaged as a dealer 
in coal and ice for fifteen or sixteen j'ears while at 
the same time retaining his connection with the 
transfer business, in company with his brother, the 
late Charles 1>. Lambe, of St. Louis. 

About 1.H6C, Mr. Lambe came to Clinton County, 
this State, where he engaged in farming and lived 
until probal)!}' 1882. In the meantime he has 
been .accompanied in his migrations by the lady 
to whom he was first married, in County Down, Ire- 
land — Miss Letitia Martin^ — who bore him three 
children. The eldest of these is a daughter, Sarah. 
and now the wife of James Allen, of Clinton 
County. The two younger — Emma and John — 
died when small. Mrs. Letitia Lambe departed this 
life in St. Louis, Mo., in 1853. 

Our subject was married to his present wife in 
Homer Township, this county, March 6, 18()7. Her 
maiden name was Louise Barnet, and she is a 
daughter of the late George Barnet who died in 
Homer Township aliout 1861. Mrs. Louise (Bar- 
net) Lambe was born in Canada, November 6, 
1838, and by her union with our subject has be- 
come the mother of seven children, viz: George 
who died when three months old; (jleorgiana, Wil- 
liam B., Anna B., Emma H., Minnie L. and Charles 
B. Mr. Lambe, politically, is a sound Re[)ublican. 
He has had a lengthy experience as a School Direc- 
tor, holding this office for many years both in Will 
and Clinton Counties. In politics he is a stanch 
Republican, and both he and his estimable wife 
.are members in good standing of the Baptist 
Church. 



m 



^.^,^4<^ 



YRUS A. LEWIS. Among the leading men 
in the community of New Lenox Town- 
-^■' ship, none are held in more genuine respect 
than Mr. Lewis. He possesses all the qualities 
of "a gentleman to the m'anor born," being liberal, 
enterprising and public spirited as a citizen, skill- 



iJ 



PORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



50!> 



fill and tliorougli as a farinei-, ami has suiTOUiided 
his family with all of the comforts of life. He is 
now approaching tiie sixty-sixtli year of his age, 
the date of his birth being July 19, 1824, and his 
native place was the town of Decatur, Otsego 
County, N. Y. He was the youngest of two sons 
and two daughter?, the offspring of Justus and 
Candacc (Spencer) Lewis, who were both natives 
of New Hartford, Conn. The father served three 
years .as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and 
by occupation was a skilled mechanic. After mar- 
ri.age the parents settled in Decatur, Otsego County, 
N. Y., where the father engaged in farming, and 
where both parents spent the remainder of their 
lives, the mother dying in the fall of 1833 and the 
father in the fall of 1847. 

Mr. Lewis spent his boyhood and j'outh in his 
native county remaining there until 1850. He be- 
came familiar with the various emploj'ments of 
farm life, and when approaching the twenty third 
year of his age, was married, February 23, 1847, 
at Decatur, to Miss Eraeline, daughter of Jesse and 
Zurviah (Peek) Seward. 'J'he father of Mrs. Lewis 
was a cousin of William H. Seward, Secretary of 
Slate (luring President Lincoln's administration, 
while Mrs. Seward was a relative of e.x-Governor 
Marcy, of New York State. Mrs. Seward died 
there, while Mr. Seward died in the city of Joliet, 
111. Mrs. I^ewis was born in Decatur, N. Y., Sep- 
tember 20, 1825, and remained there with her par- 
ents until her marriage and until the spring of 
1850. 

In the above-mentioned year Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
came to Illinois and settled on section 30, New 
Lenox Townslii[), this county. Mr. Lewis is the 
owner of nearly four hundred acres of land, which 
he has brought to a high state of cultiv.ation. A 
part of this was purchased by hira at $4 per acre, 
but under his caieful management it has now be- 
come more valuable property. Nine children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, the eldest of 
whom, a daughter, M.ary, is the wife of William 
Greenwood, of New Lenox Township. The eldest 
son, Spencer, was piously inclined from his 3'outli, 
and is now a missionary under the auspices of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church and stationed at Chunk 
King, in which is located the West China Mission. 



He is an earnest laborer in the Master's vineyard 
and possesses in a marked degree the talents and 
ability suitable to his responsible position. Can- 
d.ace is the wife of Calvin Armagast, of Joliet; 
Nellie is the wife of Julian Barnes, of that city; 
C. Almon is an architect, of Spokane Falls, Wash.; 
Sherman and Jennie remain at home with their par- 
ents. Florence Ida died aged two years, and an 
infant died unnamed. 

Mr. Levvis has for some time entertained a warm 
interest in the temperance movement and in poli- 
tics is now a Prohibitionist. He and his family 
are all members in good standing of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, Mr. Lewis being a Trustee of 
the Ottawa Street Church, at Joliet, and one of the 
chief [lillars. Aside from holding the offices of 
Road Commissioner and School Trustee, he has 
kept aloof from the cares and responsibilities of 
public life. 



lOBERT HUSTON, Sheriff of Will County, 
was elected to this office in 188(5 and the 
indications are that he is thoroughly adapted 
to the discharge uf its duties. He is a man 
of large experience and keen observation, having 
a good understanding of human nature and has 
proven himself competent to deal with the motley 
characters which frequently come under his juris- 
diction. 

A native of New York City, Mr. Huston was 
born Aug'u.st 7, 1845, to Robert and Elizabeth 
(Shaw) Huston, who were natives of the North of 
Ireland. The Huston family is of Irish descent 
while the Shaws originated in Scotland. 

The father of our subject emigrated to America 
in 1831, when a young man, and two years later 
was married to Miss Shaw. The union resulted in 
the birth of five daughters and four sons, of whom 
Robert was the sixth in order of birth. The fam- 
ily, in 1850, removed to Grundy County, this 
State. Robert Huston, Sr., had in his own country 
learned the trade of a carpet weaver, but now en- 
gaged in farming upon the rich soil of the Prairie 
State. Mrs. Elizabeth (Shaw) Huston departed 



510 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



this lifcatlicr lioine in Gaiiiiior, 111., May 11, 1885. 
One son, John W.,cliecl in the hosi)ital at St. Louis, 
Mo., from sickness contracteil in the army during 
the late Civil War. Thomas .L, fur the past nine- 
teen years lias been the railroad agent at Leniont, 
III. William prosecutes farming at the old home- 
stead in Bracewell Township. The sisters are all 
living and all married. One is residing in Braid- 
wood, one in Hastings, Neb., and three in Gardner, 
ill. The aged father who has now numbered 
eighty-two years, is passing his days quietly on the 
old homestead in Grundy County. 

Robert received the advantages afforded by the 
common schools and after the outbreak of the 
Civil AVar, although onl^y a little over sixteen 
years t)ld, enlisted December 20, 1861, as a Union 
soldier in Companj' I, Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, 
and participated with his comrades in the vicissi- 
tudes of army life and in many important battles. 
At the b.attle of Yellow Bayou, La., May 14, 1864, 
he lielonged to the color guard, of whom four were 
wounded and two killed, Mr. Huston upon that 
occasion suffering the loss of his right leg. He 
was conflued in the liospital at Jefferson Cit}', Mo., 
until sufficiently recovered to return home and 
received his honorable discharge in February, 18G5, 
being mustered out as corporal. 

After leaving the army ftlr. Huston supplemen- 
ted his education by an attendance at school two 
jears, part of the time at Fulton, III., where 
arrangements had been made by the State for free 
tuition and board for soldiers. He subsequentl3' 
taught school two years in Grundy' County ,and tlien 
for eighteen months was employed as a weighman 
at coal shafts at liraidwood. Later he engaged in 
merchandising at that [loint for twelve or thirteen 
years. At the expiration of this time he sold out 
and subsequently served as Postmaster of Braid- 
wood one term. He assumed the duties of Sheriff 
in the fall of 1886. 

Mr. Huston contracted matrimonial ties February 
6, 1872, beingweddedtoMissEmma A., daughter of 
William and Augustine Blanchard. Mrs. Huston 
was })orn December 22, 1845, in Geneva, III. She 
received careful parental training and remained 
under the home roof until her marriage. Of this 
union there have been born four children, viz: 



Maud J., Charles K., William H., and Jessie O. Mr. 
Huston is piominently connected with the (! rand 
Army of the Republic, the Ancient Order of I'nited 
AVorkmen and the American Legion of Honor, in 
the latter of which he has been the State Treasurer 
for the ijast six years. It is hardly necessary to 
state that politically, he is a sound Repulilican. 

He has been partially reimbursed for the loss of 
his limb by the granting of a monthly pension 
from the Government. 



•v-0--^' 



The firm of A. B. 
Sharp & Co., occupies a prominent posi- 
tion among the business and industrial in- 
^ terests of Joliet, and is engaged in the 

manufacture of |)aints, oils, varnishes, axle grease, 
etc. Ihe senior member of the firm, of whom we 
here present a sketch, has been engaged in this 
business since 1871. He commenced in a modest 
manner and gradually added to his facilities and 
the variet3' of articles manufactured, making all 
house, railroad and fence wire brands of paint. 
Excelsior Axle Grease, Harness Alabastine, and 
enjoys a trade of ^100,000 annually. He thinks, 
however, of retiring from business in the near fu- 
ture, and s[)ending his declining years in the ease 
and comfort which he has so justly earned. He 
has a fine plant, the lot comprising one linndred 
and sixty-six feet front on Ottaw.a Street, running 
back to Canal and connecting with Jackson at the 
upper bridge. He is the owner of other valuable 
propert}' in the city, including a fine home at the 
intersection of Eastern Avenue and Clinton Street, 
one of the finest residence localities of the cit}, and 
which is valued at $10,000. 

A native of Windom, Conn., Mr. Sharp was born 
four miles from the noted frog pond of that re- 
gion, July 28, 1823. His parents were Elder Elias 
and Fanny Sliarp, the former of whom was a na- 
tive of Vermont. Elias Sharp when a 3'oung man 
went to Connecticut, as a minister of the Christian 
Church, and became an eloquent pulpit orator. 
He married Miss Fanny, daughter of Benjamin 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



511 



Gardner, a seafaring man, and they lived in Con- 
necticut until tlieir son, Alonzo B., liad reached 
his majoritj-, and they spent their hist years in 
Locitport, N. Y. 

Mr. Sharp attended llie common schools of liis 
native place. He lived in New London, Conn., 
five years, then came West as far as Logansport, 
Tnd., where he was engaged five years in tlie gro- 
cery business. Next he removed to a farm in 
Kendall County, across the line from Plainfiehl, 
and from tliere went to Montana at the time of 
the gold excitement. After a year's absence he 
returned via the Platte and Yellowstone Rivers, 
Virginia City and Salt La!<e, paying $300 stage 
fare from the Mormon metropolis to Atchison, 
Kan., and being seventeen daj's and nights on tiie 
road, much of the time delayed by snow. He suc- 
ceeded fairly well in the mines, but decided that 
that experience would sutlice as far as tlie wild 
West was concerned. He then came to Joliet, 111. 
Mr. Shar|) engaged in butchering, and filled five 
contracts with the Illinois State Penitentiarj* in a 
satisfactory manner, and was tlius occupied about 
ten years. In 1871 he established his present en- 
terpi'ise, vvhich has liiiewise netted him ample re- 
turns. He is looked ujion in business circles as a 
fair-minded man, square in liis dealings and one 
whose word may be considered as good as liis 
bond. 

Mr. Sbar() was first married, in 184G, to Miss 
Sarah L. Brown, daughter of Maj. Brown, a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812. Of this union there was 
born one child, Eugene 1)., wlio is in business 
with his father; the mother died when this boy 
was a lad of twelve years. Jlr. Sharp then mar- 
ried her younger sister. Miss Emily M., and there 
were born to them tliree children, only one of 
whom is living, viz.: Lina, who is the wife of 
Charles P. Barstow, of Boston, Mass., and the}' 
have two children. Eugene married Miss Sarah 
Noble and is the father of five children. 

Elias Sharp came to the AYest about 1860, and 
loecame interested in lands and fine wool sheep. 
He also engaged extensively in tlie nurserj' busi- 
ness at Lockport, N. Y., prior to this, and during 
the panic of 1837 lost probably 140,000. He had 
been obliged to abandon the ministry on account 



of ill-health. He lived to the advanced age of 
eigiity-two years, and died about 1876 in Lock- 
port, N. Y. The wife and mother survived him 
four years and was about cighty-fwur years old at 
the time of her decease. 

Dr. Sharp obtained his title during the reign 
of the epizootic, in 1871, having been especially 
successful in treating this disease, which made 
such havoc among the horses. He has three 
brothers living, namely, M. G., Lovando and C. 
A. The three carrj^ on the nursery business at 
Lockport, N. Y., and have one of the largest 
fruit-evaporating establishments in the Empire 
State, with a capacity of six hundred bushels per 
daj-. 



^i 



E^^ 



e 



HAHLES CURTIS. It has been well said 
that '-our schools are the hope of our 
country" and all who desire the perpetua- 
tion of the national life and the fulfillment of its 
glorious promise as the center of the highest civil- 
ization, recognize the fact that the educators of 
our land are clothed with a high responsibility and 
that those in whose care the young are placed 
should be selected with judgment. Prof. Curtis is 
one to whom his fellow men look up as an instructor 
capable not only of guiding 30uth in the ascent of 
the hill of knowledge, but of leading them by ex- 
ample and precept toward moral and upright lives. 
His own mind has been well disciplined and is a 
storehouse of knowledge, while the moral and 
spiritual qualities have been strengthened and 
developed as years iiave passed by. 

Prof. Curtis was born in Orange County, Vt., 
and in the Green Mountain State his parents, 
Francis and .Julia (Richardson) Curtis, also first 
saw the light of day. His mother died when he 
was quite young, but his father is still living. The 
educational privileges bestowed upon the lad were 
excellent, and after an attendance at the public 
schools he entered Barrie Academy from which he 
was graduated with high honors in 1875. The 
same year he came to Illinois, and locating in 
Chenoa, began his career as a pedagogue. After a 
successful experience of six years he was elected 



512 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Pi-iiifipnl and Siipeiintendeiit of the High School in 
O'lell, in which phice he remained four years. lie 
was elected for another year but resi,<ifned, heiiig- 
chosen Siii)eriiitendent of Schools at Lockport and 
entered upon tlie duties of that position in Septem- 
ber, 188C. 

Prof. Curtis has graded the schools of this place, 
introduced a curriculum that is well suited to the 
practical demands of the age, and has established 
the custom of holding graduating e'xercises and 
awarding diplomas to those whose thoroughness 
entitles them to that honor. The schools have 
steadily grown in attendance until they are models 
in their way, and have become a power for good 
which proves the high executive talent and strong 
personal influence of their Superintendent. lie 
gives a fair share of ciedil for these good results to 
his subordinates, recognizing that in their co-oper- 
ati<.)n there is a strong factor to accomplish good. 

The wife of Prof. Curtis is a native of the Green 
Mountain State, a member of an excellent family, 
and bore the maiden name of Ilattie I\I. Lord. 
She was educated In Barrie Academy and is a lad}' 
of fine culture and a consistent Christian character. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Curtis belong to the Congrega- 
tional Church and the former takes an active part 
in the labors of both church and Sunday-school. 
He belongs to the social order of Modern Wood- 
men, and and to the Masonic fraternity. His in- 
fluence is not confined to those who are under his 
instruction and guidance, but is felt throughout the 
community as that of an educated man always is 
when exerted in behalf of true civilization. 



-*- 



s 



I OHN KILLEY. In a county that contains 
so many finely improved farms and beauti- 
ful rural dwellings, it is hard to claim pre- 
eminence for any, but certainly any trav- 
eler through Weslej' Township would at first glance 
decide that that of the subject of this sketch held 
a conspicuous place. The landed estate comprises 
two hundred and fifty-seven acres on section 6, all 
under careful tillage and 'supplied with excellent 
improvements. The fine residence was erected, in 



1884, at a cost of 13,000, and with its attractive 
rural surroundings, is represented on another page. 
It is furnished with all the modern conveniences, 
and gives evidence in its adornment and air of 
neatness and comfort that its interior is presided 
over by a capable and tasteful housewife. Mr. Kil- 
ley began his residence in this township at a very 
early age and at a period which was antedated by 
f(^w now living. For many years he has held an 
honored place among the citizens and proved him- 
self worthy of their esteem. 

Going back a few generations in the patern-d 
line we find James Killey, a farmer, and following 
him his son William Killey, a seaman. The next 
in the direct line was another William Killev, the 
father of our subject, who, like those before men- 
tioned, was born on the Isle of Man, the date of 
his birth i)eing 1793. He married Mary Cowley, 
who was born, in 17115, on the same island, their 
marriage rites being celebrated in 1818. The 
worthy couple continued to reside in the land of 
their nativity until 1827, when they emigrated to 
America, making their first settlement on a farm 
near Cleveland, Ohio. There they remained until 
1839, at which time they removed to Will County, 
111., settling on the farm now occupied by our sub- 
ject. There they both laid down the burdens of 
life, the mother breathing her last in 1861, and the 
father in 1873. Their family com})rised nine chil- 
dren, three of whom are now living. Some of the 
paternal relatives resided in Boston, Mass., pre- 
vious to the Revolutionary War, and one cousin 
belonged to the English Army twenty-one 3'ears. 
The family is of Celtic origin. 

The subject of this biographical notice was the 
third in the parental family and was born April 2, 
1825, on the Isle of Man. He was therefore still in 
his carl}' childhood when America became the family 
home, and in this country he received a good com- 
mon-school education. He remained with his par- 
ents, earing for them until their death, and having 
charge of the farm from eighteen years of age. 
Since the farm which he now occupies was pur- 
chased, he has never resided elsewhere. The first 
residence was a log house, built in 1834: by the 
man of whom the Killeys bought. The farm was a 
timbered one and had but ten acres cleared when 



CAf^AL BQA7S 

,,,.-.*=*rt».. 




*i 



y A 






Residence or Lorenzo A. Strong, 5ec.11. LockpqrtTp.WillCo.1ll. 



, -.i-!.yJ.^J^^-.»»^--;.,.- 




.. y ,,;,.,,jet»f=^^#^'^^->gg->;'^JPi^. 



-•"Hiai 



Residence OF John Ki lley. Sec. 6. Wesley Tp. Will Co. 111. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



515 



they took possession. Mr. Killey has added nearly 
all the improvements which the place uow bears. 
He still carries on the farm hinjself, devoting his 
attention to general farming. l)oth crops and stock 
being of good grades and suHi(nent in qnantitj^ 
and number to afford all the comforts and manj' 
of the luxuries of life. 

At the home of the bride, November 15, 1865, 
Blr. Killey was united in marri.age with Miss Jane 
Schoonmaker, daughter of I'eter and Harriet 
(Kortright) Schoonmaker. The parents of Mrs. 
Killey were natives of New York, and had six 
children, but one of whom is uow living. The 
parents are now deceased. Mrs. Kille}' was born 
December 7, 1837, and died October 15^ 18G8, 
leaving one child, a son, George W. This son has 
attended select school at Wilmington, is well edu- 
cated, and exhibits many of the sterling qualities 
which afford good ground for parental pride, and 
give the promise of extended usefulness. 

A second marriage was contracted by Mr. Kil- 
ley, December 25, 1870, his bride being INIrs. Ma- 
ria Singleton, nee Butler, a native of the Empire 
State and a woman of many vii-tues. This union 
has been blessed by the birth of one child, a daugh- 
ter, Mary. 

The first newspaper ever read by Mr. Killey was 
the Cleveland Jlrrakl, now numbered among the 
things of the past. He has always taken an active 
interest in i)elitics and, having first been a Whig, 
almost as a matter of course became a member of 
the Republican i)aity when the old organization 
was abandoned. His fellow-citizens have enjoyed 
the benefit of his intelligence and energy' as Road 
Commissioner, and Director on the local School 
Board. He was baptized in the Jlpiscopal Church, 
but his membership therein does not prevent him 
from taking a cordial interest in the good work 
which is being done by other religious bodies. 



V 



#-^ 



'^tl ORENZO A. STRONG owns and occupies 

I (^ a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres 

I I L-^ in Lockporl Township, to which he came in 

March, 1876. His possessions are the result of his 



own industry and good judgment, and his commo- 
dious residence with its surroundings is represented 
by a lithograi)luc view elsewhere in this volume. 
He is engaged in the business of general farming 
and dairying, conducting his worldl}- affairs with 
the same [)rudencc which has heretofore charac- 
terized his successful career, and in his personal 
life [jerpetuating the strict integrity and devotion 
to principles which he has inherited from honorable 
ancestry. 

Mr. Strong is a descendant in the seventh gene- 
ration of Elder .John Strong, of Taunton, England, 
who came from the mother country in the ship 
"Mary and John," which landed at Nantasket, 
Mass., May 30, 1630. His immediate progenitors 
were Amasa Strong, born in Hawley, Mass., Feb- 
ruary 27, 1814, and Lucy (Fuller) Durkee, daugh- 
ter of Martin Durkee, of Brimfleld, whose natal 
day was July 1, 1821. 

The birth of our subject took place in Clari- 
don, 'Geauga County, Ohio, December 8, 1841, 
and he remained with his parents until twenty-two 
years of age. He then began life for himself as a 
farmer, continuing his peaceful pursuits until Au- 
gust 23, 1864, when he enlisted in the One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Infantry. He was 
enrolled at Sandusky in Company I, under Capt. 
McDonald, and with his comrades did duty on 
Johnston's Island under Col. Hill, Commander of 
that post. Mr. Strong faithfully discharged the 
duties which were set before him until after the 
close of the war, receiving his discharge July 17, 
1865. He then returned to his native State and to 
the pursuits in which he had formerly been en- 
gaged, changing his location after some years, 
and since March 2, of the Centennial year, being 
numbered among the residents of Will County, 
111. 

The estimable lady who became the wife of our 
subject, and under whose care his dwelling place 
is a home of comfort and enjoyment, bore the 
maiden name of Mar^' E. Ryder. She was born in 
Rochester, N. Y., and during her maidenhood lived 
in Branch County, Mich., and later in the Prairie 
State. The happy union has been blessed by the 
birth of one son. Royal Walter, who was born 
July 28, 1889, and bids fair to perpetuate the 



51G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



sturdy qualities of his long line of ancestry. Tlie 
Slrout;: family lias been cluiiacterized by deep re- 
ligious convictions, and lie of whom we write is as 
steadfast in his determination to do what he thinks 
right, as any who have preceded him. 



-4-+1^&^-i-i-4- 



^] OHN B. PINNEO takes a prominent place 
among the farmers and stock-raisers of Tro}' 
Townshii) and is no unimportant factor in 
i advancing those interests in this count3\ 
lie is a Nova Scotian by birth,born October 26, 
1836, to Charles and Mary E. (Baxter) Pinneo. 
The Baxters were a prominent family in Nova 
Scotia, of English origin, and Baxter's Harbor was 
named for them. John Baxter, the maternal grand- 
father of our subject, w.as a son of Di. Baxter, a 
prominent physician of England and later of Nova 
Scotia. The father of our subject was born in the 
United States, his mother going from Nova Scotia 
after the death of her husband. The parents of our 
subject came to this State in 1844 with him and 
located in the town of Jackson, which at that time 
was called Reed's Grove, they coming to this county, 
with six children, in a wagon from Chicago, and 
here they made their home until called to a higher 
liy death, the father dying in 1871) and the mother 
surviving until 1888, when she, too, passed away. 

The son of whom we write was reared to manhood 
in Jackson and, displaying a taste for mechanics, 
he was set to learn the trades of a carpenter and 
wagon-maker, which he followed for a number of 
years in Elwood, this county, and then turned his 
attention to farming. His farm in Troy Township 
comprises three hundred acres of valuable land, 
one hundred and sixty of which he uses for pastur- 
age, as he pays much attention to the raising of 
stock of good grades. 

Mr. Pinneo has been twice married, the maiden 
name of his first wife being Kate Conklin, and to 
them were born four children: John B., who is 
married and lives on a farm in this county; Flor- 
ence, wife of Duane Dibble, a farmer in Troy 
Township; George L., who died at the age of 
twenty-two in March, 1888; Rush, Avho died March 



4, 1890, of typtioid fever, a young man of eighteen 
years. 

The present wife of our subject was formerly' 
Mrs. O. T. Fargo, and they were married in 1876 
and in 1884 moved onto the farm. Jlrs. Pinneo's 
parents, Horace and Diana (Brown) Haff, were of 
German and English descent and came from near 
Alban}', N. Y., making the entire journey to Will 
County in a covered wagon. Mr. Haff was the 
youngest son of Joshua Haff. There is a romantic 
incident related concerning the matrimonial ven- 
ture of his grandfather. He was Captain on board 
a vessel sailing along the coast of France, and dur 
ing an earthquake a young schoolmistress and her 
scholars took refuge on his boat. The result was 
she and the Cajitain were mutuall3' attracted, mar- 
ried and came to America to found a family in 
this counlr3'. They settled near Albany, N. Y., 
while there were many Indians there and two 
of their children were stolen from them, taken to 
the West and were never heard from afterward. 
Mrs. Haff, jNIrs. Pinneo' s mother, was a daughter 
of Peter and Thedocia (Green) Brown, the father 
of English descent. They lived near Albany where 
he was engaged as a merchant for many years, 
coming from there to Aurora, this State, in 1855. 
After marriage Mr. Haff settled on a farm near 
Albany and lived there until Mrs. Pinneo was three 
years of age, and then sold it and in 1836 came to 
this county, as before mentioned. He took con- 
sideraljle land here, including the farm on which 
his ilaughter and our subject now make their home. 
About four years before bis death he took uj) his 
residence in Joliet and there departed this life No- 
vember 11, 1865. His wife had died many years 
previously, when Mrs. Pinneo was eight years of 
age, she being their onlj- child. He mariied again 
and had two children, daughter and son; Edwin G. 
Haff, the son is still living. 

Mrs. Pinneo has four children: Hiram DeAVitt 
is now in New Mexico; Ella, wife of Erastus Whit- 
tlesey, who has a farm in Pocahontas County; Ed- 
win Guy was married and has one son, Chester 
DeWitt. 

Mr. IMnneo is a man of strong common sense, of 
excellent business tact and of honorable character, 
and exerts a good influence in the community of 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



517 



which he is one of the best and most trusted citizens. 
Possessing a good degree of [niljlic spirit our subject 
interests himself in all schemes to promote the ad 
vaneement of tovvnsliip or cimnty and is active in 
local politics, idenMfying himself with the Repub- 
lican party. A man of enlightened views, well 
understanding the value of a good ediu^ation in any 
walk in life, he has always taken a marked interest 
local educational matters, and as School Director 
is exerting his influence for the good of the town. 



••o»o..fQ^><^5^-o*o.. 



-*.-- 




yj LMON WILDER. In making note of the 
(5*01 pioneer settlers of Crete Township, the 
name of Mr. Wilder should occupj' a prom- 
inent position. Acting upon the maxim 
that a rolling stone gathers no moss, he has for the 
long period of forty-eight years maintained his 
residence upon the same farm, this embracing land 
which he entered from the Government in 1844, 
for the consideration of $1.25 per acre. He owns 
eighty acres of the original eiitrj', and forty acres 
which he purchased from another party, lie has 
effected all the improvements upon it, this being 
accomplished solely b}' persevering industry and 
good management. The roof which shelters him 
and the comforts which surround him are a stand- 
ing monument to his unremitting toil and his fru- 
gality, which made him careful to live within his 
income and make a wise provision for the future. 
Mr. Wilder came to Will County from Ashata- 
bula County, Ohio, of which he had been a resident 
for many years. He was born in Onondaga Count}', 
N. Y., May 21, 180G, and is consequently eighty- 
four years old, but notwithstanding his years he is 
bright and active, well informed and intelligent 
and possesses such a clear recollection of past events 
that an hour may always be spent pleasantly and 
profitably in his companj'. During his younger 
3ears Mr. Wilder was one of the leading politicians 
of this part of the count}-. He originally voted 
with the Democratic party, but after the outbreak 
of the Rebellion transferred his support to Repub- 
lican principles. He served as Tjwnship Supervisor 
nearly five terms, and for many years was Assessor 



and Collector. He maintains that his exceptional 
good health has been the result of correct habits 
and inhaling the pure country air. lie has always 
followed agricuUurul pursuits, and he was uni- 
formly successful as a tiller of the soil. 

The iirmediate progenitor of our subject was 
Ruhen Wilder, Jr.-, a native of Vermont and of 
New England parentage. The paternal grandfather 
was Ruben Wilder, Sr., who was likewise born in 
A'ermont, and who emigrated first to New York 
State and then to Ashtabula County, Ohio, where 
he spent his last days engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits and dying when quite aged. The removal to 
Ohio was made as early as 1810, oi perhaps 1808. 
lie was married in his native State to a lady who 
was also born in Vermont, and who, like him, lived 
to be quite aged. Grandfather Wilder was a prom- 
inent member of the Old School Baptist Church, a 
man of decided views and oi)inions, and who exer- 
erted no small influence among the people of his 
community. 

Ruben Wilder, Jr., the father of our subject, 
was the eldest child of his parents and was but a 
lad when they left his native State of Vermont 
and settled in Onondaga County, N. Y. He was 
there reared to manhood and married Miss Polly 
Herring. She was born in Vermont and was taken 
by her parents to New York State when a child. 
After her marriage to Ruben Wilder, Jr., they 
settled on a farm in Onondaga County, N. Y., where 
their three eldest children were born, one of whom 
died in infancy. When Ahnon was a few years 
old they removed to Ohio, settling in the woods of 
Ashtabula County, where the father obtained a 
tract of Government land and opened up a farm. 
AVlien quite well advanced in years they left the 
Bucke^'e State and removed to Dyer, Lake County, 
Ind., where the}' both died at an advanced age. 
They were consistent members of the Christian 
Church and adorned their profession by their daily 
walk and conversation, being kind and tender par- 
ents, hospitable neighbors, and doing good as they 
had opportunity to those around them. 

The subject of this notice was one of the elder 
members of a family of six sons and four tiaugh- 
ters, and after the removal of the family to Oh'o he 
went to live with his Grandfather Wilder, with 



518 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



whom he made his home until reaching his major- 
ity. Soon afterward lie was married, in Ashtabula 
Count}', to Miss Anna Corey. This lady was born 
in New York and was taken to Ohio by her parents 
when a child, tliey settling in Ashtabula County, 
where Mr. Core}' followed farming and where both 
he and ids good wife spent the closing j'cars of their 
lives. 

Mrs. Anna Wilder was carefully trained b}' her 
excellent parents and received her education in the 
common schools. She remained under the parental 
roof until her marriage and accompanied her hus- 
band to Lake County, Ind., where her death took 
place in 1H40. She was then comparatively a young 
woman, but tlie mother of nine children, three of 
whom died in infancy. She proved the faithful 
partner of her husband and was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Six of 
their children are still living, and with two excep- 
tions they are all married. Eliza is the wife of 
Alfred Robinson, who ofliciates as receiver in a 
Street-car Railroad Company in CUicago; Maria is 
the wife of Myion Mordorff, and the}' live on a farm 
in DeKalb County, this State; Mary is the wife of 
William C.Adams, arolired farmer of Crete Town- 
ship; Martha, Mrs. .John Dodge, lives on a farm in 
Crete Township; .Melissa M. is a well-educated lady 
and for many years has been a teacher in the city 
schools of Chicago; Edward A. served in the Union 
Army during the Civil War and since its close has 
been a resident of Eldorado County, Cal. ; he is 
single. 

Mr. Wilder, in 1842, contracted a second mar- 
riage in Cook County, this State, with Jlrs. Louisa 
(Wilson) Raymond. This lady was born near 
London, England, and is of pure English stock as 
far back as is known. She emigrated to America 
when quite young, settling with her parents in 
Canada, where she was married to her first husband, 
Oeorge Raymond. They afterward removed to 
Michigan, where Mr. Rajmond died when a young 
man. leaving three children. John died when thirty 
years old. The survivors are Christiana, the wife 
of H. P. Gray, a machinist of Chicngo, and Ann 
who married Clark Ilolbrook, a farmer of Cook 
County, this State. Of this marriage of our sub- 
ject there have been born two chililren: George II. 



married Miss Augusta Brown, and is farming in 
Cook County; Louisa is tlie wife of C. S. Howard, 
a leading business man of Denver, Colo., very 
wealthy and extensively engaged in the lumber 
business. Mr. and Mrs. Wilder are prominently 
connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which Mr. Wilder for many 3-ears has been a lead- 
ing officer and to which he has always contributed 
a liberal support. 



^ €^-B- 



'^|/OHN O. MEIER, Supervisor of Crete Town- 
ship, has represented this township in the 
Count}' Board of Supervisors for a period 
of nineteen years — a fact which sufficiently 
indicates his standing among the people. In 
former \'ears he prosecuted farming successfully, 
but in 1885, retired from active labor and took up 
his abode in the village on the 2n(l of November, 
that 3ear. He is the owner of considerable town 
property an<l has three hundred and tlfty acres of 
some of the finest farming laud of Will C(iunty, 
besides thirty acres of timber. His land is now 
oi)crated by his sons. Eighty acres of it was se- 
cured by him from the (Jovernment and through 
his industry and |)erseveranee was brought to its 
present fertile condition and added to, until the 
acreage now amounts to three hundred and eighty. 
A settler of February, 1848, Mr. Meier pur- 
chased in Crete Townshii)his first tract of Govern- 
ment land, this comprising eighty acres which. he 
bought in 1847. He commenced without means and 
owes all his possessions to his iudustrj', econom}' 
and perseverance. He is of German birth and an- 
cestry, his early home being in Hesse-Cassel, where 
he first opened his eyes to the light January 17, 
1824. He emigrated to America in the summer of 
1844, and for a j'ear thereafter was a resident of 
Chicago. Thence he removed to DuPage Town- 
ship, Will County, and worked by the month until 
earning sufficient money to become a landowner. 
The father of our subject was Conrad Meier, also 
a native of Hesse-Cassel, and a miller by trade. 
He spent his entire life in his native province, dy- 
ing at the age of fifty-five years. He was a Lu- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



61!) 



tbcran in religion and married a lady of his own 
province — Miss Sophia Schweer. She survived her 
husband nian}^ years and died at her native place 
at the advanced age of eighty-two and one-halt 
years. She, like her husband, was a member of the 
Lutheran Church from her youth. 

To the jiarents of our subject there was born a 
family of two sons and two daughters, all of whom 
lived to mature j'ears, were married and had fam- 
ilies. Of these John O., is the only survivor, and 
the only one who came to the Tnited States. lie 
attended school until fourteen years old, in the 
meantime also worked at his father's mill. At that 
age lie set out for himself and wiien a young man 
of twenty years embarked on his voyage to Amer 
ica, from ISremerhaven on the sailing vessel "West- 
phalia," a three-master, which after forty -three 
days landed him safely in New York City. Tiience 
he proceeiled to Albany by steamer and from there 
by rail to Buffalo, where^he look a lake vessel to 
Chicago, at which he arrived after seven days' pas- 
sage. 

Mr. Meier now began work on farm land which 
is now included in the city limits of the World's 
Fair City, remaining in that vicinity for twelve 
months. While crossing the Atlantic he made the 
acquaintance of a maiden of his own country — 
Miss Anna Rinne — who was accompanied by her 
parents. This acquaintance resulted in theii' mar- 
riage October 18, 1848, at Chicago, where the pa- 
rents of Mrs. Meier settled. This union resulted 
in the birth of eleven ciiildren and after remaining 
the devoted helpmate and companion of her 
husband fur a period of more than twenty 
years, Mrs. Meier departed this life at her 
home in Crete Township, April 27, 18G'.). Five 
of their children are yet living. John W. married 
Miss Sophia Scheiwe, who is now deceased, and he 
lives in Asii Grove, this State; Sophia is the wife 
of Henry Wassman, and they live on a farm in 
Crete Township; William II. married Miss Rena 
Tadger, and they live on Mr. Meier's farm in Crete 
Township; Mary is the wife of William Piepen- 
brink, a farmer of Crete Township; Louisa lives 
witli her brother John, in Ash Grove. 

Ml'. Meier, on December 23, 18G9, was married 
to Miss Engel vScheiwe. This ladj- was born in 



Hesse-C'issel, Germany, November 28, 1832, and 
lived there until December, 18C0,at which time she 
emigrated to America, coming alone. Of this 
union there have been born two children — one of 
whom Leo, died when ten months old; Henry E. 
operates one of his father's farms. Mr. Meier and 
his present wife, as was also the first wife, are mem- 
bers in good standing of the Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Meier has given to his church a liberal support and 
officiated as a Trustee for a period of thirty years. 
Politicidly, he Is a pronounced Republican. He has 
been quite prominent in local politics and has held 
all the tovvnship offices, discharging the duties 
thereof with credit to himself and satisfaction to 
all concerned. He is Treasurer and Director of 
the Crete Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company, 
which was established in I8G1, and which has been a 
great success. 



f RTHUR C CLEMENT, senior member of 
the firm of Clement & Oliver, is with his 
partner transacting quite an extensive 
business in real estate, loans and insurance, 
making a specialt}- of his own property. He was 
born in the city of Joliet, January 16, 1852, and 
is a son of one of its earliest settlers, Charles Cle- 
ment, who at the time of his death was the oldest 
living resident of the place. 

AVith the exception of a few j'ears spent in New 
Hampshire, Mr. Clement has passed his entire 
life in the city of his birth. When a small child 
his parents removed to the Granite State, and 
made their home in Chester until the spring of 
1862, the father in the meantime coming to Illinois 
when necessary to attend to his business. After 
returning to this State, in 1862, for permaneut set- 
tlement, Arthur C. remained with his parents and 
pursued his studies in the city schools until 1868. 
Then going to Ithaca, N. Y. he entered Cornell 
University where he took a four years' course and 
from which he was graduated in 1872, with the de- 
gree of B. S. 

After leaving the I^niversity Mr. Clement re- 
turned to Joliet and during the winter following 
occupied himself as a school teacher in Will Town- 




520 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



sln'i). Ill llie spring tif 1S7.'5, he entered the oftiee 
of Oliii A I'lieliis, attorneys, and took up the 
study of l;i\v to which ho gave his close attention 
for a year an 1 tiieii entered the law department 
of Chicago I'niversity, and was soon afterward 
admitted to the bar. He then associated himself 
with a partner and the firm of Phelps & Clement 
transacted a successful business until the year pre- 
vious to the death of Mr. Clement's father, in 
1878. 

Mr. Clement being chosen to administer upon 
his father's estate, he found his time so taken up 
that he was obliged to abandon his law practice 
and give his attention to that in which he is now 
engaged. In 1885 he entered into partnership 
with Stephen A. Oliver, and tliey added insurance 
to the business which is being extended steadilj' as 
they are becoming known. Mr. Clement has Dem- 
ocratic tendencies, liut lias never had anj' political 
aspirations. 

On the 15th of Seiitember, 1875, Mr. Clement 
was united in wedlock with Miss Georgia M. 
Smith, at the luide's home in Auburn, N. Y. This 
lady is the daughter of Alfred and Laura Smith, 
who are now residents of Auburn, N. Y. There 
have been born of this union a son and daughter, 
namely, Ch.arles Alfred and Laura. 

Charles Clement, the father of our subject, was 
born in Windsor. Vt., in January, 1810, and there 
s[)ent the early years of his life. After removing to 
Joliet he was married to Miss Cordelia, sistej' of 
Edmund Wilcox, who w.as a partner of Mv. Cle- 
ment upon first coming to .loliet. Mr. Clement 
settled here ill the spring of 1833, after which he 
went to Peoria and sojourned until the fall of that 
year. Miss Wilcox had come to the West on a 
visit to her brother and was married to Mr. Cle- 
ment in 1844. 

The father of our subject aliout 1835, purchased 
one acre of ground situated at what is now the cor- 
ner of Exchange and Bluff Streets, paying there- 
for ^slOO and upon it put u|) the first frame build- 
ing in the town, this being the Old American House 
and which during the lioom that followed two 
years later, he sold for the sum of $15,000, taking 
in i)art payment a stock of goods. Then in part- 
nership with Mr. Wilcox he engaged in the mer- 



cantile business two j'ears. He in the meantime 
become a prominent man and was one of the Vil- 
lage Trustees prior to leaving for New Hampshire. 
After the return from New Hampshire he again 
embarked in the dry-goods business at the corner 
of Jefferson and Ottawa Streets, and was thus oc- 
cupied until 1865, while in the meantime he dealt 
largely in real estate. He finally retired from ac- 
tive business and died December 11, 1878, at his 
home in Joliet, 111. 

After Joliet had assumed the proportions of a 
cit3', Charles Clement reptesented his ward in the 
Council for a number of jears. When first com- 
ing to the place he, in company with Messrs. Wil- 
cox & Allen established the JoHet Courier, the 
first issue of which bore tiie date April 20, 1839. 
This was the first paper published in the county, 
and Mr. Clement still preserves with care a copy 
of the first Issue which contains a report of the 
proceedings at the incorporation of Joliet Town- 
sliip. Upon that occasion the following officers 
were elected; William Scofield, President, Charles 
Clement, Treasurer, Charles Gardner, Clerk, and 
William Adam, Street Commissioner. In 1837, 
the fatlier of our subject, in companj' with Mr. 
Wilcox, made a tri[ir overland with a horse and 
wagon through Northwestern Iowa, during which 
they spent only two nights at a hotel. 'I'here are 
still living of the parental family only two chil- 
dren — Arthur C, our subject, and Alice C. who re- 
mains with her mother at the old place. Mr. 
Clement cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew 
Jackson and was a stanch adherent of the Demo. 
crat part^'. 



j^ILLIAM S. NICCOLLS is the occupant of 
the old Haven homestead, on section 24^ 
V^^ New Lenox Township, and the owner of 
two hundred acres of fine land in McLean Count}'. 
His occujjation is that of a farmer and stock-raiser, 
in both of which lines of work he has become a 
master. 

The Keystone State claims Mr. Niccolls as one 
of her sons and in that State his parents also first 
opened their eyes to the light of day. His father, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



521 



John NiccoUs, was born in Westmoreland County, 
in April, 1810, and his mother, whose maiden name 
was Maria Steele, in Fayette County in 1807. 
After their marriage this worthy couple settled in 
Westmoreland Count}', remaining there until 1847, 
when they removed to the vicinity of Cadiz, Har- 
rison County, Ohio. Thence they journeyed to 
Bloomington, 11!., in 1851, and are now living in 
that city at an advanced age. They are the par- 
ents of eight children named respectively, William 
S., Sarali J., .lohn, Violet, C^assius, Hattie, Albert, 
and Elliott. 

The subject of this biographical notice was born 
in West Newton, Westmoreland County, Pa., Oc- 
tober 13, 1831. He accomp.anied his parents in 
their removals, remaining in Bloomington, this 
State, from their arrival in 1851, until 1856. He 
then came to this county, spending three years as 
a resident of New Lenox Township, after which he 
returned to Bloomington for a 3'ear. Coming again 
to this county he spent three years in farming at 
Reed's Grove, after which he went again to Bloom- 
ington, remaining at that place until December, 
188G. During the greater part of his life he has 
been engaged in trading in stock. 

Mr. Niccolls has been twice married. The first 
engagement was consumateil in Bloomington, Oc- 
tober 3, 1854, the bride being Miss I-Clizabeth, 
daughter of Calvin and Lucinda (Keyser) Barnes. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Niccolls siiared her husband's joys 
and sorrows until October 10, 1871), when she was 
removed from her sorrowing household b_y the 
hand of de'ith. She iiad borne her husliand teu 
children, six of whom died in infancy. Those who 
lived to years of maturity are .John V., Josephine, 
VV^illiain and Calvin 1!. 

The second marriage of Mr. Niccolls tooiv place 
in New Lenox Townsliip, September 7, 1886, the 
bride on this occasion being Mrs. Lydia E. Haven 
ni'p Francis. She is a daughter of tiie late Abra- 
ham and JLary A. J. (Davison) Francis, whose 
history will bo found in the sketch of her brother, 
A. Allen Francis. She was born in this township, 
April 9, 1845, and is the sixth child in the parental 
family. She was reared to womanhood on her 
ather's farm wiiere she resided until her marriage 
to Alvin S. FLaven, which was celebrated Decem- 



ber 19, 1865. Mr. Haven was the youngest son of 
the late Samuel and Ilepsibah (Denny', Haven, 
whose history is included in the sketch of the Hon. 
Dwight Haven. He was born on his father's home- 
stead in New Lenox Township, February 6, 1842, 
was educate ^1 in the common schools and grew to 
manhood on the farm. He engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, becoming the owner of the old homestead, 
which consisted of about one hundred and ten acres, 
and at the time of his death owned two hundred 
and seventy one acres, which is now the property 
of Mrs. Niccolls. He passed from earth November 
29, 1878, mourned by many friends and acquaint- 
ances, having gained the esteem of all who knew 
him. He was a live Republican and had sCrved as 
Collector two terms. He was the father of three 
children — Fred 8., Charles F. and an infant who 
died unnamed. Charles F. died December 22, 
1886, aged sixteen years, eight months and five 
days. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Niccolls belong to the Meth- 
odist F]piscopal Church, have high standing among 
its members, and throughout the community are 
looked upon with respect for the consistent lives 
which they lead as professors of Christianit}". Botli 
are well versed in general information and |)0ssess 
the cordial, friendl\- manners which favorably im- 
press strangers, and are known by tiieir friends to 
be the outward token of kind hearts. 



-jlj OHN WILKENING. After a series of years 
spent in persevering toil, the subject of this 
notice is now living retired from active la- 
y bor and enjoying the comforts of a quiet 
country homestead, comprising one hundred and 
seventy .acres of land on section 22, Crete Town- 
sliii). He h.as passed in and out among the i)eople 
of his community for the long period of forty-one 
years, having come to this section in the spring 
of 1849. He then took up a tract of wild land 
comprising a part of his present farm, besides 
eight}' acres in another part of the township, and 
one hundred and twenty acres in Washington 
Township, all of which he brought to a good state 



622 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of cultivation, witli llie t'xci'i)tic)ii of ten acres upon 
which is a fine growtii of timber. 

The possessions of Mr. Wiilfoning liave been ac- 
cuimiluted by his own in(lustr3' and good manage- 
ment, as he commenced in life at the foot of the 
ladder, without means and entirely dependent upon 
his own resources. He was born in HessoCassel, 
German}-, July 2, 1811), and was the second in a 
family- of six sons, four of whom came to America 
and one of whom died in his native Germany. 
The eldest of the family is still living at the old 
homestead in Hesse-Cassel, unless having died re- 
cently. All those who came to the United States 
are residents of Will County, 111., and occui)ied in 
farming pursuits. They, like their brother .John, 
are well-to-do, industrious and reliable citizens, 
and holding a good position in their communit}'. 

The subject of this notice was reared at the lit- 
tle farm in Hesse-Cassel, and received a very good 
education in his native tongue. He remained a 
resident of his native province until a man of 
twent3-six years and then, still unmarried, deter- 
mined to seek his fortunes in America. He em- 
barked at the port of Bremerhaven on a small 
sailing vessel, the "llarburg," which after a voy- 
age of six weeks landed him in New York City, 
July 3, 18io. Thence he proceeded to Albany, 
N. Y., via the Hudson River, and from there to 
Buffalo, where he boarded a lake vessel, and in due 
time reached Chicago, III., which was then an un- 
important town. He at once sought emploj'ment 
and worked It}' the day, being occupied in a simi- 
lar manner until he could obtain sufficient capital 
to secure his land. 

In Chicago, Mr.Wilkening was married, in 1847, 
to Miss Mary Kollir. This lady was born in Hesse- 
Cassel, Germany, August 12, 1827, to John and 
Sophia (Miller) Kollir, who were natives of the 
same province, where they owned a small farm. 
He was a weaver by trade. They were the par- 
ents of two children only, who were born before 
they emigrated to America, in the spring of 1845. 
They likewise made the voyage in a sailing vessel, 
landing in New York City, whence they proceeded 
in the same manner as our subject to Chicago, and 
from there to Will County, 111. Mr. Kollir se- 
cured a tract of land in Crete Township, and with 



the assistance of his estimable wife improved a 
good farm, where they both spent the remainder 
of their days. Mrs. Kollir died, in 1868, when 
sixty-five years old. Mr. Kollir survived his wife 
a number of years, dying in 1879, aged eighty-five 
years and six months. They were people greatly 
respected in their community and prominently 
identified with the German-Lutheran Church. 

Mrs. Wilkcning was the elder of the two chil- 
dren born to her parents. Her brother Henry 
died soon after coming to this country, when a 
promising youth of nineteen years, in the bottom 
of a well from the effects of foul gas. INIrs. Wil- 
kcning was about eighteen years old when her par- 
ents came to America. She was trained in all 
liouscwifel}' duties by her excellent mother, and 
has proven a devoted wife to her husband and a 
kind mother to her children. The latter were nine 
in numlier, but two died when quite young: John 
at the age of six years; and Anna, aged twelve. 
The survivors arc recorded as follows: IMary is 
tlie wife of John Brockman, a teacher in the Chi- 
cago city schools; Ilenr}' married Miss Mary Stei- 
ver. and operates the homestead in Crete Town- 
ship; Conrad is represented on another page in 
this volume; Sophia is at home with her |)arents; 
Lena is the wife of Dr. Otto Miessler, of Crete; 
Frederick is occupied with his brother in a store 
at that jilacc; Augustus remains under the home 
roof. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilkcning and all their children 
are members of the Lutheran Church, of Crete, to 
which they give a liberal support. Politically, 
Mr. Wilkcning is a sound Republican. He has 
held the local offices of his township, and has al- 
ways borne the reputation of a man honest aiul 
upright in his dealings and one whose word is as 
good as his bond. He furnishes a fine illustration 
of the results of persevering industry and. while 
surrounded by all the comforts of life, and many 
of its luxuries, he may justl}' feel that he has 
fairly earned them, and at the same lime he has 
ever been willing to lend a helping hand to those 
less fortunate. 

The father of our 'subject was H. Wilkcning, 
likewise a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and 
who spent his entire life in the place of his birth. 




m 





'(Zi 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



526 



While [jerli.aps not the hero of an\- thrilling event, 
he was an honest, hai'd-working man, who raarle a 
comfoitahle living for his family and earned the 
good will of his neighbors. He lived to number 
three-score and ten years, and from early manhood 
was an active member of the Lutheran Church. 
His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine S. 
Buck. She likewise was of German birth and 
parentage, and |)roved the faithful helpmate of 
her husbanil, being industrious and economical 
.lud remaining with him until he no more needed 
her wifely offices. After his death she joined her 
children in this cotintry, and died of cholera, in 
18,53, at the home of her son Christof, in Chicago. 
.She was about seventy years old and, like ber 
husband, a consistent member of tlie Lutheran 
( 'hurch. 



-'^--^^'^^^^^i^^^r^Zf^ 




.;ILLIAM J. PADDOCK. Prominent among 
those who spent their }'ounger years 
wiselj' and profitably and are now living 
retired from life's active labors, may be properly 
mentioned Mr.Paddock, whose well-regulated home- 
stead is on section 21, Homer Township. His 
surroundings indicate a man of more than or- 
dinai'y enterprise, the farm Ijeing embellished 
with suitable buildings and liaving about it the air 
of thrift and prosperity, which is the inevitable 
result of industry, prudence and good management. 
Personally', Mr. Paddock is genial, liberal and pub- 
lic spirited, a man who is held in high esteem in 
his community, ?,nd who has acquitted himself in a 
vvorthy manner among his fellow-men. 

The subject of this notice was the third in a 
family of fourteen children, and was born May 5, 
1816, in Camillus, Onondaga County, N. Y. He 
was reared to manhood in his native county, where 
he lived until coming to Illinois, with the excep- 
tion of one 3'ear spent in Cayuga County. We 
first find him a resident of this county in the win- 
ter of 183(5, when he located on the Land which his 
father had previously secured on section 21, Homer 
Townsliip. He has thus been a resident of this town- 
ship for the long period of fifty four years, and 



until retiring from labor was continuously engaged 
in farming pursuits. He is now the owner of one 
hundred and thirty acres of good land, which 
through his careful management has not only 
yielded him a handsome income, but enabled him 
to lay by something for a rainy day. 

Mr. Paddock was married in Homer Township, 
October 30, 1838, to Miss Emily K. Oliver. This 
lady was 'born in Monroe Count}', N. Y., August 
13, 181.5, and by her union with our subject be- 
came the mother of three children. The eldest 
born, Edgar L., died when about two years old; 
Eliza E. is the wife of Samuel W. Jones, and they 
live with uur subject; Erank E. married Miss Anna 
Murphy, and resides in this township. Mr. Pad- 
dock cast his first Presidential vote for Harrison, 
and has alvvays taken an active interest in )3oliticaI 
affairs, giving his uniform supi)ort to the Repub- 
lican party. He has held the ofHce of Township 
Collector, and has been a Highway Commissioner 
for several years. His long experience and close 
observation of men and things have conspired to 
make him a man of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence, and he has watched the various events dur- 
ing a long and useful life with a thoughtfulness 
which has maintained him in a position in the front 
rank among the readers and thinkers of the pres- 
ent day. 

A fine portrait of Mr. Paddock appears on 
another page. 




^ EORGE E. ROCKEY. For over a quarter of 
a century this gentleman has made his home 
in Joliet, and perhaps no resident of the 
place takes greater interest in its growth anS up- 
building than he. He is a quiet, unassuming citi- 
zen, who has taken little part in politics, except to 
generally vote the Democratic ticket and who has 
borne his part in public life, content to perform his 
duties as an individual and sufficiently occupied 
with his personal affairs. 

The parents of the gentleman of whom we write 
were William and Elizabeth (Maize) Rockey, whose 
family conjprised three children, of whom George 



526 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



E. is tlie only survivor. Tlie fattier was a harness- 
maker, and tiieir home was in tlie Keystone State. 

George E. Hockey was born in Mifflinhurg, Pa., 
October 4, 1819, and learncil the trade of a carpen- 
ter, althongh he never followed it except to do the 
woodwork on threshing macliines for a brother-in- 
law, l^av id Ilerr. He went to Center County, where 
lie opened a foundry in 184 -t. and where he resided 
ten years. H<^ then came to Illinois and, locating 
in Plainfield, this county, worked for Dillinan A Co. 
until 1802. when he removed lo .Toliet. In 18(;(! 
he bought a planing-mill. which he operated until 
1886, when he transferred it to his son Franklin. 

In Miss .Susan Wolf, Mr. Hockey di.'Cerned 
the qualities of mind and cliaiacter which won his 
regard, and after a successful wooing she liecamc 
his wife December 15. 1842. Throughout their 
long and li:ippy married life they have found no 
cause to regret the union. They have had five 
children, of whom four are now living in Joliel;, 
the other having died in infancy. The survivors 
are: Mrs. Margaret Dice, Franklin, Mrs. Jennie 
Poraerov and Edward. 






_SE 






|( IfelLLIAM DANBY has for thirty years been 
\\a/i7 '' resident of this county, and since com- 

Vy \P iiig here has attained an honorable jilace 
among its farmers and stock-growers, who are sus- 
taining and advancing its magnificent agricultural 
I'esourcos. He is a well known resident of Will 
Township, in which his farming operations are 
centered. Our subject is of English birth and 
breeding, born iMay 1), 1822, in West-Riding, of 
Yorksiiire, a son of Robert and Rebecca (Latham) 
Dan by, who w^ere born in the same shire as himself. 
His father was a farmer. He and his wife reared a 
family of six children, namely: Caroline, George, 
.larvers, Charles, Willi.un and Richard, of whom 
George, Richard and William became citizens of 
this country. George came to the United States 
in 1 8.53, settled in Will Township, and was con- 
nected with the mini lis Centr.al Railroad. Richard 
came in 1853 and settled in Croton, N. Y. 

The suliject of this biographical review came to 



this country with his wife in the year 1858. He 
spent the following two years in Matteson. HI., being 
employed on the Central Railroad. Desiring to 
give his attention to farming pursuits and having 
heard of the wonderful fertility of the soil of Will 
County, and of the success that followed the labors 
of its enterprising farmers and stock -raisers, he se- 
lected this region as the most desirable location, 
anil in 1 8(50 took up his residence here. For six 
years he rented land until he accumulated sufficient 
money to jilace him on an independent basis, and 
in 18G5 he purchased eighty acres of lanil in Will 
Township. In November, 1870, he located on the 
one hnndrfd and sixty acres of land in the same 
township, which he still occu[)ies. He has added 
one hundred and sixty acres to it and now has a 
choice farm of two hundred and forty acres, which 
he has under admirable cultivation anrl is constantly 
improving. He is much interested in the cattle bus- 
iness, and for eight years has been a breeder of Here- 
ford cattle. W^hen Mr. Danb3^ first set foot on these 
shores he had a capital of $200 with which to make 
his new start in life. B}'" superior management and 
excellent business tact he has greatly increased this 
and may now be considered one of the moneyed 
men of the township. 

March 24, 1850, Mr. Danby and Miss Ann Kil- 
lingbeck united their lives and fortunes, and in her 
he has found a prudent helpmate and a true wife. 
She was born November 4, 1826, in the town of 
Snaith, Yorkshire, England, a daughter of William 
and Hannah (Ellison) Killingbeck. likewise natives 
of Yorkshire. They were the parents of four chil- 
dren — John, Thomas, Ann and Harriet. John came 
to this county and first settled here and then took 
up his residence in Kansas. He married and had 
one son — Wilson. Thomas remained in England : 
two of his sons are living. Harriet, now Mrs. Hor- 
ner, lives in England ; she has three sons — Fred, 
William and Herbert. The marri.age of our subject 
and his wife has been blessed to them l\y the birth 
of six children: Caroline; Annie E., wife of 
Thomas Stewart; Blanche, wife of Joseph Jackson, 
of White County, Ind.; Arthur W., Charles A. and 
W^illiam A. 

A man (>f sound intellect and of unswerving 
integrity-, our subject has made his life record an 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



527 



example of worth to otliers, and he is greatly re- 
specterl for what he is and for what he has accom- 
jilished. He is a good worker, ids labors being 
directed by admirable judgment and far-reaghing 
forethought. He is a man of sincere religious 
principles, as is shown by his every-day conduct, 
and in his wife the Methodist Episcopal Church 
linds one of its most v.aluable and conscientious 
members. He takes a deep interest in the affairs 
of his adopted country, of whic-h he is a loyal citi- 
zen, and identifies himself with the Republican 
part. 



\|/OHN CORLETT, a well-known, wealthy 
farmer and stock-grower of Wesley Town- 
shi|), has by his liberality, public spirit and 
large enterprise, been a potent instrument 
in bringing this section of the country to the front 
ns .T leading agricultural count)-. He is the fortu- 
nate owner of an extensive farm, that in point of 
cHllivatiou, improvement and productiveness is 
considered one of the most desirable in Northern 
Illinois. 

Mr. Corlett was born August 4, 1832, on the 
homestead on the Isle of Man, to John and Ann 
(McGregor) Corlett, and his father was a native of 
tlie same place as our subject, and was there reared 
to the life of a farmer. He subsequently became a 
soldier in the English Army, and fought with valor 
under the Duke of Wellington all through the lat- 
ter's campaigns in tlie Spanish Peninsula, and was 
also with the Iron Duke in the battle of W&terloo. 
He lost his left arm in Holland, and was discharged 
from the army, and pensioned at a sixpence a day 
during the remainder of his life. After leaving 
the service he married on the Isle of Man, his wife 
being a native of Scotland. She was about eight 
years of age when her parents removed to the Isle 
of Man, where she still makes her home at the ven- 
erable age of ninety-three. The father of our sub- 
ject died in 1870, at the ripe old age of eighty- 
three years. They were the parents of ten children, 
SIX of whom are now living, five of whom are resi- 
dents of this counti-y. 

The subject of tiiis review was the fifth child of 



his parents, with whom he made his home until he 
was twenty-one, receiving the benefits of a common- 
school education. At eleven 3'ears of age, a manly, 
spirited, self-reliant lad, he began life for himself as 
a farm hand. In the spring of 1855, ambitious to 
make more of life than he could in the land of his 
birth, he came to this country, and from New York 
proceeded directly to Chicago, and from there to 
Kankakee City, thence to Rockville in the same 
county. He remained there four years, and after 
his marriage in 1859, came to this count}^ settled 
on his present farm and has ever since been a 
valued citizen of Wesley Township. He has pur- 
sued his calling with more than ordinary success and 
now has a large farm of four hundred and forty 
acres, besides owning six hundred and forty acres 
in Kansas. He has provided his farm with roomy, 
conveniently-arranged buildings, with the best ma- 
chinery for carrying on agriculture after the most 
approved methods, and has made it one of the most 
desirable estates in this part of the county, and be- 
sides raising rich harvests of grain, devotes much 
attention to rearing stock of fine grades. 

January 4, 1859, Mr. Corlett was united in inar- 
raige to Mrs. Betsey McGilvery, nee Franklin, a 
daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Appleby) Frank- 
lin, natives of Vermont and New York, respec- 
tively'. Her parents were married in the latter 
State and came to Illinois in the early dajs of its 
settlement and were among the early pioneers of 
this township. In 1850, her father started over- 
land for California, died on the way, and was buried 
at Ft. Kearney. Her mother did not long survive 
the death of her husband but departed this life in 
1854. They were parents of twelve children, three 
of whom are now living. Mrs. Corlett was born 
October 9, 1829, in W.ayne County, N. Y. Of 
the children born to her and our subject, four are 
now living: William who was born October 15 
1859; Mary, September 26, 1863, is the wife of 
Ed. McKimmy, of Kansas Citj-; Minnie, born 
March 22, 1865, is the wife of Eugene Babcock, of 
Wesley Township, and they have one child; Ella, 
born September 14, 1867. is the wife of Georo-e 
Lancaster, of Wesley Township, and they have two 
children. William Corlett is a member of the Ma- 
sonic order. 



528 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mr. Corlett is a man of stiong; character, with a 
moral and mental mak'c-up, that [ilaces liim among 
our most intelligent ami honorable citizens. He is 
well flowered witli practical energy, activity and 
tenacity of purjiose, and tliese traits besides lead- 
ing him to wealtli have eniineiUiy fitted liim for 
public service, and make him an influence as a pol- 
itician and supporter of the Republican party, of 
which he has been a stanch member since its or- 
ganization. He has been a member of the local 
School Board for twelve years and h.as earnestly 
forvv.arded the educational interests of the township. 
In 1885 and 1886 he represented Weslejr on the 
County Board of Supervisors. He has been the 
Highway Commissioner for six years, and in that 
ofTice has done much to better the highways and 
byways of the township. He built the dry run 
near John Riciiey's place. He interests himself in 
the questions of tlie day, particularly that of tem- 
perance, and in word and act is a firm temperance 
man. He and his wife are active members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Stew- 
ard. He has always taken a prominent part in the 
Sunday-school and under his able administration as 
.Sn|)erintendent for the past fourteen years, it has 
greatly increased in uLimbers and influence. 



eAPT. ROBERT STEVENS is numbered 
among the pioneers in Will County, in which 
he settled in the spring of 1831. Those 
who have never visited a frontier settlement, but 
who have been accustomed from childhood to the 
surroundings of our present civilization, can have 
hut a faint conception of the life of the pioneers or 
of the credit due those who led the way in the de- 
veloi)ment of the country. Nowhere has greater 
enterprise and sturdy manhood been exhibited than 
throughout the Mississippi Valley, during the early 
days of the various grand States into wliicli its fer- 
tile expanse is now divided, and in no life are the 
more rugged virtues of character and the milk of 
human kindness more rapidly developed than in 
I he [)rinutive scenes of a new country. Among 
those to whom this section owes much, we might 



say all, of its present prosperous condition and ad- 
vanced development, Capt. Robert Stevens oceu- 
Ijies an important pla<'e. 

Not less worlln' of honor than her husViand, is 
the widow of Capt. Stevens, who began her resi- 
dence in tliis county in IS.'SII. and wlio as a young 
lady, as a wUe, mother and neiglilior, lias earned 
the deep respect of those among wlioni her life lias 
been spent and a pla('e sid(^ b}' side with her hus- 
band on the roll of the pioneers. They endured 
privations and toils, such as try men's souls, 
cheered by their belief in a bright future and by 
mutual symiiathy, their labors being rewarded by 
worldly prosperity, a happy home and friendly 
feeling from without. 

Ill Mason County. Ivj'., July 20, 1802, the eyes 
of Robert Stevens opened to the light. He was a 
child tvvo years of age when his parents removed 
to Ohio, where he grew to man's estate, being ap- 
prenticed at the age of sixteen years to learn the 
trade of a tanner and currier. On the expiration 
of his apprenticeship he went to Indiana, where he 
labored until he took up his residence in Will 
County. Here he settled on a tract of land just 
east of .Joliet, developing a fine estate and in the 
course of years becoming the owner of four hun- 
dred acres in one body, all of which was put in a 
fine condition and thoroughly improved. Although 
his services were desired in a public capacity' he 
found that his time was fully occupied by the con- 
duct of his personal affairs, and to his farm he de- 
voted himself almost exclusively. 

The first wife of Capt. Stevens vvas Miss L^'dia 
Ann Pence, who died in 1833. She had borne three 
children, all of whom are deceased. In what was 
then Cook County, but is now Joliet Township, 
Will County, October 29, 1835, our subject con- 
tracted a second matrimonial alliance. His bride, 
Miss Nancy Kercheval, w.as born in Preble County, 
Ohio, October 28, 1814, but had resided in this 
county since she was sixteen years old. The happy 
union was blessed by the birth of six children, 
named respectively: Lewis, Thomas J., James, 
Sarah A., Mary A., and Albert. The husband and 
father was removed by death January 6, 18G4, all 
the efforts put forth by his devoted wife and lov- 
ing children having been fruitless to prolong his 




ipiP^ 




fb 



If' ^^"Vl' 



7!>.is 



J' 




RoB'T Stevens. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



529 



life. His mortal remains were deposited in Oak- 
wood Cemetery, being followed to their last resting 
place b_v a large concourse of citizens, to whom tiie 
pioneer had endeared himself and who sympathized 
deei)lv in the bereavement which had come upon 
his family. 

Capt. Stevens took an active pari in political 
affairs, being deeply interested in the welfare of the 
country ard anxious that i)roper men should be 
elected to office. For a short time only he served 
as Sheriff, having been the first one elected in Will 
County, but giving up the position because his 
farm required his attention. He also held the 
office of Highway Commissioner. Since his death 
his widow has remained on the homestead. She 
possesses an abundance of vitality, keenness of 
judgment and energy, and both looks and acts 
much younger than her years. She has been a 
member of the Methodist Church since 1834, her 
confession of faith being but the initiatory step in 
a life of consistent Christianity. 



ELMER E. HENRY. The trade circles of 
Joliet and vicinity'' recognize in Mr. Henry 
' one of its most promising young business 

men. He is |irincipaliy interested in the glass and 
queensware trade, in wliieli he h.as had a ripe ex- 
perience, and is meeting witli unqualitied success. 
Eor the [i-is three years he has lieen proprietor of the 
most elegant eslablishnient of this kind to be found 
in Northern Illinois. His straig,htforn-ard methods 
of doing business, bis genial disi)Osition and his 
courteous treatment of all with whom he comes in 
contact, is a matter that is often made the subject 
of remark. His estalilishnienl is prominently lo- 
cated on Cliicago Street, and lie carries a 4^10,000 
stock of goods, from which during the year 1889 
he effected sales to the amount of $30,000. 

A native of Hunterdon County, N. J., our sub- 
ject was born Jul}' 9, 1862, in the village of White 
House, to William E. and Susan C. Henry, now 
living in Joliet. When but a small child, Mr. 
Henry was brought by his parents to Joliet, and in 



this city received his education. He commenced 
his business career at an earl}' age, and is an apt 
illustration of the maxim that ''a good business 
well stuck to is sure to win." He served an ap- 
prenticeship of ten years as a clerk before embark- 
ing in business on his own account, and was thus 
equipped with a thorough experience, avoiding the 
mistake which so many make of attempting to do 
that of which they know nothing. Mr. Heniy is 
unmarried. 



ENRY KIPP owns a farm one and one-half 
j[f )Jj miles from the village of DuPage, or Chaii- 
' nahon, as it is called, which is supplied with 
J^ good buildings and all the needed improve- 
ments to make it one of the most desirable in this 
part of the county. A skillful and business-like 
farmer and stock-raiser, our subject is also pos- 
sessed of those characteristics that make him a 
trusty and capable civic official, and lie bears an 
honorable part in the management of local public 
affairs. 

Mr. Kipp is a native of the county, born in the 
township of Troy, February 17, 1847, to A. P. and 
Jane (Davis) Kipp, well-known pioneers of this 
county. The maternal grandmother of our subject 
died in 1872, at the venerable .nge of ninety-three 
years. She came from. AVales when she was eighteen 
years old, and settled in Kendall County in an 
early day. The father of our subject was reared in 
Oneida County, N. Y., and came from there to 
Will County in 1837, in the prime of active man- 
hood. He was accustomed to handling horses, and 
he became a stage-driver on the Frink & Walker 
line from Chicago to Peoria. He was well known, 
was a fine man for his business, and was noted as 
being a good judge of horses, and the company 
emplo3'ed him to match horses and train them for 
them. In 1849 he determined to follow the gold 
seekers to California, traveling b}' the way of New 
Orleans and jMexico. He remained there until 
1 852, engaged as before, and at cine time, while 
driving, his horses or mules became frightened at 
some Indians who came suddenly upon them, and 



530 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lie was Ihrort'ii off ami wont undei' the wheel or the 
wagon, which, with its load, vveigheil over seven 
thousand pounds. He w.as so badly injured that 
he had to give up his enijjloynient there and return 
to the States, as the expenses of staying there were 
so great, the doelors charging $30 for a visit, and 
he had to p.ay $10 a day for board. He relumed 
by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, and coming 
to Joliet, established a livery stable there. He re- 
turned to the farm in 1856, where he remained till 
1858, when he came to Channahon. In 1881 he 
purchased the place in which our subject now lives, 
and m.ade his home with him until his death, De- 
cember 31, 1888, at the age of seventy-four years, 
four months and sixteen days. He was twice mar- 
ried, the maiden name of his first wife, the mother 
of our subject, being Jane Davis, and she was of 
Welsh parentage. She died in her twenty- fifth 
year, nine months after the birth of our subject, 
leaving two children, the eldest being Frances J., 
now the wife of B. Schermerhorn, of Joliet. Mr. 
Kipp was married a second time, in 1855, to Mrs. 
E. W. Adams. 

He of whom we write was reared in Channahon, 
and received a subst.nntial education in the High 
School of that place. He then adopted the profes- 
sion of teaching, and was thus successfuUj' engaged 
in this county for fourteen years, commencing in 
1869, and teaching steadily each winter, while giv- 
ing his attention to farming in the summer, and 
during that time he missed but one day from his 
school. The place which he now owns was willed 
to him by his father, and although he has suffered 
greatly from rheumatism, he has been prospered in 
Lis agricultural undertakings. 

October 21, 1871, was the date of Mr. Kipp's 
marriage with Miss Ella F. Bailej% daughter of 
Daniel and Susan (Zarley) Bailey. They were 
among the pioneers of the count}', and the Zarleys ■ 
were also early settlers, being a noted family here 
in early daj's. Mrs. Bailey was born June 2, 1820, 
and is still living with her husband in Channahon. 
Our subject and wife have become the parents of 
four daughters, namely: Alma M., Helen Z.,C4race 
B. and Jane K., a little miss of nine years. 

Mr. Kipp is a frank, warm-hearted man, gifted 
with foresight in a large degree, ar.d in him this 



township finds a good citizen, his fellow-townsmen 
a kind and obliging neighbor, and his family a true 
husliand and devoted father. He is a sturdy K<- 
piililican in his political views, ahvaj's supporting 
his party ticket. His fellow-citizens, valuing his 
intelligence and capacity, have called him to office, 
and for two terms lu^ has been Township Clerk, 
and for one term was Collector of the Township. 



■^^- 



#-# 



/ 

U RA OWEN KNAPP. M. 1). Among the early 
settlers of the county who i)layed an important 
part in its development, the pioneer physician 
held a |)roniinent and intluential position, and as a 
noble type of the profession, we place before the j 
patrons of this work, to many of whom he is well 
known and bound by no common ties, a brief life 
record of Dr. Ira Knapp. Coming to Northern 
Illinois at an early da}', fresh from his studies and 
in the ardor and vigor of the opening years of a 
splendid manhood, our subject cast in his lot with 
the sturdy pioneers whom he found already here, 
and immediately entered upon an honorable career 
in his calling. In those da3'S the life of a phj'sician 
was fraught with hardships inconceivable at the 
present time, but our subject with cheerful and 
courageous self-sacrifice, bore them uncomplain- 
ingly, and soon won a warm place in the hearts of 
those whom he so faithfully served in their sick- 
ness and became the friend and counselor of his 
patients, and was known and welcomed in many a 
household far and wide. Ill health obliging him to 
give up the practice of his beloved profession as 
itsiluties were too exacting, he has given his at- 
tention to improving the land that he bought from 
the Government fifty -seven years ago, which he has 
developed into a choice farm, one of the pleasant- 
est places on the DuPage River and Canal, located 
about a mile and a half from Channahon Village. 
Mr. Knapp was born in ]5arre, adjoining the city 
of Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, February' 
12, 1810. He received his early education in the 
excellent schools of his native city, and then went 
into the office of Dr. James Spaulding, of Montpe- 
lier, and while there attended medical lectures in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



531 



Dartmouth College. He subsequently became a 
student at the Woodstock Medical School, in Ver- 
mont, whence he was graduated in 1833, hav- 
ing attained a high standing for scholarship in 
his class. He was then twenty-three years of age 
and lie determined to enter upon his profession in 
the West, and selecting this count3- as a suitable 
field for the exercise of his calling, he left his home 
among the green hills of his native State on Sep- 
tember 17, and on October 12, arrived as his desti- 
nation. He was accompanied bj' his bride, and 
with them came George and Russell Tryon, and 
Miss Emily S. Knapp, (afterward the widow of 
Mr. Lyman Foster,) now a resident of Aurora, 111., 
residing with her daughter. The Doctor and his 
uncle, George Tryon, the only other surviving 
membei-s of the party are now eighty and eighty- 
live years of age. 

Our subject came to Chaiinahoii, opened an of- 
fice occujiying it but one day, when he was called 
seven miles to visit his first patient. He continued 
the practice of his profession for fifteen years, his 
patients being scattered over a wide area of coun- 
try, and he has ridden as far as Rockford, on Rock 
River, some ninety miles distant, in pursuit of his 
callinir. The country l)eiiig so sparsely si'ttled, this 
was a very lonely route and there was a stretch of 
twenty-five miles on which there was not a house 
to be seen. The Doctor is a man in advance of 
his profession. When he was graduated blood- 
letting was taught and advised by his instructors 
as under the old medical regime, but the Docior 
when he left school, left that and many other cus- 
toms that were in use at that time, behind. Our 
subject had a good opportunity to study the vari- 
ous forms of malarial fever that was so prevalent 
ill the early days of the settlement of the country, 
and he had great success in treating the disease, 
which he observed abated to a great extent after 
the people had subdued the soil and had it well 
cultivated. When he first came here, there were 
five times as many Indians as whites and he 
has seen as many as five hundred together. They 
usually camped along the river and often visited 
the home of our subject and would sit with Mrs. 
Knapp, who enjoj'ed the company of the squaws 
and their little papooses. Having been among the 



Indians for at least ten years and carefully ob- 
served their customs and character, he thinks them 
very much maligned and ill-treated. In his inter- 
course with them he followed the Golden Rule, and 
seems to have found his red brethren truthful 
anil honorable. Many years he lived among them 
and under no circumstances did he ever put anj-- 
thing under lock and key; his house was always 
open day and night and they never offered to molest 
a thing, which be accounts for by the fact that he 
always treated them as he would wished to be used. 
They have come to his house at any hour of the 
day or night, often under the influence of liquor, 
and never did they offer to injure a thing. He 
never met one of them, but what he would advance 
and shake him politely by the hand and saj': "Bu- 
shu Nic-Kan," which means "How do you do ray 
friend." The Doctor tells the following incident 
of those days as showing the grateful character of 
the untutored savage: A Mr. Treat, who was a 
great friend of the Indians, made a claim on a piece 
of land on the Des Plaines River, the place on sec- 
tion 11, of this township, now owned by Oscar 
Mills. He had no nu)ney to pay for the land, and 
the Iniiians refused to treat with the Government 
otticials niilil they agreed to give him ill, 000 to 
buy land with. He had always treated the In- 
dians with consideration, and they held him in 
great affection. He took care of the grave of one 
of their chiefs who was buried on the place that he 
owned, now known as IMillsdale. 

The Doctor k)cated on his present farm which he 
bought from the Government in the month of 
June, 183p. He built a log house in which he 
lived for ten j-ears, and in that his children were 
born. He then replaced it bj- his present substantial 
and comfortable dwelling. He retired from his 
profession about 1800, and since tlien has de- 
voted himself to the ini|)rovement of las place, 
which at one time comprised two hundred and 
forty acres, but he has disposed of several acres, 
and now has a farm of one hundred acres that is 
one of the most desirable in the locality. 

Dr. Knapp has been twice married. In Jul}-, 1833, 
he was wedded to Miss Almyra Joslyn, daughter of 
Luke Joslyn. She bore him three sons and one 
daughter, as follows: George, a carpenter and 



532 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



joiner, of Wiseonsui, married and has one child ; 
Orrin S., a farmer living near iiis father, married 
and lias four 1k)3's and one girl; Melinda S., the 
wife of Silas I. Parker, a mechanic and farmer, of 
Miller County, Mo. The beloved wife of our sub- 
ject who siiared with him the privations and hard- 
shii)S()f i)ioneer life, and aided him in the building 
up uf tiieir liome, passed to eternal rest in 1861. 

The marriage of our subject to his present 
worthy wife was consummated in 1864, and lias 
proved of mutual benefit to both, as tiiereby he se- 
cured a true Iieliimnte and companion, and she a 
devoted husband. Mrs. Knapp at the time of her 
marriage wiili our subject was Mrs. Ann S. Peebles, 
the widow o'' 'vobert Peebles, who came from Eng- 
Innd. She is the motlier of two children by that 
marri.'ige: Charles, a young mairied man; R. W., 
a resident of Egypt, 111., who is married and has 
two eliildren, one of wliom lives witii its grand- 
mother, Mrs. Knapp. 

A man of superior intelligence and sound princi- 
ple, and of blameless character, and an earnest 
supporter of what he considers right in ever}' walk 
in life. Dr. Knapp has a. ways exerted a wholesome 
influence in this community with whose interests 
his own have been ))ound for a period of more than 
half a century. He has earnestly labored in l)ehalf 
of the social and religious development of Clianna- 
lion, and has taken an active [lart in the work of 
the ]\Iethodist Episcopal Church, of which he and 
liis wife are consistent members. Politically, he 
lias always voted according to his honest convic- 
tions, and has sided with whichever party he thinks 
to be the nearest right at the lime, and he is now 
identified with the Prohibitionists. 



►^1*^ 



SAAC T. MILLSPAUGH, Justice of the 
Peace in Joliet, was first elected to that office 
in 1877, serving four years; in 1886 he was 
again elected, Shis time to fill a vacant-}', and at 
the expiration of the term was continued in the 
position. His character is an honorable one, his 
nature enterprising and genial, and his life has 
been spent in usefulness and good citizenship. As 



a public servant, he proves worthy of the suffrage 
of the people, laboring for the peace and good 
order of the community faithfully and ably. 

In Orange County, N. Y., February 26, 1820, 
the eyes of Isaac Millspaugh first saw the light of 
d.ay. Ilis father, Charles Millspaugh, was a native 
of the same county and a farmer there. He mar- 
ried Meliitable VanTassell, of the same county, 
who bore him seven sons and one daughter. When 
the son of whom we write was fifteen years old the 
parents removed to the village of Bloomingburg, 
where the father died in 1837, and the mother a 
year later. Both were members of the Presbyter- 
ian Church and respected in the community. 

The subject of this sketch lived with his parents 
until the death of his father, when he went into 
Tompkins County and learned the trade of a black- 
smith, passing his apprenticeship at Dryder. Cro- 
ncrs. He worked at the trade nearly twenty years, 
all told. Ill 1S14 he came to Illinois, arriving at 
Joliet in lMa_y. and at once beginning the labor in 
whicli he had [jieviously been engaged. He made 
the first steel (ilow manufactured in Joliet, and was 
the first blacksmith in the Chicago il' Alton round 
house, that being the last of his blacksmithing. He 
fired the engine that iiulled the first train out of 
Chicago, and ran the first engine that came into 
Joliet over the Rock Island Railroad, that being 
in 1852. He also ran as an engineer on a construc- 
tion train of the same road. 

At the time that he abandoned his trade, Mr. 
Millspaugh was elected Assessor for Joliet City 
and township, and being re-elected at each success- 
ive election, served about ten years. The duties 
of the office occupied the most of his time, and 
soon after this long term of office he was made 
Justice of the Peace. He was the organizer of 
Millspaugh's Orchestra, that furnished music for 
social gatherings here for fort^'-two 3'ears. During 
his entire mature life Mr. Millspaugh has been a 
stanch Democrat. He belongs to the Masonic fra- 
ternity, holding membership in the Blue Lodge, 
the Chapter and the Commandery. 

In March, 1842, Mr. Millspaugh was united in 
marriage with Miss Ciiarlotte E. Noyes, tlie cere- 
mony taking place at McLain, Tompkins County, 
N. Y. One living son is the fruit of the union — 



< 





t^t'tyyl''l£^-<'^^^ 



.{ 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



535 



Charles H., of this city. The second wife of Mr. 
Millspaiigh was in lier girlliood Miss Mary L. 
Roberts, of Lockport, N. Y. She died in .loliet, 
in .Janiiar}', J 882. 



^p^EORGE F. GURNET. Among the large 
ill (^w? '■'^"'^ owners and wealthy agriculturists of 
*^^5! Will Countj', George F. (xurnej' holds a 
prominent [ilaee. He is the owner of nine hundred 
and sixty-six acres of land, wjiicli without any 
special improvements would in this section of the 
Mississippi ^'alley be a valuable possession. Its 
worth has been enhanced b}' various improvements, 
among them being a complete line of buildings 
adequate to shelter the stock, store the crops whic'h 
are raised upon tlu^ broad acres, and protect from 
wind and wcatlicr tlie farm machinery and imple- 
ments v.'hich the [irogressive ideas of Mr. Gurney 
demand. Seven hundred and forty acres of this 
fine landed estate are included in .Jackson Town- 
ship, and on section 3G,stands the family residence. 
It attracts the attention of every passer-by, its out- 
ward ap[iearance leading one to believe that it is a 
home in more than name, a belief which is borne 
out by the lios|)itable spirit and intelligence which 
rule its inmates. 

The parents of our subject were William and 
Ruth (Cooper) (Jurney, both natives of England, 
whence they came to Will County in the spring of 
1845. The}' made their residence in .Joliet two or 
three years, and then removed to the country, both 
dying in the township of Channahon. They were 
accompanied to this country by their son of whom 
we write, who was then about thirteen years of age. 
His natal day was .July 2, 18.32, and his birthplace 
Gloucestershire, England. His taste led him to 
adopt farming as ins avocation, and bis possessions 
afford abundant proof that he chose well. AV'ith 
the exception of a short time during which he lived 
in Gruudy Count}', 111., the county to which he 
first came from England has been his home since 
boyhood. He settled in .Jackson Township in the 
spring of 1865. 

The marriage of Mr. Gurney was celebrated in 



AVilmington, 111., his chosen companion being Miss 
ICliza Brydon, who possesses man3' virtues and 
graces of mind and heart. Under her ellicient 
management the home is ever neat and orderly, 
good cheer is abundant for both the inner and 
outer man, and the members of her household have 
reason to bestow upon her the deepest affection. 
She is the mother of seven children, three of whom 
have left the parental roof for homes elsewhere. 
Frances is the wife of Frank Losh ; F^lsie is the 
wife of Charles Pohlmau; and Elmer is now livino' 
in North Dakota. Arno, Lizzie, Nellie and Otto 
still linger inider the parental rooftree. 

The political views of Mr. Gurney coincide with 
the princiiiles laid down in the Republican plat- 
foi-m, and he exercises the right of suffrage in be- 
half of that party, taking quite an active part in 
political affairs. While living in the town of Wil- 
ton, he was Township Assessor, and he has accept- 
ably tilled the oliiee of School Director. It would be 
but natural to suppose th.at he is interested in the 
progress of the cause of education as well as in 
other civilizing and im|)roving movements, and 
such is the case. He has for many years been one 
of the largest cattle feedeis in the county, and is 
also extensively engaged in breeding English Shire 
horses. It will thus be seen that he is one of the 
mcst active business men in this section of Illi- 
nois. 

In conni;ction with the personal sketch of Mr. 
Gurney we present his portrait, to which we invite 
the reader's attention. It represents a man who, 
together with his family, stands high in the regard 
of others. 



^^EORGE EIB. The name of this gentleman 
if ^i7 '^ conspicuous among the old settlers of 
'^^4 this county, in which he began his residence 
while it was still a part of Cook County and he but 
a lad. From the time when he accompanied his 
father here he has been a continuous resident, and 
has borne a share in the agricultural development 
which has made the wilderness blossom like the 
rose, and which makes of this broad State one of 
the most prosperous commonwealths of the nation. 



536 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



His beautiful farm is located on section 7, Jackson 
Township, and comprises tvvo Imndiedand seventy- 
two and a half acres, on which good improvements 
have been made by the present owner. 

The parents of our subject were Peter and Mad- 
alina (Gilbert) Eib, the former of whom was born 
in Lancaster County, Pa. The early years of their 
wedded life were spent in Harrison County, W. Va., 
whence they removed to Columbus, Ohio, Mrs. Eib 
dying in the Buckeye State. The family afterward 
removed to Fountain County, Ind., and in 1833, 
made settlement where George Eib now lives. The 
fatlier died in this township in 1858. His first 
marriage resulted in the birth of eight children, of 
whom our subject is llie tliird in order of birth. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born in 
Clarksburg, Harrison County, W. Va., March 17, 
1816. He was ten years old when his parents re- 
moved to Ohio, and seven years later he accom- 
l^tnicd Ills fatlier to Hlinois. Farming has been 
his life work, and success has attended his labors. 
He has not sought for office, but lias preferred tiie 
ciuict of his liome and tlie association of his many 
friends to tiie rivalries and excitements of public 
life. He is a Democrat, always ready to east his 
vote whtn occasion demands. Mr. Eili possesses a 
genial, social nature, and tiie hospitable spirit whicli 
makes his society souglit, and by his quiet pur- 
suance of duly and honorable character he retains 
the friendship of those who are predisposed toward 
him by his social qualities. 

At the home of the bride, in Joliet Township, 
May 18, 18-14, the rites of wedlock were celebrated 
between George Eib and Mary Ann Zumwalt. This 
lady was born in Adams County, Ohio. January 
31, 1824, being the second in a famil3' of fourteen 
brothers and sisters. Her parents were Joseph 
Zumwalt, a native of Kentucky, and Mary (Ogle) 
Zumwalt, who was born in Adams Counl}^, Ohio. 
Their wedded life began in the Buckeye State, 
wh(:nce they removed to Hancock County, Ind., 
and in 1834 to this section, which was then in- 
cluded in Cook County. They settled in what is 
now Joliet Township, continuing to reside there 
until 1849, when they removed to California. They 
made their liorae on the Pacific Slope from that 
time, the mother dying there in 1885. Mr. Zum- 



walt still survives at a very advanced age, having 
been born in 1800. 

It will be hard to find a woman who possesses a 
greater number of the qualities of ideal womanliood 
than Mrs. Eib, of whom her husband can truly say 
"her price is far above rubies." She is the mother 
of nine children, two of wiiom died when joung, 
liie survivors being Peter B., Louisa, Alineda, 
Mary 0., Catherine A., George J. "W. and Jacob 
L. Peter and Louisa live in California, the lat- 
ter being the wife of William Ash; Almeda is 
the wife of George Hibner, of Grundj' County; 
Mary is the wife of Andrew Shelly, of Nebraska; 
Catherine and George are yet at home, and Jacob 
is farming in tliis county. 



\i: OHN li. CASEY, M. D. The subject of this 
notice bears the distinction of having been 
a resident c>f Joliet for the long pi-riod of 
thirty years. He came to Will County, 
when the city where he now resides was little more 
than a hamlet and while watching its growtli and 
progress, lie lias been no unimportant factor in 
bringing it to its present condition. As a [ihysi- 
cian and surgeon, he has.m:ide for liimself a good 
record, while at the same time he has been promi- 
nent in local affairs and now represents the Second 
Ward as a member of the City Council. 

A native-born citizen of the Prairie State. Dr. 
Casey was born January 28, 1835, in the town of 
Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Countv. The name of his 
father, Zadok Casey, was familiar to the people of 
Illinois over fifty 3'ears ago. he having been Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of the State. The mother bore 
the maiden name of Rachael King. The parents 
were natives of Kentucky and are now deceased. 
Their family consisted of seven children, four now 
living. 

The subject of this notice pursued his studies in 
the common schools until a youth of sixteen years, 
and was then admitted as a student of McKendree 
College at Lebanon, 111. After completing his 
studies in this institution he began reading medi- 
cine under the instruction of Dr. Charles A. Pope, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.- 



537 



of St. Louis, Mo. When sufficiently advanced he 
entered in 1857, Pope's Medic.il College, from 
which in due lime he was graduated, equipped with 
the knowledge necessar}' to enter upon the duties 
of his chosen calling. 

The young physician commenced the practice of 
his profession at OIney, Richland County, tiiis State, 
but remained there only a comparatively short time, 
removing in 1859 to Joliet, of which he has since 
been a resident. In the meantime he has built up 
an extensive and lucrative i)ractice and has become 
widely and favorably known to the people of Will 
County. He was Physician and Surgeon at the 
Penitentiarj' for a [)eriod of ten years. He is 
prominently connected with the Will County Med- 
ical Society, of which he was at one time the 
President. 

Dr. Case}' was married June 10, 1863, at the 
bride's home in Joliet, 111., to Miss Ada Vander- 
pool, a native of New York City. Of this union 
there were born four children, all of whom are liv- 
ing and at home, namely: Florida, who remains 
with her father; Willis; Dvvight, who is attending 
school in Delafleld, Wis., and Laura, who is pursu- 
ing her studies in Hannibal, Mo. Mrs. Ada Case}' 
departed this life at her home in Joliet, July 4, 
1881. The l^oetor, politicall}', is a stanch Demo- 
crat and he finds his religious home in Christ 
Episcopal Church, of Joliel. 



\TT — .fj KRAUSE occupies a jirominent and worthy 
Ni place among the thrifty, well-to-do agricul- 
turists of AVill County, and his well-man- 
aged farm in Channahon Townshi]) attests to his 
skill and success as a farmer. Our subject was born 
in the Province of Bradenburg, about eighty miles 
cast of Berlin, Germany, November 2, 1829. He 
was there reared and received excellent educational 
advantages, his father desiring him to attend col- 
lege. Our subject did not care for that, however, 
MS his ambition la}' in another direction, and shortly 
after his marriage, in 1856, to Miss Ilattie Sabath, 
he came to America to try his fortunes in this land 
of promise. He first went to Jlilwaukce and from 



there to Watertown, Wis., where he was actively 
engaged in farming for eight years. In 1864 he 
took a trip to Jefferson City, Mo., to survey the 
country with a view to locating iu that vicinity. 
He lived there a year but as it was during the war 
he found it not a very agreeable abiding place and 
wished to move where he could secure greater 
freedom. He was a member of the militia, and 
while serving he was taken seriously ill, and as soon 
as able came to Joliet and was sick there for sev- 
eral months, but under the skillful care of Dr. Hays 
he recovered in the spring and then went on a faim 
on the same section where he now lives, renting 
it for awhile. In 1868 his wife bought twenty acres 
of land which they still own. But he did not think 
it sufficient for a farm, and in 1870 he bought the 
eighty acres adjoining, on which he has built up a 
roomy and substantial home. His house and barn 
are the result of his own handiwork, as he was al- 
ways very proQcient in the use of tools, and while 
living in Missouri followed the trade of a carpenter. 
After coming here Mr. Krause had the misfortune 
to lose his wife, as she died after giving birth to 
their only daughter, IMinnie, who is now the wife 
of John llobner, of Jackson Township. Our sub- 
ject was again married, taking for his wife Miss 
.Sophia Fritz, of Watertown, Wis., and she has been 
a faithful helpmate to him. She came from the 
same part of Germany as himself, originally. They 
have no children of their own, but two of Mrs. 
Krause's neices have a home with them, Alvina and 
Lena Druham, children of Mrs. Krause's sister. 

Mr. Krause is a very intelligent gentleman and 
is well posted in all the current events of the day. 
He and his wife are whole-souled, kind-hearted peo- 
ple, and their pleasant home, about eight miles from 
Joliet, is the seat of true hospitality. Although of 
foreign birth, Mr. Krause takes a patriotic interest 
in his adopted country and is a Rei)ubliean in pol- 
itics, his experience with the Democratic party hav- 
ing been such as to make him lose confidence iu 
its methods from the start. He says, while in 
Milwaukee, when Buchanan was running for the 
Presidency, the Democratic politicians tried to 
make him vote in the Sixth Ward, although he 
was not a resident of that part of the city and 
was not, in fact, a legal voter, not having ob- 



538 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tiiincd Ills ii;itur:ili/.:ili(in papei's. Another (ionnan 
asked liiin wliy lie would not vote, and remarked 
that he had voted six times tliat day and got a 
glass of l)eer eacii time. When Lincoln was the 
Presidential candidate, our subject was a legal voter 
and was at that time working for a Democrat, 
liotli being busy in the cornfield they paired off, 
each agreeing not to vote. Towards evening his 
employer made an excuse to go to the house, and 
there got on a swift horse, rode to town and voted 
just before the polls closed, thus cheating Sir. 
Krause out of his vote. His personal contact with 
the same partj' duiiiig his staj' in jNIissouri, in the 
excitement during the war.only served to strengthen 
his prejudice against it. 






TW ^^i^'RY II. LICHTP:N WALTER. In noting 
the leading incidents in the life record of 
this gentleman, who is numbered among 
'j^J the leading men in Florence Township^ we 
find that he was born in Stark County, Ohio, Au- 
gust '28, 1833, and is a son of Solomon and Cather- 
ine (I Lane) Lichtenwalt?)-, who were botli descen- 
dants of highl_y respectable families. Solomon 
Lichten waiter was liorn in Adams County, Pa., in 
1797. He emigrated to Ohio when a j'oung man, 
locating in Stark County, and secured a farm upon 
which he spent the remainder of his life, probably 
aliout fifty years. He was a plain, unassuming 
citizen, conscientious in his dealings with his fel- 
low-men, and one who enjoyed the esteem and 
comfidence of all who knew him. 

The father of our subject started in life a poor 
boy and obtained a foothold, financiall3', working 
out by the month and day. He became well-to-do 
in later years, and was a member in good standing 
of the Lutheran Church, in whose welfare and 
prosperity he took a warm interest, engaging ac- 
tively in religious work and giving to the church 
a liberal support. He was one of the few who 
were instrumental in the erection of the church 
edifice in Jackson Township, Stark County, and 
assisted in upholding the society when at times it 
was liable to be dismembered. Politically, he was 



a stanch Democrat from the first to the last of his 
voting days, Irut aside from this did not meddle 
with public affairs. He departed this life at the 
old homestead in 1885. His father was Abraham 
Lichtenwalter, likewise a native of Pennsylvania, 
and of (ierman extraction. The latter died in 
Ohio, and his remains were laid to rest in the cem- 
etery in Canton. 

Mrs. Catherine Lichtenwalter, the mother of 
our subject, was born in Lebanon Count}', Pa., 
about 180G. She died in 18(i0, aged about fifty- 
four years, in Stark County, Ohio. She was a daugh- 
ter of Christian Hane, a native of Pennsylvania and 
who spent his last 3-ears in Ohio. To the parents 
of our subject there was born a family of fourteen 
children, eight of whom lived to mature years; 
Samuel is a farmer and carpentei- and lives at Mc- 
Donaldsville, Ohio; Mary became the wife of Sam- 
uel Braucher, a farmer of Stark County, Ohio, 
and is deceased; Sarah is the wife of Martin 
Metz, a farmer and •carpenter of Elwood, this 
county; John, a farmer and carpenter, also lives 
at Elwood; William pursues the same calling in 
Manhattan, this State; Henry IL, our subject, is 
the next in order of birth; Christian carries on 
farming and carpentering in Thayer County, Neb. ; 
Amanda is the wife of Wdliam Young, a farmer 
of Stark County, Ohio. The other six children 
died in infancy. 

The subject of this notice was one of the 
younger members of the parental family, and 
was reared at the olil homestead in his native 
county, where like several of his brothers, he 
learned both car[)entering and farming. He re- 
mained with his father until 18.')(), then decided 
upon seeking his fortunes in the farther West, and 
coming to this county followed carpentering for 
a year or so, and then, about 18(j0, purchased 
eighty acres of land on section 1 1, Jackson Town- 
ship. He gave his attention to the improvement 
and cultivation of this until 1869, then removed 
to his present farm, which comprises two hun- 
dred and forty acres, and is located on section 1. 
He also owns one hundred and sixty acres ad- 
joining, the latter lying on section 6, Wilton 
Township, and he has eighty acres on section 31, 
Manhattan Township, besides another quarter sec- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



539 



tion elsewhere in that townshi)). In addition he 
has eighty acres on section 23, Jackson Town- 
ship and one hundred and forty acres on section 
36. 

Mr. Lichtemvalter began life at the foot of 
the ladder and has accumulated his property by 
his own unaided efforts. He was made inti- 
mately acquainted with hard work at an early 
period in his life and formed the lKil)it of econ- 
omy and prudence which have been the secret of 
his later success. Since becoming a voter he has 
given his allegiance to tlie Republican party. 
He servefl one term as Supervisor of Florence 
Township, and with his family is prominently 
connected with the Evangelical Church. 

The subject of this notice was married Sep- 
tember 2, 1858, to Miss Leah Geiss, of Jackson 
Township. This lady was born in 1838, in Leb- 
anon County, Pa., to John and Erb Geiss, the for- 
mer of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and 
who came to Illinois in 1854. He is still living, 
making his home with our subject. 

Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lich- 
tenwalter, the eldest, a daughter, Martha, died 
when six weeks old; Orlando is unmarried and re- 
mains w-ith his parents; Franklin married Miss 
Ella Kirkham, has two children, Floyd and Bue- 
lah. and is occupied at farming in Wilton Town- 
ship; Harvey died when twenty-five years old; 
Albert and Frances are unmarried and living at 
home ; Mary and Owen died at tiie ages of three 
and two years respectively. The next child died 
at birth; John and Addie are at home. 



^|Z_^ ENRY C. WASSMANN is the owner and 
occupant of a fine property on section 25, 
Crete Township, consisting of two hundred 
•0) and tweut3'-five acres of land marked with 
the improvements that are generally to be found 
on the estates of men of enterprise. A full line of 
substantial buildings stands upon it, and it is well 
stocked with farm animals and useful machinery, 
together with the household conveniences which 
properly accompany a well-arranged establishment. 



This farm has been the home of Mr. Wassmann 
about twentj' 3'ears and has been owned by him 
since the death of his father in 1875. He has made 
most of the improvements and is successfully pros- 
ecuting the labors of a general farmer. 

In the Kingdom of Hanover, which forms a 
part of the Germanic Confederation, Christoph 
Wassmann, the father of our subject, was born. He 
married Miss Sophia Rohe, who was born and 
reared in the same Kingdom, and soon afterward 
set out with his bi-ide for America. They landed 
at New York and made a settlement in tlie coun- 
try near the metropolis, but a few years later re- 
moved to Lake County, Ind. Locating on a farm 
at Brunswick, Mr. Wassmann continued the farm 
labors to whicli he had been reared in his native 
land, remaining in that locality until about 1870, 
when he came to Illinois. He purchased the farm 
now owned by his son, our subject, and here 
breathed his last when fifty-two years of age. His 
wife survived him two years,dying at her home when 
she also was about fifty-two years old. Both were 
members of the Lutheran Church and well known 
to the best people of the township. Mr. Wassmann 
was a practical and hard-working farmer, and was 
a fine specimen of German citizenship. 

Of the three children born to his parents, our 
sul)ject is the only one now living. He opened his 
eyes to the light in the Empire State, March 17, 
1850, and was quite young when his parents re- 
moved to Indiana, and not yet of age when they 
became residents of this State. His education was 
completed in the German schools of this county 
and he assisted his father in the labors of the home 
continuing the work begun by his parent, when, 
by that parent's death, he inherited the estate. He 
follows the example and teaching of his parents 
in being a consistent member of the Lutheran 
Church, to which his estimable wife also belongs. 
In politics he is a sound Republican. 

At the home of the bride, in this township, De- 
cember 10, 1874, Mr. Wassmann, of whom we write, 
became the husband of Miss Sophia Meier. This 
lady was born in this township February 20, 1854, 
and is the oldest daughter of John O. Meier (of 
whom see sketch). She was educated in Crete and 
was the rec"ii)ient of careful home training b}' her 



540 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




parents, acquiring useful and upright habits. Her 
union with our suljject has been blessed by the birtli 
of seven children, and none of tlie interesting 
group are missing from the liomc. They are 
named respectively: Millie, John, Herman, Ada, 
Henry, Frederick and I^ouis. 



y 

IMOX MILLER, a prominent citizen of 
Mouee Townsliip, has lield an important 
l)lace among the business men of Will 
County for several years, and has aided in 
jHitting it upon a sound financial basis, and is one 
of ils best civic oflicials. He was born in Kaiser^- 
Lautein, in the Province of Bavaria, October 9, 
18.'U, [lis birthplace being near the River Rliine. 
Ills parents, George and ^'eronika ( Iinlioff) Miller), 
were both natives of Bavaria, the father born Sep- 
tember 10, 1800, and tiie mother May 4, 1804. 
They came to the United States in the spring of 
1849, and located in Cook County, living in Chi- 
cago for three or four years. Mr. Miller was su- 
perintendent of a large lumber trade in the old 
country, and subsequently was in the grocery busi- 
ness on the southeast corner of Clinton and Madi- 
son Streets. He bought a building on Clark Street 
for 150, and moved it across the river, about 1850, 
the removal being made on a Hat-boat; the build- 
ing is still standing in Chicago. Mr. Miller then 
took up his residence in the town of Richtou, whero 
his death occurred. He; and his wife were con- 
sistent members of the Evangelical Protestant 
Church, and took an active part in its work. They 
liad ten cliildren, and the following seven came to 
the United States: Catherine, Frederick, Adam, 
Simon, Lena, Louisa and Henrietta. 

Tiie son, of whom we write, at fifteen years of 
ao-e <ias apprenticed to learn the trade of a tin and 
coppersmith, and worked at tliat ten years. Then 
going to Richton he built the Richton House, and 
for three or four years was engaged as a hotel 
keeper. He then bought a fine store in Madison, 
which he managed till 18G7, when he came to Mo- 
nee, and with Conr.ad Tatge and August Herbert 



established himself in the general merchandising 
business, and was extensively engaged in buying 
grain, under the firm name of Tatge. Miller k. Her- 
bert. Tiiey were together some years, but after 
1877 he was alone. In September, 1888, he turned 
over his business, which had greatly increased un- 
der ids able managementr, to his son and son-in-law. 
He has .acquired a good deal of valuable property'. 
He owns two farms, containing two hundred acres, 
in Will County, and has an interest in his former 
business, owning two elevators. He is also the pro- 
prietor of the store building, and has a fine resi- 
dence and a store where he lives, besides has 
property in Chicago, on the corner of Webster and 
Burling Streets, also a building on Orchard Street, 
and has residence property in that city worth about 
$25,000. 

Mr. Miller has built up a l:)eaulifiil liome, and the 
lady who presides over it liecame his wife Januar}' 
19, 185(), the ceremony that made them one being 
performed in Chicag(j. Mrs. Miller's maiden name 
was Elizabeth Beppeiling, and she was born in 
New York City, February 19, 1840. the oidy 
daughter of John George and Johanna (Paul) Bep- 
perling. In 1842 she came to Chicago with her 
parents, where the father died, and the mother 
married John Davis, who became a i)ioneer of 
the city, he building the first brick liouse on the 
North Side, located near the old Lake House. He 
was one of the charter members of the first Ma- 
sonic r^odge in Chicago. He w.asof English birth, 
and came to the United States in 1812, rather un- 
willingly, he having been captured by an American 
[irivateer. He took an active part in the famous 
Black Hawk War. He came to this country- with- 
out any means, but at his death left a large prop- . 
crty. The happ}' wedded life of our subject and 
his estimable wife has resulted to them in the birth 
of five children, two now living — Mary and George 
S. Their daughter is the wife of F. J. Sanchez, 
who was born in the same room of the same house 
in which our subject was born. His father, Franz 
Sanchez, was a native of the same place, the son of 
a Spaniard, who was an officer in the Spanish 
army. He was captured by Napoleon and taken 
to Germany a prisoner, and after the war settled 
there. He subsequently came to the United States, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBLiM. 



541 



and passed the remainder of his life in Iowa. Some 
of liis children bore an honorable part in the late 
war. 

Mr. Miller has had the making of his own for- 
tune, as he began life without a dollar he could 
call his own. By the quiet force of persistent 
effort, directed by wise discretion and constant de- 
votion to duty, he has left poverty far behind, and 
to-day is a wealthy man, with an assured income 
from his handsome property. He has aiwaj-s been 
closely identified with the pulilic life of Will 
County since he took up his residence here. While 
living in Richton lie was Townshii) Clerk through 
the war, at Madison he w,as Postmaster, and since 
coming here he has borne a itroraincnt part in the 
management of the public affairs of township and 
count}'. He served as a member and also as the 
President of the Board of Trustees a number of 
years, and is now serving his third term as Super- 
visor of Monee, and is one of the most able men 
holding that office on the County Board. In poli- 
tics he has ever been a firm Democrat of the Doug- 
las order, and his high standing in tlie county is 
apparent when it is considered that he is the rep- 
resentative of a Republican stronghold. 



,,.,. W. SLAUGHT, M. D. During the com- 
(@7lJ|! paratively brief time in which Dr. Slauglit 
has been located in Joliet, having settled 
gJC here in September, 1888, he has built up a 

fine practice, and is rapidly acquiring an envialile 
reputation as a physician and surgeon. He is com- 
paratively a young man, having been born July 6, 
1 8.35, and his native place is in the vicinity of 
Watkin's Glen, N. Y. His father, Abram Siaught, 
was also a native of the Empire State, where he 
was reared to manhood and married to Miss Helen 
Hanle3% of Schuyler County. 

The mother of our subject was born and reared 
near the childhood home of her husband. The 
father is a farmer by occupation and was also the 
proprietor of a foundry and machine shop at Wat- 
kin's Glen. A. W., our subject, sojourned there 
with his parents until a youth of sixteen j'ears, at- 



tending the public schools. He then entered Col- 
gate Academy and later was a student of Madison 
Universit}^ from which he was duly graduated. 
For two years afterward he was employed in the 
Hamilton post-ofTice, Init in the meantime lie util- 
ized his leisure hours in the study of medicine. 
Later he emigrated to Marquette, Jlich., where he 
engaged in teaching and in otiier occupations, but 
all this time he had in view the medical profession 
and for this he labored. 

In due time young Siaught, to his great satisfac- 
tion, entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical 
College, becoming a member of the class of '83, 
and while pursuing his studies .also engaged in 
practice and as a nurse, finally filling the position 
of professional nurse for some time in Chicago. 
He was graduated from the above-named institution 
in February, 1887, and for a time thereafter at- 
tended to the business of one of the old physicians 
who was away on his vacation. Subsequently he 
repeated the same at Braidwood, this county, and 
in the meantime he visited his mother in Florida, 
where her death took place in April, 1889; she was 
then seventy-one years old. 

Upon coming to Joliet Dr. Siaught engaged in 
practice with Dr. Campbell, one of its oldest and 
most prominent pli3'sicians and they made a spe- 
cialty of the diseases of women, doing at the same 
time a large amount of surgical work. This part- 
nership still continues, although Dr. Campbell is at 
present (1890) in California. Dr. Siaught, sociall}-, 
belongs to the Inilependent Order of Odd Fellows, 
of .Toliet, and it is predicted that not onlj' as a phy- 
sician and surgeon, but as a member of the com- 
munity, he is destined in the near future to make 
his mark. 

i\,^, ICIIAFL RAPPLE. The farming com- 
munity of Joliet Township recognizes a 
worthy representative in the subject of 
this notice, who pursues the even tenor of 
his way at a well-developed farm on section 7, and 
who exercises a considerable influence in his com- 
munity. He is looked upon as one of its most re- 
liable men, and has held the various local offices, 




r)42 



PORTRAIT AND BlOGRAi'HlCAL ALBUM. 



serving us Coininissioner of Highways six years, 
also as School Director, and in politics is a J)erao- 
crat. He was reared in the faith of the Catiiolic 
Church, to which he and his estimable wife belong, 
attending services at Joliet. 

In noting the antecedents of our subject we find 
tl'.at lie is the son of Samuel Rapple, a native of 
what was tiien the French I'rovincc of Alsace, but 
which now belongs to (Jerniany. The mother bore 
the maiden name of Barbara Anser. She was a 
native of 'the same village as her husband, where 
they were marrieil and lived for several years after- 
ward. In 184G they decided upon emigrating to 
America, and crossed the Atlantic in the spring of 
the year, coming directly to Will County, 111., and 
settling in Joliet. The father occupied himself as 
a farmer, and died there in the spring of 1867. 
The mother survived her husband a number of 
years, dying at the home of her son, our subject, 
about 1885. 

To Samuel Rapple and his good wife there was 
born a family of five children, the eldest of whom 
was he whose name heads this sketch. He was a 
native of the same province as his parents, and was 
born August 25, 18;i3. He was a lad of thirteen 
years when the family emigrated to America, and 
he sojourned with them about four years thereafter. 
In the spring of 1850, when a youth of seventeen 
years, he started for California, joining the caravan 
which was hastening thither in starch of gold. 
After an absence of about eighteen months he was 
content to return home, and thereafter followed 
the i)eaceful pursuits of farm life. In addition to 
this he has also been considerably interested in 
buying and shipinng horses, especially during the 
war and for some lime afterward. 

Mr. Rapple was married, in Chicago, III., Sep- 
tember 4, 1853, to Miss Antoinette Trentel. This 
lady was also a native of the Province of Alsace, 
and was born May 7, 18.'!2. Her })arents were of 
German ancestry, and are now deceased. She came 
to America with her parents aV)out 1846, and of 
her union with our subject there have been born 
six children, viz.: Teresa, Louisa, Mary (the wife 
of John Kiep), William, Anna and Joseph. The 
five unmarried children remain at liome with their 
parents. Mr. Rapple, about 1867, purchased his 



present farm, which comprises two hundred and 
sixty acres of choice land, upon which he has 
effected good improvements. He has been indus- 
trious, frugal and temperate, and has acquired a' 
competency. 

^ WILLIAM LYiXK. The village of New 
\\/&y// J-''-'"'^^ ''^* been the home of this gentle- 
V^^ man since 1873, at which time he removed 
from the farm on which he had been residing. He 
was born in Columbia County, N. Y. September 
20, 1824, and came to this count}' with his father. 
The [larental history is included in the sketch of 
Stanton Lynk, which will be found elsewhere in 
this book. Realizing that it is not good for man 
to liv(; alone, he of whom we write took to him- 
self a wife September 16, 1851, the marriage cer- 
emony bein^' performed at the bride's home iu 
New Lenox Township. 

The lady who became the vvife of our subject 
was known in her maidenhood as Miss Chastina 
Rugg. She belongs to a most honorable family and 
in her own person exhibits many estimable qualities 
and wcjmanly virtues. She was born iu Winhall, 
Bcmnington County, Vt., September 4, 1834, and 
is the eldest of three children born to her parents- 
Her wedded life was begun near the village of New 
Lenox and for over twenty years she and her hus- 
band remained upon their rural estate. 

The father of Mrs. Lynk was Jason Rugg, a 
native of New Hampshire, born August 15, 1806, 
and her mother was Lydia Mellen, who was born in 
the town of Winhall, Bennington Count}', Vt., 
November 19, 1809. The couple were mar- 
ried in 1832, and at once settled in Bennington 
County, of the Green Mountain State, where they 
remained four years. They then changed their 
residence to Will County, III, making their home 
in New Lenox Township, where Mr. Rugg departed 
this life February 10, 1873. He was a Justice of 
the Peace for fifteen years, known and honored of 
men for his nprigiit character, reliable citizenship, 
and active intelligence. He belonged to the Meth- 
odist Kpiscoiial Church, and took an active part 




®> 




UJ- 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



545 



in the good work of that organization. His widow 
is identified with tlie same religions bodj'. Beside 
Mrs. Lynk of this notice, tlie family of Mr. and 
Mrs. Rugg included John J., who lives in South 
Evanston, Cook Count^^ l>orn September 10, 
1838, and Olivia O.. wife of Tunis Lynk. who died 
in New Lenox, June 19, 1881. John J. Rugg, 
married Jane Simmons, October 1 1, 1860, and lived 
on the old home place until 1889, when he moved 
to Ev.anston and is now engaged in the real-estate 
business in the city of Chicago. 



^i: 



El^^ 




EV. CHRISTOPHER PATRICK FOSTER, 

iff' Pastor of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 
of Joliet, was born in Manchester, p]ngland, 
^^; August 24, 1855. He is a son of Edward 
and Marj- J. (Haley) Foster, natives of Ireland who 
came to America in 1865. Their first home in the 
United States was at Kushville, Ind., whence they 
removed to Indianapolis, where the father has 
gained prominence as a merchant tailor. He has 
a large establishment of his own, emplo3ing quite 
a number of men, turning out excellent work, and 
conducting his affairs according to the most honor- 
able business methods. He is the father of seven 
children, of whom Father C. P. Foster is the first- 
born. 

Father Foster began his studies in 1870, at Bard- 
stown, K3'., in the old ecclesiastical establishment 
of that place so justly celebrated among Catholics 
for its thoroughness. From there he went to the 
Jesuit College at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1871, after- 
ward entering Mt. St. Mary's Seminar}^ of the West, 
in Cincinnati, where he completed his studies, hav- 
ing attended there nine years. He then spent a year 
as an instructor in the advanced course of rhetoric 
and belles lettres at Bourbonnais Grove, Kankakee 
County, 111., in St. Viateur's College, an institution 
ranking among the best in the State. 

On June 24, 1881, Father Foster was appointed 
Assistant Priest at St. John's Church, at the corner 
of Eighteenth and Clark Streets, Chicago, under the 
venerated and respected Rev. John Waldron, one 
of the oldest and most honored piiests <>f the arch- 



diocese. He received his appointment as pastor of 
the Sacred Heart Church, in Joliet, and assumed 
charge of the parish, September 28, 1888. His ser- 
vices are recognized as earnest and faithful, and he 
is doing a fine work among his people. Respect is 
entertained for iiim by all classes, his scholarly 
attainments making him a fit companion of the 
cultured people of Joliet, and his devotion to the 
work which he has taken up" commanding admir- 
ation. 

A lithographic portrait of Father Foster will be 
noticed elsewhere in this volume, and will be valued 
not only among his own parishoners, but by all 
who know him. 




EOPOLD NEUER. This gentleman has 
been a resident of Joliet since 1873, and 
auks among her successful citizens. He 
owns prodiietive property and is largely interested 
in building and loan stock. He is a son of George 
and Walpurga Neuer, and was born in Bavaria, 
Germanj', June 8, 1829. In his nati\ce land he 
followed the trade of a wagon-maker, but during 
the last six years of his life in Germany the hard- 
ships and privations of a soldier were his portion, 
his time being spent in the army. On the 24th of 
Februarj-, 1857, he landed in New York, drawn 
thither by glowing accounts of the possibilities of- 
fered in the New World and thoroughly tired of- 
the rigors and contracted opportunities of the old. 
Going directly to Chicago, Mr. Neuer took up 
his trade of wagon-making, but after three months 
went to Manistee, Mich., and worked in a sawmill. 
Returning to Chicago he succeeded in spending 
what money he had accumulated, after which his 
next move was to go upon a farm, where he re- 
mained until after the breaking out of the Civil 
War. Moved by patriotic impulses which strongly 
contrasted with the feelings which were his when 
he entered the military service of the Fatherland, 
he enlisted November 1, 1862, in the Thirteenth 
Illinois Cavalry. After eleven months spent with 
that command he re-enlisted as a member of Bat- 



546 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




tery D, First Illinois ArUilery. With this com- 
raaud be remained nineteen muntlis, making a good 
record as a soldier, his previous discipline in the 
German army being of avail in giving him a vivid 
understanding of orders and a readiness in fulfill- 
ing them which a raw recruit would scarcely have. 
Wherever his battery was engaged there he was 
found always ready for duty. 

After the war was over Mr. JNcuer returned to 
Chicago, where in 1865, he was united in marriage 
with Mrs. Kichorn. He opened a saloon in Madi- 
.•ion, Cook Count}', but in a few years took up his 
nliode ill Juliet. He belongs to Bartelson Post, 
No. 6, G. A. R., to the Sharp-shooter's organiza- 
tion, and to the Kreiger-Vcrein or German Soldier 
Society. 

^HOMAS H. HUTCHINS. The business of 
a patent solicitor is one requiring a thorough 
understanding of the methods of procedure, 
and the duties of which are not generally under- 
tnken by the ordinary attorney. Of this Mr. 
Ilutchins makes a specialty and has established 
tlierein a wide and enviable reputation. He is 
thoroughly equipped for this line of practice, hav- 
ing a large library of works bearing on this special 
branch. Mr. Hutchins is however engaged in a 
large general law practice, and gives special atten- 
tion to probate business. 

The subject of this notice, a native of Saratoga 
County, N. Y., was born April 2, 1839, and is the 
son of William H., and Hannah (Clements) Hutch- 
ins, who were natives of New York. His father, 
William II. Hutchins followed merchandising in 
New York City until 1848, then came to this county 
and engaged in various speculations, dealing 
largely in real estate. He was a good financier, 
attended strictly to business, and accumulating a 
competence. He departed this life in July, 1877. 
The wife and mother survived her husband a num- 
ber of years, her death occurring February 22, 
1 89(», at the home of her daughter in Girard, 
Kmm., wliile on a visit, her liome being in Wichita, 
Kail. The parental family included seven cliild- 
ren, viz: Thomas II., our subject: George E., who 



was slain at Winchester during the Civil War; 
Sarali E., who died at Joliet in 1863; Anna M., 
Mrs. Harder, a resident of Lockport, this county; 
Mary E., Mrs. Byrnes, of Colorado; Jennie, Mrs. 
Gay lord of (iirard, Kan., and William J., a Patent 
Attorney, of Wichita, Kan. 

Mr. Hutchins acquired liis education in the 
cities of Joliet and Chicago, attending in the latter 
the famous Douglas University, from which he was 
graduated in April, 18G1. Soon afterward return- 
ing to Joliet, he entered upon the practice of his 
jjrofession, winch he has since continuously prose- 
cuted. He pursued his first law studies in the office 
of Parks & El wood, Joliet, 111., in 1857, and subse- 
quently he studied under R. E. Barber, where he 
was engaged in keeping abstracts of titles and 
where he largely obtained his knowledge and ex- 
perience in this business. 

The wedded life of Mr. Hutcliins began Decem- 
ber 6, 1866,when he was joined in marriage with Miss 
Nancy J., daughter of Hugh Bolton, of Plainfleld, 
tliis county. Tliis union h.as resulted in the birtii 
of four cliildren, two sons and two daugiiters, 
namely; Kate C, Laura E. Raj-mond, and Leonard 
B. INIr. Hutchins cast his first Presidential vote 
for Abraliam Lincoln and lias since continued his 
allegiance to tlie Republican party. And for many 
years he has been a recognized leader of tlie party in 
Illinois. 



R. JOHN E. HOG AN. Tiie life of this 
gentleman has been too short to give the 
biographical writer much to do in outlining 
it, but it affords the promise of filling an extended 
sphere of usefulness should life be spared. Pos- 
sessing a classical education, the quickness of per- 
ception and keen wit which are so characteristic of 
the better class of the Celtic race, and having had 
his faculties of mind thoroughly cultivated. Dr. 
Hogan is one who could make his mark in society; 
and when added to this we find a thorough knowl- 
edge of medicine and surgery, we are safe in pre- 
dicting an honorable and successful career for this 
3'oung member of the Joliet medical fraternity. 
The parents of our subject are John and Cather- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



547 



iue (Glackin) Hogau, of County Meatli, Ireland, 
wlieiice lliey came to America, the father in 1840, 
and the mother a few years later. Three of their 
(•liildren are yet living and six died in infancy. The 
survivors are: The Rev. J. E. Hogan, of Harvard, 
111.; Marj', who lives with her brother in Harvard; 
.ind John E., of this sketch. The birtli of the lat- 
ter look place June ?2, 1863, in Joliet, and he 
received his primary education in the parochial 
sciiools. He then spent two years in the public 
schools, after which he entered St. Francis' Semi- 
nary at Milwaukee. After a year si)ent at that in- 
stitution he was sent to Bourbonnais Grove, Kan- 
kakee, under the Franciscan Order, where he 
pursued his studies four years, comi)leting a classi- 
cal course and leaving the institution with a well- 
drilled mind and a memorj- stored with knowledge. 
Having determined to devote himself to the 
medical profession, Mr. Hogan entered the Chicago 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, from whit^h 
ho was graduated in 1887. He at once opened an 
( llicc in Joliet, but a twelvemonth later removed 
til Olivia, Minn., and after a year spent in that 
pliice returned to the city of his nativity in which 
lie desires to make his future home. Ur. Hogan is 
a Callxilic and belongs to the Democratic part}'. 



^ OHN SHUTTS. After long years spent in 
agricultural pursuits, the subject of this 
sketch has retired from the labors of life and 
is passing his declining years in a peaceful 
enjoyment of the comforts of life, surrounded by 
friends whom he has gained by his upright character, 
and blessed by the love of children whom he has 
reared to honorable and useful manhood and woman- 
h(}od. He is the possessor of one of the finest estates 
which Joliet Township boasts, comprising about 
two hundred and ten acres on section 22. Upon it 
he has erected substantial and adequate accomoda- 
tions for man and beast, together with such other 
buildings as are needful to shelter the crops which 
are raised ; he has also done such work in the way 
of fencing anil tree culture as the liest farmers 



undertake, all the trees to be seen near his fine home 
having been planted by himself. 

The subject of ihis sketch is the fourth in a fam- 
ily of eleven children born to Henry and Catherine 
(Seism) Sliutts. Both the parents were natives of 
Columbia Count}', N. Y., and there passed away. 
At Livingston the eyes of our subject opened to 
the light, September 9, 1814. He grew to manhood 
on his father's farm, making it his home until he 
was twenty-four years old. In the meantime he had 
secured as good an education as could be obtained 
in tlie schools of the vicinity, together with a thor- 
ough knowledge of .igriculture, and had become 
possessed of excellent habits and fine principles. 

Upon leaving the parental roof Mr, Shutts lo- 
cated upon a farm near his early home, remaining 
upon it three years when he traded for one in Uls- 
ter Count}' and removed there. For fourteen years 
lie was identified with the interests of that section, 
leaving it in the fall of 1855, to take up his resi- 
dence in Will County. 111. Choosing the location 
which has since been his home he renewed the la- 
bors in which he had formerly been engaged, soon 
becoming known among the old settlers as a farmer 
of progressive ideas, a citizen of public spirit and 
steadfastness, and a man of genial, hospitable na- 
ture and upright character. 

Among the very early settlers of Columbia 
County, N. Y., were Mr. and Mrs. Cole. To them 
was born a daughter Catherine, who grew to ma- 
turity in possession of a noble character, an intelli- 
gent mind, and tiie disposition and manners which 
made her companionship desired and fitted her to 
become a true helpmate for the man of her choice. 
The good qualities of this young lady won the re- 
gard of John Shuti? and after a successful wooing 
they were united in marriage at her home. Their 
happy wedded life was terminated December 21, 
1878, when the loving wife and devoted motiier 
was removed from her sorrowing household by the 
hand of death. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Shutts nine children were born, 
seven of them being yet alive. Catherine A. is 
the wife of Thomas Tait of Jackson Towaship; 
Henry is a lawyer in Oregon, Mo.; Samuel is a 
farmer in Joliet Townsliip; John Jr., lives on his 
fatlier'o farm ; Cassius is a resident of Rooks County, 



548 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




Kan.; Peter is practicing law in Joliet; Franklin 
lives in Rooks County, Kan. The rjeceaserl ciiil- 
(hen are Sarah, who died in infancy, and Mary wlio 
breathed her hist in February, 1890. 

Mr. Shutts has taken quite an active part in poli- 
tics, exercisins; tlie ri,a;ht of suffrage in Iiehalf of 
the Democrat party, lie has held the office of As- 
sistant Supervisor of Joliet Township several terms, 
and has been School Director thirteen years. He 
manifests'a deep interest in the cause of education, 
as in other elevating movements, and as an official 
is judicious and able. He is a member of the Pres- 
byterian Cluiroli, to which his deceased wife also 
belonged. 

/LYSSES S. G. BLAKELY, editor and pro- 
prietor of the Plainfleld Enterprise, though 
one of the youngest members of the editor- 
ial profession, has already won his way to a high 
position among the journalists of Will County, and 
his bright and newsy paper is classed among the 
ablest of its kind in this pari of the State. Our 
subject comes of good New England stock, and is 
himself a native of that part of the country, the 
town of Elmore, Lamoille Count}'. Vt., lieing the 
place of his birth, and May 9, 1868, the date tliereof. 
llis father, Caleb Hlakcl}', was also born in the 
Green Mountain State. He was a natural me- 
chanic, and early learned the trade of a coachmakcr, 
and followed it in \'ermoat till 1875, when he took 
advantage of a fine o|)ening in Neenah, Wis., and 
was engaged at his tr.ade there the ensuing three 
years. He then turneil his attention to farming, 
purchasing a line farm in Ilarrisville, Marquitte 
County. He lived there and man.aged his farming 
interests until 1882, when on account of ill health, 
he was obliged to retire from active life, and rent- 
ing his farm, he moved to Chilton, and continued 
his residence in Wisconsin until his death in 1884. 
The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Deyo. 
She departed this life in Vermont. Eleven of the 
fourteen children born to them were reared to ma- 
turity, and ten of them are still living, as foUovvs: 
William A., Haitland, Eliza, Jlrs. Cram; Carrie, 
ISIrs. Barrows ; Mary, Mrs. Bedell ; Ida, IVIrs. 



Sharpe; Nellie, Mrs. Scott: Myrtle, Mrs. Hamlin; 
Eva E., Mrs. Marvin; Ulysses S. G. 

The latter, of whom we write, was but four years 
of age when he had the sad misfortune to lose his 
mother, and he subsequently accompanied his father 
to Wisconsin. He remained with him until he was 
nine years old, and at that early age the manly, 
active, self-reliant little lad began to make his own 
way in the world, finding em[>loyment on a farm 
in Marquette County near I'ackwaukee, where he 
remained two years. We next hear of him in 
Michigan, where he was engaged in a chair factory 
in Reading, Hillsdale County. Two years later he 
threw up his situation there, and returned to Chil- 
ton, AVis. At the expiration of a year he again 
went to Michigan, and worked in a machine shop 
in Reading for some time. In 1887, he entered 
u|)on his career as a journalist, as he then came to 
Plainfleld and in comjiany with his brother-in-law, 
Rial A. Marvin, estai)lished the Plainfleld Enter- 
prise, and opened a job printing office at the same 
time. After Mr. Marvin's death in August, 188M, 
our subject bought out his interest in the busiiH>> 
and has ever since carried it on alone. Mr. Blakely 
is a bright, wide-awake young man, and while he 
has had no special training for his profession, he 
being mainly self-educated, his clear, well-balanced 
mind seems to be especially adai^ted to newspaper 
work, and he has achieved remarkable success in 
his calling. By his energetic raan.agement he has 
worked u|) the circulation of his paper to one thou- 
sand and fifty copies weekl\', a remarkable list of 
subscribers for a country paper. His editorials are 
clear-cut, vigorous and right to the point, and al- 
ways dis|)la3' an intelligent knowledge of the subject 
under discussion. His -paper is .lot the organ of 
any political party, but is independent in all things. 
Mr. Blakel}' was married in September, 1887, to 
Jliss Linnwood Bartholomew, a native of Reading, 
Hillsdale Count}'. Her father. Amos Bartholomew, 
was born in Pompey, Onondaga Count}-, N. Y., 
.lune 11, 1815, a son of Daniel Bartholomew, who 
was born November 18, 1777. He, in turn, was a 
son of Joseph Bartholomew, who was born in Wal- 
lingford, Conn., August 25, 1752. He was a pio- 
neer of the town of Pompey, and there died in 
1808. The maiden name of his wife w.as Esther 



PORTE AIT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 



549 



(Jsborn. Daniel Bartholomew was married to Lucy 
HoUiday, November 15, 1803. and died in Genesee 
County, N. Y., December 2, 1851. Mrs. Blakely's 
father was reared and married in his native State, 
and going to Michigan in 1836, became one of its 
sturdy, enterprising pioneers. He bouglit a tract 
of timber land near Reading, and cleared a good 
farm from the wilderness. He now lives in honor- 
able retirement in the village of Reading. He was 
twice married. The maiden name of his second 
wife, INIrs. Blai<ely's mother, was Abbio \a.n Buren, 
and slie was born in Charleton, Saratoga County, 
N. Y. Her father, Martin C. Van Buren, was a 
native of Broadalbion, Fulton County, N. Y., and 
married Nancy Vedrler, who was born at the same 
place, and was of Holland descent. The father of 
Martin C. Van Buren was a brotlier of President 
Van Buien. John A. Van Buren. an uncle of Mrs. 
Blakeiy, was taken prisoner on June 1, 1864, and 
lived until January', 1865, when he died at Ander- 
souvillc Prison. Mrs. Blakeiy was one of tUrei: 
children. Her sister Lizzie married Lester Rogers, 
and risides in Coldwater, Mich.; Mira E, the 
youngest of the three, died in 1882, aged eleven 
years. 



ON. THOMAS J. KELLY. This gentleman, 
jlj whose name will be at once recognized by 




many as that of a prominent merchant of 
Joliet, is serving that city as her Mayor 
for his third term, of two years each. His incum- 
bency of the office is marked by steps that reflect 
credit alike upon himself and the constituency that 
elected him and prove acceptable to tiie entire 
community. The dry-goods establishment on Jef- 
ferson Street that is conducted by Mr. Kelly is a 
flourishing enterprise, its patrons being sure of 
courteous treatment at the hands of the emplo3'es 
and of a strictly honorable dealing from all, no 
other method being permitted by the proprietor 
but that due to his self respect and integrity. 

The greater part of the life of our subject has 
been spent in this vicinity, aLhough the Emerald 
Isle claims him as her son. He w.as born June 24, 
1841, and with his parents, Edward and Rose Kelly, 



crossed the briny deep when about six years old. 
Tiie father bought a farm five miles south of the 
city of Joliet, later becoming the owner of one 
three-fourths of a mile north of the citj- limits, upon 
which he resided until his deatii in 1871. The 
mother is still living, her home being in the city. 
The family were earl}- members of St. Patrick's 
Cliurch. The household band comprised four sons 
and three daughters, three of whom liave joined 
their father beyond the tomb. Patrick H. and 
Edward died in W'atsonville, C.al. ; Mary also is de- 
ceased. Tlie survivors are T. J., the third in order 
of birth; Joseph A., the fifth; Kate and Bridget. 
Being a prosperous farmer and the owner of a fine 
property of three hundred and twenty acres of land, 
the elder Kelly was able to give his children good 
educational advantages and secure for them that 
best heritage. 

With tiie exception of the time devoted to stud3- 
in institutions of learning distant from his home, 
Tliomas Kellj' grew to maturity upon his father's 
farm. He attended the I'niversity of Notre Dame, 
at South Bend, Lid., and St. Mary's College at Wil- 
mington, Del., completing iiis tliorough course of 
study at the College of the Holy Cross in Montreal, 
Canada. For a time after being graduated he car- 
ried on agricultural work on the old farm, but since 
1887 has been continuously in business in the city 
of Joliet. He had become one of the prominent 
farmers of the county as he is now one of the prom- 
inent merchants of the cit3'. 

The career of the Hon. Mr. Kelly as a public ser- 
vant began in 1880 when he was elected Supervisor 
of Joliet City and township. The following year 
he was re-elected and in 1883 was tlie successful 
candidate for the Mayoralty, continning in the 
office four years. In 1884 and 1886 he was also 
Assistant Supervisor of the township and city, and 
for a year or two was Chairman of the County 
Board. Again has he been elected to act as Mayor, 
a place for which his high mental attainments and 
good judgment amply qualify him. 

The estimable wife of Mr. Kelly bore the maiden 
name of Mar}' F'itzpatrick, the rites of wedloclt 
having been celebrated between them September 
10, 1868. Mrs. Kelly is a daughter of Patrick 
Fitzpatrick, an early settler of the county in which 



550 



FORTH AIT AND BTOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



he located in 183'>. She was born on the farm tli- 
rootly west of Leek port, wns ciluentcd atvSt. Mnry's 
Aca(lcni_v,at South Heiiil, Iml.. ami possesses many 
fine traits of character. 

St. Mary's Ciuircli was oi'«:anize<l as a paiish in 
1807, witli Fatlier Fiannigan as the first pastor in 
ciiarge. He was succeeded in 18G9 by the Rev. P. 
W. Uiordan, now An^hbishop of San Francisco.and 
lie in Inrn liy lU'v. .T. Mackin now of Elgin, Kane 
County. The Rev. Thomas Murphy w.as the next 
incumbent in charge, he being the man who began 
the erection of the new church, dying suddenly of 
apoplexy before its completion in 1877. The next 
pastor of the church was the Rev. M. F. Burk, who 
completed the building to its present condition and 
erected the line stone building on Eastern Avenue 
that accommodates the parochial school. The latter 
edifice com[iares favorably with any school build- 
ing in the city. It is known as the Sacred Heart, 
and is conducted by the Ladies of Loretto. After 
a most successful pastorate of ten years, Father 
Burk was appointed Bishop of Cheyenne, and was 
succeeded here by the present pastor, the Rev. 
Father Thomas P. Mangan. 



RED EBERHART. It does not take a vis- 



,;\'! itor long to determine the status of tlie 
/l|, business houses which line the streets of 

any tovvn, and to decide who among the trades- 
men are popular, as well as of good repute in 
financial circles. A cursorj- vievv of the business 
houses of Manhattan would lead to the opinion that 
the gentleman above named occupies the front 
rank among the dealers in that flourishing corpo- 
ration. He is engaged in the sale of lumber, coal, 
paints and oils, and general building material; and 
also does a good business as a contractor and 
builder. In fact, during the last few years he has 
put up the most of the houses which have been 
built. 

The iranieiliate progenitors of this gentleman are 
Benedict and Anna (Palmer) Eberhart, both na- 
tives of Switzerland. The father was born in Can- 
ton Berne, and reared upon a farm there. He 




emigrated lb America when twenty-one years old, 
immediately after his marri.tge. and settled near 
Frankfort, this county. For a time he rented land 
but finally purchased a good farm in the same 
township upon wliich he resided until 1877. He 
then sold it and buying one hundred and sixty 
acres of improved land on section 11, Manhattan 
Township, changed his place of abode to that 
which he is now occupying. Although sixty years 
of age he is still active and able to continue the 
control of his estate. Politicall}-, he is a Democrat, 
and religiously, a Presbyterian. His father in-law, 
Jacob A. Palmer, also came to America in IS.'il , and 
after living in I-i'rankfort Township for a time, re- 
moved to LaPorte, Ind., where his comfortable cir- 
cumstances enabled him to live in retirement until 
his death. 

The parental family, of which our subject is the 
oldest member, also includes John, whose home is 
at Ft. Sidney, Neb.; Charles, who resides in Joliet; 
Louis, who is at home; Henr\', with our subject; 
Albert and Mary, at home; Anna, a milliner and 
dressmaker in Manhattan; and Mrs. Rosa Morse, 
who lives in Manhattan Township. 

The natal day of our subject was February 29, 
1856, and his birthplace a farm in Frankfort Town- 
ship. He enjoyed the privileges afforded hy the 
common schools and the Frankfort graded school, 
and like most lads reared upon a farm, began to 
lend a hand while still quite j'oung. He divided his 
time betvveen his school and farm labors until the 
age of twenty- five, when be became a cleik in a 
grocer}' store in Spencer. After a time he went to 
Chicago, where he ofliciated as scaleman at the 
Kinzie Street Station. 

The next change of Mr. Eberhart was to Man • 
hattan, this count}-, in 1879. Here he became a 
clerk for J. Cockle, the first merchant here, and 
sold the first groceries over a counter in'the village. 
After clerking a year the young man returned to 
Chicago and began speculating in the bucket-shop 
adjoining the Boaid of Trade on LaSalle Street, 
getting his real start in life there as a successful 
broker in every article of trade. In the fall of 1882, 
he came again to Manhattan, bought out A. H. 
King, a lumber dealer, and has since conducted a 
very successful business in that line. Manhattan 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



551 



is a good business point, with a rapidly increasing 
trade, and tlie various articles in whicii Mr. Eber- 
hart now deals are in constant demand. He owns 
block 3, where the sheds for lumber, coal, etc., are 
located. He also owns several town lots here and 
in the West, together with three hundred and 
twenty acres of farming land in Cheyenne County, 
Neb., near Ft. Sidney. 

After having lived in single blessedness until 
the age of thirty-two j-ears, Mr. Eberharl eontrneted 
a matrimonial alliance on February 2d, 1889. His 
chosen companion was Miss Minnie Jacobs, who 
was born in Gi'een Garden Township, comes of re- 
spected parents and is herself a tine specimen of 
noble womanhood. She is the daughter of Corne- 
lius Jacobs, a farmer. Mr. Eberhart helped to in- 
corporate the village of Manliattan and was 
elected a member of its first Board of Trustees, hold- 
ing the oflice until 1890. He w.is Townsliip Clerk 
for eight years, resigning all public ollice in 1890, 
and retiring to jirivate life. 

Mr. Eberhart, as will be seen from the abovo 
notes, is i.iersonall^' responsible for his substantial 
finances and the high |>osition which he occupies as 
a business man and citizen. He ^s one of those 
zealous men who devote much time and ability to 
the improvement of the town with whose citi- 
zens they have cast in their lot, and to whom is 
due in a large measure the prosperity of the entire 
community. He is a Democrat and has served as 
a delegate to count}' conventions. He is a social 
man of jovial and kindly nature and a popular 
member of society. 



^^ 



OB. BENSEN, dealer in coal and ice at Jo- 
liet, established himself in his present busi- 
ness in 1884. He is still a young man, 
having been born February' 3, 1856, and bis native 
pl.ace was on the other side of the Atlantic, in 
Sweden. His parents were Benjamin and Jennie 
(Hawkinson) Bensen, who died when their son, 
our subject, was a small child. He thereafter made 
his home with his grandparents, but at an early 
age struck out for himself and has fought his own 



way in the world. He came to America when a lad 
of fifteen years, landing in the city of Quebec, 
Canada, in the year 1871. 

Mr. Bensen did not sojourn very long in the Do- 
minion, but coming to Bureau County, this State, 
located in I'rineeton and employed himself ,as a 
clerk in a grocery store, remaining in Bureau 
C'ounty about eighteen months. Thence he came 
to Joliet, and for a period of ten years was in the 
employ of J. D. Paige, the well-known soda water 
manufacturer. At the expiration of this time he 
emb.Trked in the grocery business, in which he was 
engaged two years successfully, but believing there 
were better returns in coal and ice, transferred his 
interests accordingly to the latter. He is looked 
upon as one of Joliet's live business men, being 
possessed of temperate habits and the straightfor- 
ward methods which can hardly result otherwise 
than in success. Mr. Bensen is an admirer of fine 
horses, having a number in which he justly takes 
pride. 

I ICHAEL E. BANNON. For the past 
twenty years, Mr. Bannon has been success- 
fully engaged in the grocery trade at Jol- 
iet. He has thus become widely and fav- 
orably known to a large number of its people and 
by upright dealing and proin()t attention to the 
wants of his customers, has built up an extended 
patronage. His native haunts were on the other 
side of the Atlantic, in County Roscommon, Ire- 
land, where he was presented to his parents on 
Christmas day, 1846. The latter were Edward and 
Catherine (Lennon) Bannon who emigrated to 
America in 1851, and in the spring following 
located in Joliet. The father, an honest and indus- 
trious man, employed himself as a laborer and de- 
parted this life in Joliet, in 1884. The mother is 
living in Joliet. 

To the parents of Mr. Bannon there was born a 
family of eight children, five sons and three daugh- 
ters of whom M. E., was the eldest. One son and 
two daughters are deceased. P. R.. is numbered 
among the contractors and builders of Joliet; John 
M., occupies himself as a butcher; Edward follows 




552 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



(".•irpentering in tliiscity; Knto is at lioim> with lier 
\vi(lo«e;l uioliior; M. E., our suliji'Ct. altlioiiuli but 
five years olil wlun leaving liis native Ireland, 
earnes in his niiiul a picture of his old home, and 
many of the incidents oeeuring on the trip across 
tlie ocean. 

Mr. Bannon was not permitted to spend very 
much time in schoi>l duriiiij liis boyhood and when 
but a lad assumed the sterner duties of life, going 
into the country to work for a farmer by the name 
of Jlich.ael Bannon at ^ti per month. He was 
occupied in farm pursuits until a youth tif about 
eigliteen years, and then for two years went into 
the stone quarries of Sanger it Steele. He, how- 
ever, could only wtuk in the quarry during the 
.Slimmer lime and in the winter he dealt in coal. 

In liSG'.l, Mr. Bannon embarked in the grocery 
liusiness which he has since successfully followed. 
In 1884, he invested some of his capital in the tile 
business which proved a bad venture, and he states 
that whenever he has experimenteil with any busi- 
ness outside of groceries and provisions, he got the 
worst of the bargain. When reaching his major- 
ity he allied hiniselt with the Democratic party, 
and in religion he adheres to the Catholic faith of 
his forefathers. 

Mr. Bannon took u'lto himself as wife and. help- 
mate, August 28, 188G, Miss Anna, daughter of 
James O'Reilly, of Joliet, and they are the paren's 
of three bright children, Maurice, Eviline and 
Margaret. 



^^ 



-S^ ■ \ 




•^i S E L K E N D R I C K H Y L A N D is the 
ui owner of a good farm iu the fine farmins 



ii* country embraced in Will County. It is 
beautifully- located on section 36, of I'lain- 
Beld Township, four and one-half miles northwest 
of Joliet, and under his skillful management has 
been brought to a high state of improvement and 
productiveness. His residence is especially com- 
fortable, and a view of it with the farm surround- 
ings, appears on another p.age. 

Mr. Hj'land is of New England origin, born 
among the pleasant hills of Roxbury, \'t., July 2, 



1840. His father. Consider Ily'.aiid, is thought t 
have been a native ol the same State, where he was 
reared to agricultural (lursuils. He bought a farm 
and iipeiated it nnlil 1844. when he left the Cireeii 
I\lt)untain State to take u|) his residence iu the wilds 
of Will County, III. Accompauied^by his wife 
and seven children, he started on the journey with 
a te.'ini and proceeded to Lake Champlain and cross- 
ing that came by Champlain and Erie Canals to 
BntTalo,and thence by the lakes to Chicago, where he 
look a team for Plain held. At that time Will 
County was sparse]}' settled and had few of the ad- 
vantages of civilized life. 

Mr. Hyland bought a trad of land partly im- 
proved and situated one and one-half miles north- 
east of the village. The people lived in the most 
primitive manner, there being but few traveling 
facilities, no railways or canals. Chicago was 
the nearest market, and it was the custom for five 
or six of the neighboring farmers to go into the 
citj' at the same lime, the most of them using 
ox-teams and traveling over the i)rairies,there being 
no roads .as yet made. Mr. Hyland resided on his 
farm and engaged in its improvement until death 
closed his useful career August 9, 1854. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject was 
Minerva Farwell. She was a native of \'ermont, 
and p.assed her last years quietly on the old home- 
stead iu Plainfield. There were eleven children 
born to herself and husband, eight of whom were 
rearetl to jears of maturity. 

The son of whom we write was a lad of four 
years when he came to Illinois with his parents. 
He attended the pioneer schools which were con- 
ducted in the primitive schoolhouse, with ilshome- 
m;idc furniture and rude fireplace. He was initi- 
ated into the work of the farm and remained with 
his mother until he was twenty-three; after his mar- 
riage, he bought the interest of the other heirs in 
the old homestead and resided there one year. He 
then sold it advantageously and bought a farm in 
the same township, which he occupied one 3'ear, 
after which he disposed of it and inirchased another 
not far aw.i}'. Ho lived on the latter seven years, 
and, then selling, turned his attention to the 
butcher's business in which he was engaged for 
nine months. In 1873 he bought the place where 



/ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



555 



he now resides. It comprises eightj' acres of valua- 
ble tanning hind in an excellent condition and sup 
plied with all desirable improvements, including a 
substantial dwelling and other needed buildings. 

'J'he marriage of Mr. Hyhuid with .Josephine 
Green was solemnized in 18G4, and has proved 
of mutual benefit. They have four children : Kniraa, 
Bert, Gertrude and Howard. ]\Irs. Ilylandis a na- 
tive of Will County, and a daughter of Deacon 
Dennison and Otilla Green. Her father was a na- 
tive of Westfield, Otsego County, N. Y., and was 
bom February 13, 1807, to Archibald and Hannah 
(Brown) Green. At the youthful age of twelve 
years he commenced to learn the trade of a black- 
smith, and served an apprenticeship of nine years in 
his native town. After that he did journeyman 
work, and then moving to Oneida County, estab- 
lished himself at his trade, opening a shop and 
carrjdng on the business there until 18.'36. Then 
with his wife and one child he started for Illinois, 
coming via the Erie Canal and the lakes to Chi- 
cago, and thence by stage to .loliet, which was at 
that time but a small hamlet, the only tavern there 
being kept in a little unpainted frame house. Two of 
liis brothers-in-law lived but a short distance away 
and he engaged there in a saw-mill for nearly two 
years; then, buying property at Joliet, he built a 
house and shop and carried on blacksmithing until 
1845. In that year he came to Plaiafleld, and buy- 
ing property built a home and a smithy which he 
man.aged many years. He acquired a comfortable 
competence and now lives in honorable retirement. 
Deacon Green was married January 26, 1831, to 
RHss Otilla Wheeler, a native of Lebanon, N. Y., 
and a daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Bently) 
Wheeler. All of the five children born to them 
are still living and are named as follows: Judson 
D., Lovi, Emma S., M. Josephine and B. Wheeler. 
Deacon Green and wife have a proud record as 
church members, they having been faithful work- 
ers in the Baptist Church for nearly sixty years, 
joining the First Baptist when it was organized at 
Joliet, and Mr. Green was soon made Deacon. 

A son of a pioneer and one who has done pioneer 
work himself in the improvement and cultivation 
of a farm, our subject is a regular and welcome at- 
tendant at all pioneer meetings. He is a well-read 



man and is well informed on topics of general con- 
versation. He is a man of excellent habits and 
good )5rinci|)les and in ever}' relation is true to 
himself and those aroundihim. He and his family 
are people of good standing in religious and social 
circles in the community and are regular atten- 
dants of the Bai)tist Church, roliticall}^ he is a 
supporter of the Republican party. 

i^^^jHOMAS CLARK, a practical and successful 
l)reeder of Hereford cattle, is located on a 
fine farm, one mile northeast of Beecher. 
It comprises one hundred and twenty acres on sec- 
tion 9, Washington Tuwnshi[), that were selected 
with a view to their present use, and are adapted 
by nature and improvement for the purpose. The 
"Evergreen Stock Farm ' is known far and near, 
and well repays a visit, tl;eovvner being thoroughly 
[josted regartling the stock in which he takes such 
delight. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of 
the improvements is the commodious stock-barn, 
07x97 feet, with a capacity for one hundred 
head of cattle and a large amount of hay and grain. 
All the buildings are well-constructed and suffici- 
ently large for the various purposes for which they 
were designed. 

The herd at present consists of about sixty head, 
chief of the herd being Peerless Wilton No. 12,774. 
At the head of the herd are the fine l)ulls. Anxiety 
Third, No. 44GG, and Anxiety Wilton, No. 30,272, 
all registered numbers familiar to stockmen. At 
the State Fairs held in Peoria, Mr. Clark carried off 
most of the sjyeepstakes, and at Buffalo, N. Y., he 
received $750 in prizes; he justly claims to have 
carried off more premiums than any other breeder 
of Herefords in the country. 

Thomas Clark, Sr., the father of our subject, was 
born in Herefordshire, England, and came of pure 
English blood. He grew up in his native shire, 
and became a breeder of the famous cattle whijh 
bear the name of the shire. As a farmer and stock- 
breeder he was eminently successful, and followed 
the business during his life, becoming prominent in 
that line and well known as a good citizen. He 



556 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



passed away in 1862, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. He liad married a lady of his own shire, 
whose maiden name was Mary A. Flnck. She lived 
to be more than three-score and ten years old, 
dying in 1887, in the shire wherein her whole life 
had been spent. She had borne two sons and four 
daugliters,rive of whom lived to mature years, and 
fr)ur are yet alive. The three daughters remain in 
their native land, and all are married. The parents 
were members of the Church of England, and the 
father was Cluirch Warden for many years. 

'I'he (Tcnlleman whose name introduces this bio- 
graphical notice was born near Hereford, England, 
August 28, 1842. He was reared amid the sur- 
roundings of farm life, and received a common- 
school education. He was about twenty-one years 
old when, in 1S66, he set sail for America, the land 
of promise across the Atlantic. From Southamp- 
ton he crossed to New York, whence he went at 
once to Cleveland, Ohio. There he learned the trade 
of a butcher, carrying it on in that city until 18()9, 
and then going to Elyria, Lorain Country, where he 
continued the same occupation for a time. He 
soon, however, embarked in the enterprise toward 
which his taste and early training led him — that of 
breeding Hereford cattle. Having had better ad- 
vantages than most men .vlio are engaged in the 
business, to learn the characteristics of the breed 
and the best means of caring for thera, he began 
under favorable auspices a work that has been 
crowned with success. In 1877 he purchased and 
took possession of the now well-known " Evergreen 
Stock Farm," a part of which with the fine resi- 
dence is represented by a view on another page. 

The man}' good qualities of Miss Margaret Heal 
won the earnest regard of Mr. Clark, and winning 
her consent to become his wife, the marriage rites 
were performed in Elj'ria, Ohio. Mrs. Clark was 
born in Devonshire, England, June 22, 184i,and 
educated in the land of her birth. Shs was one of 
ten childreii born to a Devonshire farmer and his 
worthy wife, and one of four who came to Amer- 
ica. She was about twenty years old when they 
settled in the Buckeye State. Her parents remained 
in the mother country, dying there when upwards 
of four-score years of age. They belonged to the 
Episcopal Church, in the tenets of which they 



reared their offspring. Mrs. Clark has borne her 
husbnnd three children, and the loss of the onl}' 
son — John H. — has brought sorrow to the parents' 
heart. The daughters who gladden the home are 
Anna A. and Flora H. 

The parents give their adherence to the church 
in the doctrines of which their progenitors in- 
structed them in youth. ^Ir. Clark is an independ- 
ent Republican. Not only for the enterprise he 
has manifested in his worldly affairs, but for his 
kindly nature and upright character, he is respected 
by those who know him, and his estimable cotn- 
panion also holds a high place in the esteem of 
their associates. 



^^ 



bEMAN R. RUSSELL. In driving about Man- 
] hattan Township tiie eyes of the stranger 
^_^. would be drawn to the fine residence, of a 
C^) stj'le of architecturemostl3'confined tocities, 
which stands on l)eautiful gi'ounds about seven 
miles from Joliet. The valuable farm which this 
dwelling adorns comi)rises one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 7, and is being furnished as fast 
as possible with the modern improvements in the 
way of farm buildings, windmill and tank, and 
ever}' convenience which will assist in the labor of 
the proprietor or add to his enjo3ment. 

Mr. Russell makes a specialty of raising standard- 
bred horses and is the owner of "Venango," a two- 
year old of fine proportions and movement, whicli 
already has a record of 2:11. He is the finest-bred 
horse in the county, being a cross between "Blue 
Bull, No. 75," and "Ilambletonian, No. 10," and 
having been sired by "Bogardus," whose well- 
known record is 2:28; his dam was sired bj' "Sterl- 
ing," the son of " Volunteer." " Venango" is 
registered as No. 9521. Mr. Russell also owns three 
standaid-bred Hambletonian fillies, two Greens 
Bashaw stallions, a yearling and colt. He also 
breeds draft horses, at the head of the herd of these 
animals being a full-blooded bay Norman, two 
years old, called "Premier III.," and weighs fifteen 
hundred pounds. Full-blooded Durham cattle and 
Poland-China hogs are also raised. 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



557 



Going hack two generations in the paternal line 
we tind Samuel Russell,a native of Wilmington.X.C, 
and the son of a man wlio had eniigrate<l from 
Bedfordshire, England. Samuel Russell w.as a man 
of leisure, owning property from which he derived 
a fine income. To him was born a son, Joseph, 
who became a cotton merchant in his native city, 
and was very successful until the Civil War. Early 
in the beginning of the sanguinary struggle he en- 
listed as a Capt.ain of the One Hundredth North 
Carolina Infantry, and after two years became 
Genera! Quartermaster of the AtLintic Division of 
the Confederate forces, holding that position until 
the close of the war. He then went to Raleigh, 
took the oath of allegiance to the United States 
Government, and returning to Wilmington, re- 
sumed business. Although trade was not so brisk 
as it had been before the war, Mr. Russell was suc- 
cessful and became possessed of abundant means. 
He laid down the burdens of life in 1880, at the 
age of fifty years. He was a Royal Arch Mason, 
a Democrat, and a Deacon in the Presbyterian 
Church, known and lionored of men throughout 

his life. 

The wife of Joseph Russell and mother of our 
subject was born near Albany, N. Y., and bore the 
maiden name of Mary Baker. She is a daughter 
of Clark and Lucina (Welsh) Baker, who are still 
living, at a ripe old age, at Eive Mile Grove, Will 
County. She was reared in her native county, 
educated in Albany, and gradu.ated from the Al- 
bany Female Academy, leaving her Alma Mater 
with a rarely cultured mind. She followed the 
profession of teaching until her marriage, devot- 
ing herself principally to the French language and 
traveling considerably both in the North and 
South. Since her husband's death she has gener- 
ally spent her summers in Northern Illinois, but 
she is at present traveling in France, doing the 
p;uropeau Continent for the first time. She is the 
mother of three children — M. Elizabeth, who lives 
with our subject; Heman R., of this notice; and 
Lucina, who died in childhood. Mrs. Russell is of 
the Presbyterian faith. 

Grandfather Baker was born in Hoosic, Rens- 
selaer County, N.Y., March 3, 179G, and during his 
early years taught school in the winter and worked 



on the farm in summer. After having spent sev- 
eral years in this way, he became a surveyor, fol- 
lowing that calling for a great many years. He 
finally purchased a farm and gave his attention to 
agriculture. When eighteen years old he enlisted 
in the State Militia and in 1814 was called out 
and served three weeks in the second struggle for 
freedom from British tyranny. In 1843 he mnde 
his first trip to Cook County, 111., to look after 
some mortg.ages, and several subsequent trips were 
made necessary by his business. Some land at Five 
Mile Grove finally came into his possession through 
an unredeemed mortgage, and in 1850 he brought 
his family thither. He has been extremely suc- 
cessful as a farmer and stockman, and now owns 
some twelve hundred acres of land, well improved 
and managed. He is well known as the oldest man 
in the county and one of its largest farmers, as 
well as a very earlj' settler in his township. He 
has served as Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, 
and gives his sui)i)ort to the Democratic party. 

Grandmother ISaker was born in May field, N.Y., 
August 28, 1806, and is a daughter of George W. 
Welsh, who was born in Ireland and was a promi- 
nent and wealth}' merchant in Albany, his residence 
being in Cambridge, Washington County. 

Mr. Russell, of whom we write, has the blood of 
a Revolutionary soldier in his veins — one of his 
ancestors having fought against the British, al- 
though himself of English birth, and having also 
sent three of his sons into the army. One of these 
was J. Baker, the great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject, who was born in Rhode Island, became an 
early settler of Rensselaer County, N. Y., and at- 
tained to prominence there. 

Heman Russell was born in Wilmington, N. C, 
July 17, 1862, and amid the most favorable aus- 
pices grew to manhood. He was educated in his 
native city, being graduated when eighteen years 
old from the Tileston Normal Institute. Among 
his mental accomplishments is a good knowledge 
of the French tongue. Durhig one of his vacations 
in his early manhood he became a clerk in order 
10 le.°.rn the mercantile business, but not finding it 
to his taste, gave it up, choosing to devote him- 
self to farming, for which he had always had a liking. 
Prior to his eighteenth year he had spent several 



558 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



summers witli his graudfiitlier Baker at Five Mile 
Grove, in this State, and aftei- liis fatlier's death 
he made his iionic lliere, gaining from his grand- 
parent a tiiorougii linowledge of agriculture. 

In 1886 Mr. Russell rented a small piece of land 
from his grandfather and the next year became the 
owner of the estate on which he now lives and has 
made such fine improvements. His residence was 
erected at a cost of $4,0{)0,and already in less than 
three years, other buildings mark the estate. The 
owner operates two hundred and forty acres alto- 
gether, keeping four teams constantly emplo3'ed. 
He is unmarried, but his home is presided over by 
bv Ills sister, whose intelligence and culture help 
to draw around them a pleasant circle of acquaint- 
ances. Mr. Russell is serving his second year as Just- 
ice of the Peace and has the honor of being the 
youngest Squire in the county. As Township 
School Trustee, he is .acting for the second time, 
ami the interests of education arc safe in his 
hands. He belongs to Lodge No. 64C, I. O. O. F., 
at Wilton Center. Following the example and 
teaching of his father and other ancestors, he is a 
stanch Democrat. 



"S^ILISHA BROWN, a retired farmer, is a good 



E 



IW] type of the noble volunteers of the late 
/iL^^ war, who fought in defense of our country's 
honor with intrepid valor, i-egardless of the hard- 
ships and privations that the3' had to endure, until 
the glorious Stars and Stripes once more waved 
over a free and undivided Union. For many years 
he has been closely associated with the great agri- 
cultural interests of Will Count}^ and though he 
has retired from the active and incessant cares 
inseparably connected with the management of a 
large farm, he still retains possession of his home- 
stead which is one of the finest in Illinois. 

Mr. Brown was born in Morristown, St. Law- 
rence County, N. Y., December 2, 1836, his father, 
Charles Brown, having been a pioneer of that place. 
The latter was a native of Thetford, Vt., where he 
w^as born in March, 1800, and he was there reared 
and married. He remained among the gieen hills 



of his birthplace until his removal to Morristown, 
N. Y., where he associated himself with its pioneers 
and became one of its most useful citizens. He 
bought a tract of heavily timbered land about two 
miles from the village and after building thereon 
the log house in which our subject was born, he 
actively commenced the hard labor of clearing liis 
land and preparing it for cultivation, and in the 
years that followed improved the fine farm which re- 
mained his home till death called him hence in 1865. 
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was 
Ni ncy Ames, and she was born in Hartford, Conn., 
in September, 1800. IJer parents moved from that 
State to New York, and spent their last years in St. 
Lawrence County. She died on the home farm in 
1888, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. 
.She was the mother of ten children, nine sons and 
one datighter, as follows: George, Charles, Sarah 
A., William, Willard, Willis, Joseph, David, Elislia 
and Daniel. Willard died when jonng, but four 
of the family arc now living. Tvvo of the sons, 
Willis and David, bore an honorable part in the 
late war, the former serving as First Lieutenant in 
the Seventeenth Iowa, and the latter as a scout in 
a New York Regimeul of Sharpshooters. 

The early da^'s of our subject were passed in 
attendance at school and in doing chores at home, 
and as soon as old enough he aided in the harder 
labors of the farm and gained a practical know- 
ledge of agricidlure. He remained an inmate of 
the parental home until he was eighteen years old 
and then, ambitious to take advantage of the many 
superior advantages for securing a competence and 
building up a comfortable home, offered to young 
men of enterprise and capabilitj' in the Mississippi 
Valley, he started westward. He first stopped for 
a while in this State, working two months on 
a farm, and then proceeded to Janesville, Iowa, 
where he remained one year. He then took up his 
abode in Algona, Kossuth County. At that time 
there were seven houses in that place and the sur- 
rounding country was in a wild condition witli no 
railways, scarcely any good roads of communica- 
tion with the outside world, .and deer and elk 
roamed where are now fine farms and busy towns. 
Mr. Brown took up a tract of Government land 
there, built a small house, broke and fenced a part 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



559 



of his homestead. Two years later he returned to 
Illinois and farmed in this State till 1859, lie went 
to Pike's Peak, he being one of party of six. They 
bought teams whieii they shipped by rail to St. 
Louis and there embarked on steamers, teams 
and all, and were taken to Leavenworth, Kan., 
whence they proceeded with tiieir teams across tlie 
plains. They encountered buffaloes and antelope 
on the wa}', and saw many Indians. Our subject 
prospected and mined for a time, remaining there 
two months and then, disliking the wild life that 
he was obliged to lead in that part of the country, 
he returned eastward as far as Iowa and stayed a 
few months on his farm. After that he came back 
to Illinois and the first call for troops found him 
prepared to spring to the defense of his countr}', 
and in April, 1861, he joined the Plainfield Light 
Artillery, went to Cairo, and was there mustered 
into service. His company was attached to the 
Tenth Illinois and served three months, and was 
then mustered out at tiie expiration of its terra of 
enlistment. Mr. Brown re-enlisted August 1st, 
1862, in Company D,One Hundredth Illinois Infan- 
trj-, and served until after the close of the war. 
He was iu the battles of Stone River and Chick- 
amauga, was wirh Sherman in the Atlanta Cam- 
paign and bore an honorable part in the battle of 
that route and in the siege and capture of that city. 
He was with Thomas in the battles of Franklin and 
Nashville, and his regiment took an active part in 
all the battles and skirmishes under that general, 
and was discharged in July, 1865. Our subject 
went into the army as a private, and was promoted 
to the position of First Sergeant and on every 
occasion conducted himself as a true soldier should. 
He was twice wounded, first at Chiekamauga, where 
he received a fragment of a shell, and in tlie battle 
of Franklin he iiad a gunshot wound and in con- 
sequence carried iiis arm in a sling iu tlie liattle of 
Nashville. 

After he left tlie armj', Jlr. Brown returned to 
Illinois and the following year bought the first land 
he ever owned in this State, that purchase of sixty 
acres now being included in his present farm. He 
has prospered greatly in his agricultural undertak-- 
ings, and has procured other tracts of land from 
time to time, till he is now the owner of three hun- 



dred and eighty-six acres of land, constituting a 
farm that is in all respects one of the best in this 
part of the county. He erected a fine set of frame 
buildings on his first purchase and resided there 
until 1888, when he bought his present commodious 
home in JMainfield, and has since lived here while 
his sou carries on the farm. 

Mr. Brown was married March 8, 1862, to Elva 
Keziah Smitli, a native of Peoria, 111. Their 
pleasant wedded life has been blessed by the birth 
of two sons — Ernest Elisha, and Clarence E.; the 
latter is deceased. Ernest was born February 12, 
1863, and is now married, taking Miss Minnie 
McKanna for a wife, and is well settled in life. 

Mr. Brown is universally respected for those fine 
qualities of head and heart tliat make him a loyal 
citizen and a man of unswerving integrity, genial 
and helpful in his relations with others. He has had 
a varied experience as a pioneer, as a soldier, and as 
a practical farmer, and has profited by it, his 
native abilit}' enabling him to gather together 
sufficient wealth to allow him to retire while scarcely 
past tlie meridian of life and iu full possession of 
his powers. Mr. Brown is a useful raembtr of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, contributing liberally 
to its support and to all schemes for the moral and 
material advancement of the township that uieot 
} with his approval. In his politics he is in favor of 
the Republican [jlatform. 



^^^^"■" 




ETER E. HOLMSTROM is numbered 
among the business men of Joliet where he 
"^ is engaged in the grocery trade. His busi- 
ness is conducted according to honorable 
methods and with energy, and is affording the 
proprietor a comfortable income. The [lersonal 
character of Mr. Ilolmstrom is such as to command 
the respect of all who know him, his intercourse 
with mankind being cordial and just, his duties as 
a citizen faithfully performed, and the utmost 
kindliness manifested by him in his domestic rela- 
tions. 

In the Kingdom of Sweden, October 3, 1861, 
the e3'es of our subject first opened to the light of 



560 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



day. His parents, Peter Johnson and .]Qbannah 
llolmsU'om, lived u|ioii :i fanii in that land, whence 
tiicy followed their son to America in 1883. He 
had crossed tlie brinj^ deep two years before, cont- 
iiig directly to .Toliet near wliich place he engaged 
in fanning. He soon abandoned that occupation 
for Ills present business, vvlth which he h.ad become 
acquainted in his native land and which he has fol- 
lowed continuousl}' since iie resumed it here. 

Mr. Ilolmstrom exercises the elective franchise 
in beh.alf of the candidates on the Republican ticket, 
ills judgment concurring in the principles which 
they are pledged to support. He belongs to the 
Royal Adelphia Insurance C-ompanj-. His religious 
instincts are satisfied with tlie doctrines and prac- 
tices of the Swedish Lutheran Church, with which 
he is identified. He chose as his comp.anion in life 
Miss Alma Swanson, of a family which came from 
Swetlen to America .about eighteen years ago, and 
winning the consent of the estimable 5'oung lady, 
they were united mi marriage July 5, 1885. Their 
hap|)y nnion has been blessed by the birth of one 
child — a charming daughter, Rub}- A. 



^/ FRANK PATRICK. A simple account of 
the life and works of a man of honor and 
in teg lit}' is the best monument that can be 
reared for him by the biographical writer, 
Lind therefore no attempt will be made in these 
])ages to give undue praise to the subject of this 
sketch, whose life speaks for liim better than mere 
words would do. He is the only survivor in a 
family of five children that comprised the house- 
hold of Squire Amos and Jane E. (Wells) Patrick, 
who for many years made their home in Will 
Count}'. 

Squire Patrick was a native of the Empire State, 
as was also his good wife, and their first home after 
marriage was in Madison County. About the year 
1835 they came west and located in Rushville, III., 
whence they removed to Joliet some two years 
later, living in the latter place until 1844. They 
then changed their abode to AVashington, D. C., 
where Mr. Patrick was employed as a clerk in the 



Navy Department for six years. At the expiration 
of that time Joliet again became the home of the 
family, the father resuming the practice of the law 
in which he had formerly been engaged. During 
his first period of residence in this city he had 
served as Police Magistrate. In 1856 he moved 
onto a farm in Joliet Township, which has since 
been his home, with the exception of seven years 
that were spent by hiin in Nevada, in the practice 
of his profession. He is still living and has reached 
an advanced age. His wife passed away February 
6. 1887. 

The national capital was the birthplace of our 
subject, and his natal day May 16, 1847. He grew 
to manhood in Will County, 111., most of the time' 
being spent on the farm in Joliet Township. His 
education was mainl}' secured in the schools of this 
(iounty and farming lias been his chief occupation 
in life. He has been a continuous resident of Joliet 
Township since 1850, with the exception of two 
years during which he resided in the city. He 
owns the old homestead of one hundred and thirty- 
five acres, which he carefully and industriously 
cultivates, securing thereby the comforts of life 
and making preparations for the rainy day should 
it come upon him. 

The wife of Mr. Patrick is a native of New York 
and in her girlhood was known as Miss Catheiine 
Ilaber. The ceremony which united her to our 
subject took place in Joliet, June 24, 1869. They 
have had four children: Damon S., Mary E., Flor- 
ence J., and Helen J. Damon S. died when two 
years of age. Mr. Patrick takes quite a deep in- 
terest in politics and is a member of the Democratic 
party. He stands well in the community and their 
pleasant home on section 32, is hospitably opened 
to friends and neighbors. The wife passed from 
earth March 18, 1878. 



^j^EORGE H. ZINSER. In the life of this 
iff (=, young gentleman is exemplified the results 
^^^i) of enterprise and determination, and his 
fellow-citizens of Blanhaltan may well be pleased 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



561 



with the example which he sets to the youth of 
that city and the adjoining territory. He is well 
known as a dealer in shelf and heavy hardware, 
machinery, agricultural implements and oils, and 
as the only furniture dealer in the place; and he has 
otherwise become known to man}' as the present in- 
cumbent of the Fostmastership. 

The parents of our subject were Solomon and 
Catherine (Tobias) Zinser, both natives of the 
Keystone State, the one having been born in Ger- 
mantown and the other at Reading. The father 
accompanied his parents to Ohio when he was seven 
years old and when of age began farming in that 
State. In 1848 he removed to Tazewell County, 
111., buying a farm of eighty acres near Washing- 
ton and residing there until his death, in 1887, at 
the age of sixty-eight years. He was a Republican 
and a member of the J^vangelical Church. His wife 
was the daughter of Peter Tobias, a Pennsylvania 
farmer who finally came to Illinois and died near 
Washington in 1876, at the advanced age of eighty 
years. Mrs. Zinser is still living there and is now 
sixty-seven years old. 

The parental family included fourteen children, 
eleven of whom are now living: Frank resides in 
Storm Lake, Iowa; Mary, Mrs. Koker, is on the old 
homestead in Tazewell County ; Elizabeth, Mrs. 
Otl, in Hoop Pole, 111.; Mrs. Rebecca Goembel in 
Hoop Pole; Mrs. Carrie Smith near Plainfield, this 
county ; the next is our subject; Solomon is a fanner 
near Washington, Tazewell County; Mrs. Sarah 
Niemeyer died in that county ; Mrs. Amelia Fer- 
ner lives in the village of Washington; Daniel is 
clerking for our subject; Sophia is with her mother. 

The subject of this notice was born February 2, 
1856, near Washington, and reared amid the sur- 
roundings of rural life. His education was ob- 
tained in the district schools, which were fortu- 
nately conducted according to an excellent system 
and by persons interested in the youth under their 
charge. He continued an inmate of the parental 
household until he had attained his majority when 
he came to Plainfield, this county, and began work- 
ing out as a farm laborer. He was not satisfied 
with the knowledge he had obtained and hoarded 
his resources in order to attend a higher school. 
When twenty-two years old he entered the North 



western College at Naperville, prosecuting his 
studies a year, after which he returned to the plow. 

For two seasons more 3'oung Zinser continued 
to work on farms by the month, and then, having 
taken a helpmate and companion, he began farming 
on his father's place in Tazewell County. For two 
years he operated the farm, during this time saving 
all that he could that he might embark in some 
business enterprise amid the busy haunts of men. 
With his small earnings he started in the hardware 
business in Manhattan, February 22, 1883, occupy- 
ing a rented building. The business rapidly in- 
creased and he is now one of the leading merchants 
in the place. In 1884 he added farm im|)lements 
to his stock in trade and he now does a large busi- 
ness in that line. In the spring of that year he 
took in as a partner his brother-in-law, Amos M. 
Smith, the business being conducted under the title 
of Zinser & Smith until December, 1885, when our 
subject bought his partner's interest and continued 
alone. 

A commodious brick edifice, two stories in 
height and with ground dimensions 24x60 feet, 
was erected by Mr. Zinser in the fall of 1889, and 
in one of the largest and finest store-rooms in Man- 
hattan he now carries on a large portion of his busi- 
ness. He carries a full stock of the articles men- 
tioned at the beginning of our sketch, makes a 
specialt}' of threshers, binders and mowers, and 
operates a tin shop in connection with the hard- 
ware establishment. The building which he form- 
erly occupied with this department of his business, 
is now used by him as a furniture repository, his 
trade in that line having been instituted in the 
spring of 1890. 

At the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
M. E. Moyer, on February 3, 1881, George H. 
Zinser and Priscilla S. Moyer were joined in holy 
wedlock. The bride was born in Naperville, where 
her father was engaged in farming and whence he 
removed to Manhattan upon retiring from active 
life. She is well educated, possesses many domes- 
tic accomplishments and womanly virtues, and is 
devoted to the interests of her husband and chil- 
dren. The group around the fireside is made up of 
Royce F., Irvin W. and Lloyd H. 

Mr. Zinser received the appointment of Post- 



562 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



master in June, 1889. He is a mcnihcr of tlie Vil- 
lage Board of Trustees and was Treasurer two 
years. He is an ardent Ri-publican wlio never fails 
to cast his vote in behalf of the principles of liis 
[)art3-. He belongs to the Evangelical Church and 
was formerly Superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
There is probabl_y no more popular man in Man- 
hattan than he, and certainly none who present a 
hotter example of a self-made man. 



■S^sr- 



44^—- 



»^- 



A 



'f/OHN FRANCIS, Supervisor of New Lenox 
Township, and one of its most substantial 
citizens, is a native of this township, and 
wa3 born Jannary 8, 1843. His father is 
the well-known Abraham Francis, a sketch of 
whom appears in the history of A. Allen Francis, 
on another page in this volume. The parental 
iiousehold consisted of eleven children, of whom 
the record is as follows: Margaret L. is the wife of 
N. P. Cooper, of New Lenox Townsliip; William 
1). died in this townsliip when a promising young 
man of twenty )ears; Mary A. J. is tiie wife of 
John S. lilackstone, of Kankakee, 111.; A. Allen is 
a farmer of New Lenox Township; John, our sub- 
ject, was the next in order of birth; Lydia is the 
wife of W. S. Nichols, of the same townsliip; 
Clara M. died when about sixteen months old ; 
Charles is farming in the vicinity of the old home- 
stead; Adeline A. is the wife of .Jesse Meharry, of 
Tolono, III., a biograjjliy of whom appears in the 
biographical work of Champaign County: George 
L. is farming in New Lenox Township; Carrie J^. 
died at the age of about thirteen years. 

The subject of this notice was the fifth child of 
his parents, under whose careful training he devel- 
oped into manhood, becoming familiar with tiie 
various employments of farm life, and pursuing his 
early studies in the common schools. When ap- 
proaching maniiood he took a course of stud}^ in 
Bryant &, Stiatton's Commercial College, then, re- 
turning to the farm, remained there until twenty- 
three years old. In the meantime he was married, 
in New Lenox Township, ])ecember 21,1865, to 



Miss H. filaria Bliss. The young couple spent the 
first few months of their wedded life at the old 
homestead, and the following year moved upon 
the farm where thej' now live. 

Mrs. Francis was born at her father's old home- 
stead in New Lenox Township, September 5, 184(5, 
and is a daughter of the late Abel and Lucinda 
(Blake) Bliss. The former was Ikm'u in Wilbra- 
liam, INhiss , FebruaiT 9, 1810. His wife was born 
at S|)ringfield, that State, October 14, 1816. The^' 
were married Ma3' 6, 1840, at Springfield, and 
soon afterward set out for the West, coming to 
this county, where the father secured a tract of 
land on section 18, New Lenox Township. He 
had visited Illinois about 1837, but could not make 
his arrangements to locate permanently until three 
years after. He was successful in his farming oper- 
ations, built up a goodly estate and died December 
25, 1883. The mother is still living at the home 
farm. 

To Mr. and iNIrs. Bliss there was born a family 
of seven children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, 
Mary, married John McGeo, and died in INIichigaM; 
William S. died at the homestead when only 
twenty-five years old; H. Marin, Mrs. Francis, was 
the next in order of birth; Ellen J. died at the in- 
teresting age of nineteen years; Josephine died 
when about tweiit3'-six years old; Abel is farming 
in New Lenox Townshi|); Alice P. is the wife of 
F. A. Wetlierbee, of Buchanan County, Iowa. 

Mrs. Francis received careful parental training, 
and remained a member of her fatlier's household 
until her marri.ige. She is now the mother of four 
children, the eldest of whom, John E., was gradu- 
ated from the Joliet High School, and is a success- 
ful teacher in New Lenox Township; Howard 15. 
was also graduated from the High School at Joliet 
and remains under the [larental roof. The two 
younger are Hattie J. and Wilbur A. In 1871, 
Mr. Francis was elected Supervisor of New Lenox 
Township and, in 1874, was a second time elected 
to that office, which he has since held continu- 
ously. He was formerly a School Trustee, and 
since 1881 has held the ollicCof School Treasurer 
and was also Townsliip Collector two j-ears. He 
is a Republican, and takes an active part in poli- 
tics, serving as a member of the County Central 



■ ■'^:, 




^. Om^ B:. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



565 



Committe and occupies other positions of trust and 
responsibility. 

Aside from lljese duties, Mr. Francis has fol- 
lowed farming all his life, and for many years has 
made a specialty of stock-raising, and also oper- 
ated as a dairyman, shipping milk to Chicago. 
Both he and his estimable wife are members, in 
good standing, of the Methodist Church, in which 
Mr. Francis formerl3' held the office of Secretary 
and Treasurer. His farm property embraces five 
hundred and thirty-six acres of choice land in 
New Lenox Township, where he has made fine im- 
provements, being supplied with the re'iuisite 
buildings, and availing himself of the most a()- 
proved machinery in tlie cultivation of his land. 

Personally, Mr. Francis is looked upon as one 
of the leading men of his township. He is a man 
of progressive ideas, liberal and public spirited, 
and his career is indicative of the esteem and con- 
fidence with which he is regarded by his fellow- 
citizens. His amiable wife has been an efllcient 
helpmate and has contributed her full quota to- 
ward sustaining the reputation of the family. 
The3' have one of the finest countr}' homes in the 
township, one which invariably attracts the atten- 
tion of the passing traveler, who turns a second 
time to regale his ej'es upon its beauty and the air 
of comfort and plenty which surrounds it. 




ALLEN FRANCIS. The Francis family 
is recognized as holding a leading position 
among the best people of Will County. 
They made their advent here in the pio- 
neer days, and have contributed in no small degree 
to the development of its best resources. Their 
honesty, industry and enterprise proved a stimulus 
to those around them, while likewise gaining for 
themselves a competence. They represent a laige 
amount of propert}', and pay annually- into tiie 
county treasury a snug sum in the way of taxes. 
Their homes represent taste and culture, for which 
they have ever been distingui.-ihsd, and their names 



will go down to posterity among those who have 
been most honored in Northern Illinois. 

In tracing the lineage of the Francis family we 
find their ancestors were originally from Scotland 
and England. During the religious persecution of 
16'JG, they were driven from those countries and 
took refuge in Ireland, where two generations 
were born. The immediate progenitor of the 
subject of this sketch was the late Abraham Fran- 
cis, who was born in County Cavan. Ireland, Sep- 
tember 29, 1808. As a lad he was more Ihanordi- 
narilj' bright and intelligent, and at an early age 
evinced an ambition to do something and be some- 
body in the world. He had come honestly by this 
trait of character, as in 181G his father had decided 
that he could better his fortunes in America, and 
accordingly sailed for the New World with his 
little family. They located in Brown County', 
Ohio, where the father died when Abraham was a 
3'outh of fifteen years. 

The p.aternal grandfather of our subject was 
William Francis, also a native of County Cavan, 
and a farmer by occupation. His chief character- 
istics have been his honesty and industry, as his ad- 
vantages were limited and he had at an early age 
come in contact with the sterner side of life, and 
was obliged to make his own way in the world 
from the time he was able to do so. After his 
death Abraham and his sisters lived together in 
Brown County, until the former had reached his 
majorit}'. The mother had died in Ireland. 

Early in the spring of 1831 Abraham Francis 
left the Buckej'e State in company with a young 
German who had been in his employ, and set out 
on horseback for Shawnee Mound, Tippecanoe 
County, Ind. Thence they started on foot with 
their knapsacks and axes to explore the region 
round the headwaters of the Kankakee River. 
After arriving there they made canoes and floated 
down the river to Wilmington, where they again 
took terra firnia and followed the Indian trail to 
this townshii). This trail led directly by the door- 
yard of the residence now owned by the subject of 
this sketch. 

Having finally chosen his location, Abraham 
Francis entered one hundred and sixty acres of 
laud from the Government, and settled very 



566 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



nearly upon the spot \Yhore tlie rosidenoe of A. 
Alien now stands, lie also "tloated " another one 
liundrLMl and sixty acres, which enibraeed the north 
hair (.if the east half of section ',), New Lenox 
Township. Here he built a log cabin and remained 
until the latter part of .lune, 1831. Then, having 
business in liroun Count}-, Ohio, lie started for 
that region, arriving there early in July, for tlie 
pur|)0se of linishing up his harvesting and also to 
lake unto himself a wife and helpmate to share his 
pioneer life in Illinois. The wedding occurred 
October 4 following, the bride being Miss Mary 
A. J. Davison, who was l)orn in Adams Ci)unty, 
Ohio, March 17, 1815. She was thus less than 
seventeen years old at the time of her marriage. 
Her father, William Davison, w.as a native of 
Aflams County, and the maiden name of his wife 
was Mary Ingrahani. Subsequently the\' removed 
to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where they died and 
were buried in the old Meharry graveyard. 

Soon after tiieir m.'irriage Abraham Francis and 
ids bride set out for their new home in Illinois, 
reaching their destination November 16. Upon 
their airival they found things entirely different 
from what they expected, and in consequence were 
obliged to send back a part of their stock t/i 
Trppeeanoe County, In.l.. to l)c wintered. Mr. 
Fiancis h.ad engaged a man to putu)) a large quan- 
tity of wild iiay, which he failed to do, and thus 
there was nothing upon which to feed the cattle. 
The young people began life in true jjioneer style; 
on the day of their arrival at their new home snow 
began to fall, and they did not see the bare ground 
again that winter. The winter of 1831-32 will 
be recalled as that of the great snow, amid which 
so many i)crished and which entailed so much 
hardship upon the settlers. 

In .lune. 1S32, the lUack Hawk War broke out, 
and Abraham Francis was one of six men ap- 
pointed to investigate the report of the Indian 
outrages over on Fox River. When they found 
that the reports wer(i true, Mr. Francis with his 
comrades returned home and removed his family 
to Shawnee Mound, Ind. This done, he returned 
and lent a helping hand in the conflict which fol 
lowed, serving as Second Lieutenant under the 
command of the well-known Capt. Scissions. After 



the war was over Mrs. Francis returned, and their 
domestic life thereafter flowed on uninterru|)tedl3'. 

At one time, for three weeks during the war, 
Mr. Francis never saw the face of a white man, 
and at the expiration of this time an intimate friend 
of his who was stationed at Ft. Dearborn, having 
learned that Mr. Francis was here alone, ioined 
him to keep him company. He arrived early one 
morning, just at the break of day. Mr. Francis, 
on account of danger, slept in the field tied to his 
horse, and hearing footsteps, and supposing an 
Indian must be neai', brought his gun to a level, 
and was about to fire when he discovered that it 
was a friend instead of a foe. Rushing up to him, 
he cl.asped him in his arms, and the meeting can 
better be imagined than described. Mr. Francis in 
later years often related the incident with the 
tears streaming down his cheeks. 

Subsequently, Mr. Francis repaired to Chicago 
and engaged in teaming for the Government, 
being there during the cholera epidemic. It is 
hardly nccessiiry to slate that he began in life 
without means, but by his great industry and per- 
severance he steadily advanced on the road to 
prosperity, while at the same time the sterling 
qualities of his character were the means of bring- 
ing around him hosts of friends. He was a great 
lover of fine stock, and was uniformly prosperous 
at this industry and also as a tiller of the soil. 
Upon the coming on of the California gold excite- 
ment he was exceedingly desirous of seeking his 
fortunes on the Pacific Slope, but refrained from 
making the experiment on account of the entrea- 
ties of his wife. 

Mr. F'rancis, however, sent out a companj- to 
work a mine on shares. This enterprise was not 
successful, as the ca|)tain of the company died, 
and none of the men were ca|)able of taking his 
l)lace. Prior to the org.aiiization of Will County, 
its piesent territory being then included in Cook 
County, Mr. Francis held the otlice of Deputy 
Sheriff, and occupied other positions of trust and 
responsibility. He was originally a Democrat in 
politics, but during the war felt that he had reason 
to change his views, and wheeled over into the 
Republican ranks, being a strong supporter of the 
Union. Both he and his estimable wife were lead- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



567 



ing members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mr. Francis departed this life at the old homestead 
in New Lenox Township, November 28, 1862. 
The wife and mother survived her husband for 
nearly twenty-two years, dying January 15, 1884. 

To Abraham Francis and his good wife there 
was born a famil}' of eleven children, five sons 
and six daughters, eight of whom are living. The 
eldest, Margaret L., is the wife of Needham P. 
Cooper, of New Lenox Township, and is believed 
to have been tlie first white child born within its 
limits; William D. died of tj'phoid pneumonia 
when a promising 3'oung man of twenty-two years ; 
Mary A. J. is the wife of J. S. Blackstone, of Kan- 
kakee; A. Allen, our subject, was the next in order 
of birth; John is represented on another page in 
this volume; Lydia E. is the wife of William S. 
Niccolls, of New licnox Township; Charles is 
farming in this township; Clara M. died when 
sixteen months old; Addie A. is the wife of Jesse 
IMi'harrj-, of Tolono, Champaign County; George 
L. is farming in New Lenox Township; Carrie D. 
di'd when an interesting maiden of thirteen years. 

The subject of this sketch was the fourth child 
of the parental household, and was born at the 
iiomcstead in New Lenox Township, where he now 
lives, September 7, 1840. He there spent his early 
years, attending the common schools and assisting 
in the lighter labors of the farm. He completed 
his studies in the High School at Joliet, and started 
out on the journey of life well equipped by nature 
and training for its sterner duties. 

Eight days after attaining his thirtieth year, our 
subject was joined in wedlock, September 15, 
1870, at the bride's home in New Lenox Township, 
ti) Miss Lizzie J. Haven. Mr. Francis commenced 
his wedded life under fur different circumstances 
from that of his honored father, being able to take 
his bride to a comfortable home— the old farm 
where they have since lived. There have been 
born to them five children, namely: Mary L., Oc- 
tober 20, 1877; Allen M., May 17, 1881 ; Daisy H., 
January 11, 1886; Dwight'C, September 21, 1887, 
and one who was born September 25, 1883, and 
died unnamed. They have also an adopted daugli- 
ler, Anna II., boin November 19, 1868, and who 
has been a member of the household since a child 



of four years, considered as one of their own fam- 
ily. Their eldest son, Allen M., died of scarlet 
fever, June 5, 1888, when a little over seven years 
old. 

Mr. Francis, like his honored father, during the 
latter's later years, is an ardent supporter of the 
principles of the Republican party, He has sig- 
nalized himself as one of the most liberal and 
public-spirited men of his township, and has con- 
tributed both time and means for the promotion 
of its best interests. He was at one time President 
and Director of the Agricultural and Mechanical 
Association of Will County, and is at present 
President and Director of the New Lenox Fire 
Insurance Company, and Trustee, General Manager 
and Treasurer of the Centenary Camp Meeting As- 
sociation, which was organized under the State law, 
and at present Is President of the Farmers' Institute. 
He has been a School Director in his district, and 
Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday- 
school for a period of twenty years. Both he and 
his estimable wife are prominently connected wit'i 
this church, and are numbered among its chief 
pillars. 

Mrs. Lizzie J. (Haven) Francis was born in New 
Lenox Township, March 31, 1849, and during her 
childhood attended the common schools of her 
neighborhood. Later she became a student at 
Dearborn Seminary in Chicago, where she com- 
pleted her education. She grew to an attractive 
womanhood under the home roof, remainino with 
her parents until becoming the mistress of her own 
home. Her father, the Hon. Dwight Haven, who 
is represented elsewhere in this work, came to this 
county at an early day, and earned for himself a 
place among its leading citizens. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Helen L. Savage. Nhe was a 
sister of the Hon. Amos Savage, of Homer Town-' 
ship, and departed thisi life at the homestead in 
New Lenox Township, July 28, 1859. The par- 
ental family consisted of six children, five daugh- 
ters a'nd one son, of whom Mrs. Francis was the 
eldest born. 

It is an interesting fact that four of the Francis 
brothers and one sister live on the same highwa\' 
their farms adjoining, the sister occupying the 
center one. All the wives of the brothers were 



568 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



like themselves, born in New Lenox Township. 
A. Allen, out' subject, is the owner of one thousand 
acres of land, where he has fine improvements, 
and iu addition to general agricnltnre makes a 
specialty of live slojk, operating both as a. breeder 
and dealer. In former years he also dealt largely 
in real estate. The dwelling which he occupies 
was erected by his honored father, and thus pos- 
sesses for hira a far more .than moneyed value. 

We direct the reader's attention to a lithographic 
portrait of Mr.- Francis presented in connection 
with his personal sketch. 




mOMAS B. STANNER. In a volume of a 
biographical nature mention should cer- 
tainly be made of Thomas Stanner, who is 
a leading and wealthy citizen of DuPage Town- 
ship. His home farm com|)rises one hundred and 
sixty acres of fertile land on section 18, upon which 
are to be seen the buildings, trees, and stock that 
mark it as the abode of |)leiit3' and good judgment. 
Another tract of eight3' acres is under equally good 
cultivation, and the whole constitutes an estate of 
which an}' man might well be proud. 

The parents of our subject were Martin D. and 
Mary (Cain) Stanner, who represented the English 
and Iiish races resi)ectively. They resided in Chi- 
cago several years, coming to Will Count}- at quite 
an early date and making their home in DuPage 
Township for some thne. The father ditd in Co- 
lumbus, Ohio, in 18Sl,and the raothnrat the Imme 
of our subject in DuPage Township, in 1885. They 
were the parents of nine children of whom those 
known to survive are: Thomas 15. ; James, a resi 
dent of Huron S. Dak.; and John, whose home is 
in Joliet. 

The gentleman of whom we write, was born in 
Chicago, November 1 1, 1837. but reared to man- 
hood in the county that is his present home. He 
was educated in the public schools of this county 
with a short attendance in Cliicago, and has added 
to the knowledge obtained in boyhood by much 
general reading, keeping well posted on topics of 
interest. With the exception of a few years spent 



iu the (inrden City, he has lived in DuPage Town- 
ship and is therefore thoroughly identified witli its 
interests and numl)ered among its most public- 
spirited citizens. 

On February 25, 18G3, Mr. Stanner was united 
in marriage with Miss Anna Dixon, daughter of 
Martin and Mary Dixon, formerly of Lockport, 
but now deceased. Mrs. Stanner is a worthy wo- 
man who has devoted her life to the care and com- 
fort of her family, and been found ready for 
neighborly deeds of kindness as occasion demanded. 
She has borne a large family, of whom the follow- 
ing survive: Fannie, wife of John Matthews, of 
Joliet; Nellie, Thomas, John, James and Lulu. 

The fine estate owned by Mr. Stanner is the best 
record regarding his enterprise and good manage- 
ment, and the fact that he has been Justice of the 
Peace for many years shows that he is well re- 
spected by his fellow-men. He is independent in 
politics, aiming to cast his vote for the man of 
highest character and ability, in whatever parly he 
may be found. He is a communicant of the Roman 
Catholic Cliurch, and belongs to the Catiiolic Order 
of Foresters, being enrolled in Lodge No. G5, at 
Lockport. He also belongs to the DuP.age Grange 
Lodge and to the ^'igilance Society of the town- 
siiip. His administration of the affairs that have 
come before him as a Justice has given him popu- 
larity and does credit to himself and constituents. 
His fatiierand lirother Patrick were soldiers in the 
late war, and his father was also a member of the 
regular army l)efore the war. 

^7 AMES BIGGINS. Among those who within 
the past decade have joined the "sheeted na- 
tions of the dead" leaving behind tliem a 
memory that will endure, is the gentleman 
whose cognomen heads this sketch. He was born 
in County Monaghan, Ireland, May 11, 1822, and 
died in DuPage Township, Will County, 111., June 
15, 1884. His life had been marked by no great 
events or striking ex|)eriences,but his days had been 
spent in such industrious labors and quiet pursuance 
of duty as to secure the esteem of all who knew 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



5G9 



him aiifl cause his demise to be regretted by a 
large circle. 

Mr. Biggins was re.ared to the age of eighteen 
years in the land of his birth, receiving a fair edu- 
cation and acquiring some knowledge of the art of 
tilling the soil to whit'h lie devoted his life. So 
successful were his labors that he left a valuable 
estate upon which his widow now lives. His only 
capital was his strong hands and natural abilities, 
by a zealous use of wliieh he won success. He was 
a Democrat, although lie did- not confine his vote 
to the party candidates but gave it to the man 
whom he though best qualified to fill official sta- 
tion. He was a member of the Roman Catholic 
Church at Lockport. 

For nearly half a century prior to his death 
Mr. Biggins had resided in Will County, to which 
he came direct from the East on emigrating from 
the Land of the Shamrock. When called hence he 
was not only missed bj' his immediate family, but 
by his neighbors and many acquaintances through- 
out the county where he was known as a public- 
spirited ard reliable citizen. To his family he was 
a good provider, to his companion a kind and lov- 
ing husband and to his children an affectionate and 
indulgent father. 

The marriage of Mr. Biggins and Miss Catherine 
Prior was celebrated February 9, 1861. Mrs. Big- 
gins was born in Ireland and is a communicant of 
the Roman Catholic Church; she is active, capable 
and kindly, holding a due measure of regard from 
neighbors and acquaintances. She owns two hun- 
dred and forty acres of land nnder good cultiva- 
tion and the most of it well improved. Of the six 
children whom she bore her husband, four are now 
living. These are Eugene, James, Edward and 
William; the deceased are George and Mary. The 
sons belong to the churc ' to which their parents 
consecrated them in infancy. 

James Biggins was accompanied to America by 
his brother Owen, who also settled in DuPage 
Township, his farm adjoining that of James. He 
was an industrious, honest and law-abiding citi- 
zen. He departed this life April 19, 1885. It 
is safe to s.iy that at no period in the history 
of the Emerald Isle have more diligent, law- 
abiding and God-fearing men emigrated from 




her shores than the brothers James and Owen Big- 
gins. For years to come their memory will be 
green in the hearts of those who knew and re- 
vered them, as is the isle that gave them birth, 
and their worthy lives may well be emulated by 
fuuire generations. 

f LBERT M. STRONG. In this gentleman 

LM we have a representative-born citizen of 

Will County, a descendant of one of its 

// earliest pioneers. Among the first who 

located in Du Page Township, the father of our 
subject soon became prominent here, and for a 
long period of years was closely identified with 
the public life of township and county. His son, 
of wliom we write, is still living on the old home- 
stead, the place of his birth, and is pursuing agri- 
culture with marked success. 

Albert Strong was born on the 18th of Jul^-, 
1848, a son of the late Robert and Caroline 
(Willey) Strong, natives respectively of Vermont 
and New York. His paternal ancestors are said 
to have come from England. The father of our 
subject made the long journey from his early home 
to this county in the year 1831, and bought land, 
for which he received a patent from the Govern- 
ment. This was in the northern part of DuPage 
Township, and when he settled on it it was a wild, 
uncultivated tract of prairie. There were but few 
white people there then, the Indians predominating. 
A short time after his arrival here, he had to go to 
Chicago for safe quarters on account of the Black 
Ha"'k War. Robert Strong first built a log cabin 
on his land and made it his home a number of 
j'ears, and subsequently built the present commo- 
dious residence that now adorns the old home- 
stead. When he came here he had but veiy little 
money, but from that small beginning he acquired 
quite a valuable estate, his farm consisting of 
two hundred and forty acres at the time of his 
death. December 28, 1885, this venerable pioneer 
passed awa\' from the scene of his usefulness, 
leaving behind him a memoiy that will ever be 
cherished in the hearts of those who knew and 



570 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



loved liim, of a strong-, pure, upright life. He 
not only iiiilcd in tiio uiiliuililing of tlit; township, 
but was conspicuous in the management of its |)ub- 
lic affairs. lie served as Supervisor, was .Tustice of 
liie I'eacc a number of jears, and held oilier of- 
fices of importance. He was a sturdj' Hepnblicin 
in liis jiolilical views. A man of a true religions 
n;ilni-e, he was one of the leading members of the 
Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder for a 
number of years, and was a liberal contributor 
towards building ui> the present church of that de- 
nomination in DuPagc. 

The mother of our subject is still living, aged 
eighty years, and is a beloved inmate of his house- 
hold. She is a true Ciiristian, and has for many 
years been a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
.Slie is said to be the oldest pioneer in DuPage 
Townshi)) and she has been an eye-witness of the 
gradual growth of the county from its primitive 
condition to its present position as a wealthy, 
highly-improved county. She is the mother of 
eleven children, three of whom are now living — 
Mary, Mrs. Ware, of California; Robert, living in 
Arkansas ; and .\lbert M. 

The latter, of whom we write, was reared to the 
life of a farmer on his birthplace, and has always 
made his home here. Besides gaining a sound, 
practical knowledge of farming in all its branches, 
he was given the advantages of a superior educa- 
cation. He laid the foundations of his education 
in the public schools of this county and then at- 
cended Naperville Academy for two years. After 
that he became a student at the Western Reserve 
College, at Hudson, Ohio, and pursued a fine 
course of study there the ensuing two years. After 
leaving college, he returned home and entered 
upon his career as an agriculturist. This fai'm, 
lying on section 5, he has kept up to the same high 
standard of cultivation and improvement that it 
had attained under his father's care, and by his 
judicious man.igement he secures a fine income 
from its fertile acres. It is well provided with 
neat and substantial buildings, and good farming 
machinery, and is well stocked with cattle, horses 
and hogs, of high grades. 

On October 21, 1869, Mr. Strong .ind Miss Ida 
Wheeler were united in a marriage that has proved 



to be a happy one in every way. By their union 
they have two children — Grace C. and Haltie L. 
Mrs. Strong is a native of Pennsylvania and a 
daughter of the late Oeorge and Lucy Wheeler. 

As a man of well balanced, well trained mind, 
of excejitional tact and excellent business traits, 
one whose honor and integrity have never been 
questioned, our subject stands in the front ranks 
of our best citizens. He possesses strong public 
spiiit and seeks in every way to push forward the 
highest interests of this, his native township. He 
has especially interested himself in educational 
matters, and as School Director for many years has 
been a prominent factcjr in securing the excellent 
privileges enjoyed by the children of the township 
to-day. In politics he upholds the policy of the 
Re[)ublican party. He is a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of JS'aperville, 111., 
and also belongs to the DuPage Grange. 



^^®^»" 



DWARD S. HURLIJUT. This gentleman is 
^ numbered among the business men of Joliet, 
i^^ having, in 1889, taken charge of the busi- 
ness formerly owned by Mrs. S. F. Savage. He is 
not a stranger to the citizens of this place, as he 
has for some time made this his home and been 
identified in some capacity with its business inter- 
ests. He is a young gentleman of intelligence, 
upright character, and the manners of a vvell-bred 
gentleman, while his business abilities are such as 
to give promise of success in the line which he has 
adopted. 

In Rutland County, Vt., David and Mehitable 
(Fuller) Hurlbut were married, the former a native 
of Vermont and the latter of Connecticut. They 
afterward made a home in the Empire .State, where 
Mr. Hurlbut died July 7, 1859. He was a cooper 
by occupation and a man who was respected as an 
honest and upright citizen. His family consisted 
of four children, but two of whom are yet living. 
These are Mary E. and Edward S., both of whom 
reside in Joliet. A son, B. F., belonged to Com- 
pany B, One Hundred and Twelfth New York In- 
fantry, and gave his life in defense of the Union, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBDM. 



571 



receiving his death wound at the battle of Cold 
Harbor, June 1, 1864; a daughter Kate, the wife of 
Henry C. Morse, of Corry, Pa., died in October, 
1876. Tlie mother breathed her last in Joliet, Feb- 
ruary 1, 1878, while on a visit to her sister, Mrs. 
S. F. Savage. 

The suliject of this brief biographical notice was 
born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., March 25, 1851. 
He received a good education, and at the age of 
seventeen years started out in his career as a clerk 
in a dry-goods store in Jamestown. There he re- 
mained about two years, after which he went on 
the farm for a while. In 1871 he came to Joliet, 
where for about a year he acted as a clerk for his 
aunt. He then returned to his native State only to 
again come to Joliet, where in about a year he was 
again to be found in the emplo.y of Mrs. Savage. 
He continue<l to work for her until 1889, when he 
assumed the control of the business. Mr. Hurlbut 
is a member of the Republican party ami a pro- 
nounced prohibitionist in sentiment. 



:^^- 



S^NOCH STAFFORD is a fair specimen of 
fe ttie English- American citizen, and a success- 
/'' — ^ ful farmer who lias gained a comfortable 
estate by zealous and well-directed efforts. He 
owns and operates a tract of land on section 27, 
DuPage Township, upon which he has lived since 
the fall of 1863. At that time he purchased one 
hundred and ten acres, to which he added by sub- 
sequent purchase until his lai.ded estate comprised 
one hundred and ninety acres. There is some 
timber land on the farm but the greater part is 
under good tillage, and all is carefully looked after 
by the enterprising owner. 

Our subject is the youngest son of William and 
Ann Stafford, natives of -Merrie England," and in 
Nottinghamshire his own eyes opened to the light 
on tiw. 23d of Februarj', 1830. He was reared upon 
a farm, acquiring a knowledge of agriculture but 
having limited educational privileges. In 1851 he 
bade adieu to home and friends, determined to seek 
liis fortune in the New World, and going to Liv- 
erpool embarked on the sailer "Sea King." The 



vessel left the English docks April 27, and, after a 
lapse of over four w^eeks, entered New York harbor 
May 29. 

Mr. Stafford came at once to AVill County, III., 
where for a time he worked as a farm hand, after 
which he began as a renter of land. For aboui ten 
years be was thus engaged and he then made his 
first purchase of real estate. He was first married 
in October, 1854, to Miss Sarah Wheat, who bore 
him two children. William and Sarah; the latter is 
now deceased. The wife passed away in 1858 after 
a brief wedded life of four years. 

On the 29th of October, 1 859, Mr. Stafford con- 
tracted a second matrimonial alliance, taking as his 
companion Miss Jane Wheat, who is still shar- 
ing his fortunes. This union has resulted in the 
birth f)f eiglit sons aid daugliters, namely: Mary, 
nife of Jonathan Royce, Benjamin W., George M., 
John and Arthur, living; and Sarah, Stephen and 
Charles, deceased. Mrs. Jane Stafford was born 
in Nottinghamshire, England, April 18, 1843, to 
Benjamin and Hannah (Hinslifl) Wheat, who came 
to America when she was about twelve years old. 
Her parents settled in DuPage Township, Will 
County, 111., on the fi»rm now owned bj' our subject. 
There they remained until death, the father pass- 
ing away June 2, 1876, and the mother some time 
after. Mr. and Mrs. Wheat had four children, the 
only survivors being Ann, wife of William Chfl[)- 
man, of Ellsworth, Kan., and Mrs. Stafford. 

Mr. Stafford is largely independent in his politi- 
cal views, although for a number of years he has 
voted with the Democratic party. He receives his 
due measure of respect from those to whom his life 
and character are known, and his estimable wife 
has also man}' friends. 



-^^ 



ARTIN F. TILDEN. This name is indis- 
solubly associated with the growth of 
Custer Township, as that of one of its ac- 
tive pioneer settlers, who has been an 
imporlant factor in advancing its material, social 
and religious interests, and it is well that his life 
record should be placed on these pages. He is 




672 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



still actively engaged in the management of his 
fanning interests, and his farm on section 30, 
shows, in its neat comfortable buildings and its 
well-tilled acres, the care that he has bestowed 
ui)on it, and is a fine specimen of a farm evolved 
from the. wild prairies, that is still in the hands of 
the one who turned the first sod on its fertile acres. 
Diali Tilden, the father of our subject was a na- 
tive of Connecticut, where he carried on the occu- 
pation of a farmer. He was a volunteer in the 
War of 1812. lie was married to Lena Flint, 
also a native of Connecticut, their marriage taking 
place in Williamstown, Vt., and there they resided 
till old age overtook them, and then made their 
home with their children, who lived in Michigan 
and Illinois. United in life, in death they were 
not long divided, as she died in ISfiu at the age 
of eiglUy-lh roe years, and sixteen days afterward 
he breathed his last, at the age of eighty-four. 
Three of the eight children born to them are now 
living. 

Their son Martin, who is the subject of this bi- 
ographical review, was born among the beautiful 
hills of Vermont, in Williamstown, February (J, 
1811. He was the recipient of a good efiucation 
in the common schools, and when a young man he 
gave his attention to teaching, and for a while was 
numbered among the members of the educational 
profession in his native State. He had begun life on 
his own account at the age of nineteen, and for a few 
years worked as a stonemason. After that he gave 
his attention to farming, and moving into North- 
ern New York fifty years ago, carried on that oc- 
cupation there nine years. Thinking, however, he 
could sooner acquire a competence on the rich' 
virgin soil of Illinois, he came to this State in 
1811), and located in this township. He was in 
fair circumstances at the time, and investing some 
money in a tract of wild prairie, on section 30, he 
immediately began the pioneer task of redeeming 
it from a state of nature, and it may well be his 
pride that he has developed that tract of wild 
prairie into one of the finest farms in this vicinity, 
.■vnd that all its improvements, substantial build- 
ings, well-tilled fields, etc., are the work of his 
own hand. His farm comprises one hundred and 
sixty acres of land, well adapted to mixed hus- 






bandry, and he also owns twelve acres of limlier 
land. 

The marriage of Mr. Tilden with .Miss Sarah A. 
Kimball was soletnuized in 1836, and for fifty 
years they traveled life together, sharing its joys 
and dividing its sorrows, the greatest grief of our 
subject's wedded life being in her death, which 
01 cured in the month of September, 1884. Mrs. 
Tilden was a native of Vermont, and a daughter 
of Samuel and Sarah Kiml)all, who were natives of 
Massachusetts and early settlers in Vermont. They 
were the parents of seven children, all of whom 
are now deceased. ]\Irs. Tilden was born Novem- 
ber 30, 1809. She was the mother of eight chil- 
dren, two of whom are living: Lora, wife of Har- 
per Bovee, of whom see sketch; Mrs. Sarah Rose, 
who, with her daughter Mabel, aged fourteen 
years, lives witli her father. In the death of his 
beloved wife and children our subject h. s sus- 
tained a severe blow, but he does not mourn as 
one without hope. He firmly believes with the 
poet that 

'Tf the Power 

Maketh thus his pastures green, 
Maketh thus his quiet waters. 

Out of waste his heavens serene. 
We can trust the mighty Shepherd 

Loseth none He ever led ; 
Some where yet a greeting waits us 

On the faces of our dead." 

Mr. Tilden has been closely identified with the 
growth of Custer Township and Will County since 
his advent here so inan3' years ago, and his name 
is classed with the best of our pioneers. Ilia (ca- 
reer in life has been distinguished by sound wis- 
dom, stability of character and correct business 
habits, combined with honorable and conscien- 
tious views, and his course furnishes a worthy ex- 
ample to the 3'oung men who are just starting out 
in the world to find fortune's favors. He has al- 
ways taken an intelligent interest in the political 
issues of the day, and while in his youth he vvas a 
Democrat, in more mature years he identified him- 
self with the Republican part}-. He has always 
been a temperance man and his sympathies are 
with the prohibitionists. He has borne an impor- 
tant part in the administration of public affairs; 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



575 



was Township Clerk in an earlj' day and also Trus- 
tee of the Township. He has been Director of 
this school district for many years. A sincere 
and earnest Ciuistian, he has alwa3-s manifested 
a deep interest in tlic religions and moral \velf;;re 
of the comnmnily, and as a leading member of the 
Baptist Cluiicli, of wljicli he is a Deacon, he has 
done mucli to forward it. lie lias taken an active 
part in the Sunday-scliool as one of its most faith- 
fnl teachers. 




ICllAEL W. KELLY, A. B., M. D. This 
name represents one of the older and prom- 
inent physicians of .loliet, who came to 
the city in 1880, and located his office at 
No. 631 Cass Street. Until 1885, he cundncted a 
ding store on Jefferson Street, bnt upon its de- 
struction by fire in that year, he abandoned the 
drug business. He was born in Count\' Roscom- 
mon, Ireland, and when a lad of ten years came to 
America willi his father, Thomas Kelly, who loca- 
ted with his family at Petersburg, 111., and there 
sojourned until his death, about 1873. 

Dr. Kelly spent a portion of his boyhood days 
in the schools of Petersburg, 111., and subsequently 
attended the celebrated college at Tcutopolis, 
Eflingham Countj^, HI., under the guidance of the 
Kranciscan Fathers. After leaving that institution 
he repaired to Atchison, Kan., entering the Ben- 
edictine College, from which in due time he was 
graduated with the degree of A. B. Later lie 
taught school for a number of years, but in the 
meantime entertained the steady resolve to enter 
the medical profession as soon as circumstances 
would permit. He met with success as an instruc- 
tor and was principal of the village school at 
Lostant, LaSalle County, 111., for three years. 

Entering upon the study of medicine under the 
instruction of Prof. Frothingiiani, of the medical 
department of Michigan University, Dr. Kelly was 
graduated from that institution in 1879; then 
returning to his native country he entered Dublin 
University, and, after spending a year, returned 
to America, and entered upon the regular practice 



of his profession at Minooka, Grundy County, 111., 
where he remained two years. From that place he 
came to .loliet, where he is now in the enjoyment 
of a lucrative prictice. He is tlic)roughl3- devoted 
to his profession and gives to it his exclusive time 
and attention, and in the interests of his work, 
belongs to the Will County INIedical Society. 

The marriage of Dr. Kelly with Miss Lucy E. 
Hennesy, w.as celebrated at the bride's home in 
Minooka, October 10, 1879. They are now the 
parents of one child, a son, William F., born 
August 26, 1881. Dr. Kelly belongs to St. Mary's 
Catholic Church. Upon becoming a voting cit- 
izen, he identified himself with the Democrat party. 
He carefully avoids the responsiljilities of office and 
with the exception of casting his vote at the regu- 
lar election, has little to do with outside matters. 
Not only in the profession, but in social and busi- 
ness circles. Dr. Kelly occupies a high position, 
possessing the genial qualities and strict integrity 
which have fully established him in the esteem and 
confldence of those around him. 

Mrs. Lucy E. (Hennesy) Kelly was born Dec^em- 
ber 14, 1843, in Channahon, and was the daughter 
of John and Lucj' (Collins) Hennesy, who were 
natives of Ireland. Upon coming to this State, 
they located in Channahon Township, where the 
father occupied himself as a farmer. During the 
gold excitement of 1849, he went to California 
overland, and was there but a short time when he 
died. The widow moved to Minooka, where she 
passed the remainder of her life. 

A lithographic portrait of Dr. Kelly is presented 
on another page of the Aluu.m, and represents one 
of the prominent phj'sicians and foremost citizens 
of Joliet. 



^1 OHN HAYDEN, one of the most wealthy 
and prominent men in Florence Township, 
is likewise one of its most enterprising and 
J progressive. He has a valuable farm with 
first-class improvements, and his surroundings all 
indicate the exercise of cultured- tastes and ample 
means. The family stands second to none in 
Will County, in point of respectability and star- 



576 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ling worth, and forms a portion of the element 
which h:is l)i(.iight it to its present position, nior- 
all_y, socially JUid fiiianc'i:illy. 

Mr. Harden, in his search for a permanent loca- 
tion, wandered a lons>- way from liis hirUiplaee, 
whicli was in Lincoln County. Me., where ho first 
opened his eyes to the light. His father, .lolin 
Ilayden, was a native of County Carlow, Ireland, 
where lie was reared to man's estate and married 
Miss Hannah Kiusella, who was born and reared 
not far from the childhood home of her husband. 
They lived there until early in 183G, when the 
father, desirous of bettering his condition, re- 
solved upon seeking the New World. He set out 
on Easter morning in February, from the Key of 
Ross, and after a safe voyage landed in Quebec, 
Canada. A short time later he proceeded to New 
York State, and from there to Gardner, Me. Sub- 
sequently he located in Lincoln County, that State, 
where he resided nntil 1850. 

Deciding now upon seeking the far west, John 
Haj-den, leaving the Pine Tree State, came to Illi- 
inois, and settled in Joliet, of which he was a resi- 
dent several j'ears. Thence he removed to Spen- 
cer, and from there, in 18G0, came to this county, 
locating on the farm, in Florence Township, wlueh 
is now occupied by his son John. As the result 
of industry and perseverance, he became well-to-do 
and the owner of a whole section of land, besides 
wiial he gave to his sons. He also owned prop- 
erty in Chicago. He came to Illinois poor in 
purse, and accumulated liis possessions solely by 
his own industry. He was a well-educated man, 
and looked carefull}- after tiie training of his chil- 
dren, both in scliool and at home. He was modest 
and unassuming in disposition, never seeking pub- 
licity in any shape. He was reared in the faith of 
the Catholic Church, to which he loyally adhered, 
and after becoming a voting citizen in America, 
identified himself with the Democratic party. He 
departed this life at the homestead April 5, 1889, 
aged seventy-seven years. The mother survived 
her husband less than a year, her death taking 
place February 28, 1890, when she was sevent^'-five 
years old. 

To John Hayden, Sr., and his good wife there 
was born a family of nine ehildren, who were 



named respectively: Mary, Daniel, Catherine, 
Bridget, Thomas, .John, Hannah, Burnett and Anna 
S. Bridget, Burnett and Anna S. are deceased; 
Mary is married and a resident of Maine. The 
oilier children are living in this State. John, ova- 
subject was a child of four 3 ears when his parents 
came to this county, and he spent his boyhood and 
3()nlh after the manner of most farmers' sons, be- 
coming familiar with the arts of plowing, sowing 
and reaping, and choosing this for his vocation in 
life. He is consideral)ly interested in live stock, 
and has four hundred and eight3' acres of land in 
Florence Township, comprising a part of sections 
12,2, 11 and 10. The residence is on the first 
mentioned. Besides this he has eighty acres on 
section 23, Reed Township. 

IMr. Hayden is raising some fine blooded horses 
of Norman and trotting stock, and is able to ex- 
hibit some of the choicest animals in this part of 
Illinois. The male members of the Hayden family 
have been distinguished for generations for their 
love of the equine race, and are particularly fond 
of fast horses. They obtained a fine reputation as 
breeders, and have furnished many of the racers 
who have won distinction on the popular tracks of 
the country. Mr. Haj'den bids fair to be in no- 
wise behind his ))rogenitors in this respect. He is 
a keen judge of the fine points of horseflesh, and 
evidentlj' possesses a natural adaptation for this 
business. 

Although not meddling very much in politics, 
Mr. Hayden keeps himself thorqughly posted in 
regard to current events, and gives his unqualified 
support to the Democratic party. He has held the 
oflice of Road Commissioner and served as Treas- 
urer of Florence Township for the last eleven 
years. In religious matters he adheres to the 
Catholic faith of his forefathers, and his wife and 
family are in full sympathy with him in this re- 
sjiect. 

Miss Bridget Bergan, of Manhattan, this county, 
was wedded to our subject February 24, 1876. 
Mrs. Hayden was born in IManhattan, March 17, 
1852, and is a daughter of Martin and Hester 
(Welch) Bergan, who were natives of County Kil- 
kenny, Ireland. The parents were reared and 
married in their native count}', and emigrated to 



PORTRAIT AND KIOaKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



577 



America about 1846. They first settled in Peoria, 
liut the following year took up their residence in 
Manhattan, where they still live. Of this union 
there iiave been born five children, viz.: Jolin F., 
J^aniel, William, ilartin G. and Anna, all of whom 
are living and form an exceedingly bright and in- 
teresting group, receiving careful parental training 
and the older ones pursuing their studies in the 
common schools. 



^ ANIEL K. GISE, senior member of the firm 
of D. K. Gise & Co., stands at the head of 
one of the important manufacturing interests 
of Joliet, operating a factor^' which turns outdoor 
hinges and other articles in this line. The office 
occupies No. Ill, St. Louis Street, while the resi- 
dence of JMr. (lise is located at No. 201, Sherman 
Street. Mr. (iise has been a resident of this county 
since 1868, and for the space of a dozen years has 
been associated with its leading interests. 

A native of Lebanon County, Pa., Mr. Gise was 
born March 3, 1843, and is the son of David B. 
Gise, a native of Newmanstown, that State. The 
hitter was reared to manhood in his native State, 
and was there married to Miss Sarah Kerlin. The 
wife was of English descent, her progenitors set- 
tling in Pennsylvania at an early day. Both fam- 
ilies were of eminent respeclabilit}' and the male 
meinbers largelj' millers by trade. 

The parents of our subject, when he was an in- 
fant of three months, removed to Center County, 
Pa., where the father followed milling and fanning 
and wliere the motiier died. In 1867, after the 
death of his wife, David Gise emigrated to Illinois 
with his family, settling south of Manhattan, in 
^\'ilson Township, this county, where he now lives. 
Daniel K. was reared to mature years in Center 
County, Pa., and after reaching manhood engaged 
in mercantile [jursuits until coming to this county. 
He then purchased land in Manhattan Township, 
which he brought to a good state of cultivation, 
erecting thereon suitable farm buildings and where 
he resided until about 1872; then removing to 
Joliet he purchased a stock of goods and established 



himself on Washington Street, where he continued 
to do business until 1882. That year he sold out 
and, after an interval of rest, became interested in 
live stock in the West, which engaged his atten- 
tion for a time, and he then established his present 
Ijusiness which he has conducted about five years. 
He still retains possession of his farm rnojiert}' in 
Manhattan Township. Gise & Co. sell the product 
of their manufactory principally to the jobbing and 
retail trade, having men on the road at all times. 
Mr. Gise was married, February 10, 1870, in 
Mifflir. County, Pa., to Miss Addie A. Kearns who 
was born in that county August 27, 1847. The 
parents of Mrs. Gise were Thomas and Mary (Set- 
tle) Kearns, natives of Pennsylvania and now de- 
ceased. Four children have been born to our subject 
and his good wife, these bearing the names re- 
si)ectively, of Ward K., Lloyd P., Buelah A. and 
Edith S. Mrs. Gise is a member in good standing 
of the Central Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gise 
gives his political support to the Democratic party 
but 'meddles very little with public affairs, prefer- 
ring to devote his time and attention to his business 
interests and his famil\-. 



-^a- 






vv 



§ 



ORNELIUS J. McCLURE. In traveling 
about Will County one is struck b}' the ap- 
pearance of neatness and order which many 
of its homes bear and the evidences of thrift and 
enterprise which are to be seen on cverj' hand. 
These features are noticeable in contemplating the 
estate occupied b}' the above-named gentleman, 
which comprises one hundred and sixty acres, on 
section 19, Manhattan Township. It is evident 
that the manager of this place is successfully pur- 
suing his avocation, which is plainly seen to be 
that of grain and stock-raising. Holstcin cattle 
and Poland-China swine of good grades graze over 
the broad acres, and some twenty head of high- 
grade draft horses are also visible. Investigation 
reveals the fact that Mr. McClure has recently suf- 
fered the loss by fire of a large barn, 40x70 feet, 
and other buildings, but that substantial structures 
will soon replace the temporary shelter which he 



578 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



V^ 



bas been compelled to use for a time. The in- 
quirer would also learn that lie operates two bun- 
.ired and forty acres of laml, and rents an equal 
amount, and that his entire landed estate is tillable, 
well tiled, fenced and oliiern-ise improved. It is 
divided into liiree improved places, one comprising 
a quarter of section 25, .lackson Townsliii), and an- 
other, eighty acres on section 30, Manlialtan 
Township, watered by Mud Creek. 

The McClurc famil}- is of .Scotch lineage, and 
the branch to which our subject belongs was repre- 
sented in the third generation previous to his lime 
b}' a McClure who was born near New York City, 
and was an early settler in St. Albans, Vi. A 
brother of this gentleman belonged to the Revolu- 
tionary army, was taken prisoner and confined in a 
prison ship, his place of confinement being so loath- 
some that he became crazy. The grandfather of 
our subject was James McClure, born in Franklin 
Connty,\'t., in 1777, and the owner of a farm wliich 
he operated until his death. The next in the paternal 
line of descent was D avid , who was born near St. 
Albans, Franklin County, Vt., and followed in his 
father's footsteps, becoming a farmer. 

David McClure cleared a farm one-half mile 
from Lake Champlain, and there i-aised large flocks 
of sheep and herds of other stock. In the fall 
of 1854 he sold bis Eastern propertj', and coming 
to Will County, 111., purchased one hundred and 
sixtj' acres if raw land in Wilmington Township, 
and immediately set about its improvement. After 
having seen his labors crowned with success, in 
1864 he removed to Green Garden Township, pur- 
chasing an equal amount there, upon which be re- 
mained but eighteen months. He then sold, and 
in the fall of 1865 became a resident of Manhattan 
Township. He purchased eighty acres of land ou 
section 30, together with one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 25, Jackson Township, and build- 
ing upon the former, operated the entire acreage 
until 1880, when he retired to Manhattan. He 
spent the remainder of his life in the repose which 
his former industry merited, breathing his last in 
1885, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a 
stanch member of the Republican partj'. In earlier 
years be belonged to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, but later transferred his membership to 



the United Brethren Church, in both societies as- 
sisting to upbuild the cause of Christianity by 
joining the etforts to erect a house of worship, and 
in all else which the organizations undertook. 

The wife of David .McClure was Charlotte Ayers, 
likewise a native of Franklin County, \'t., and a 
daughter of Benjamin Ayers, who was born and 
spent his earlier years in Massachusetts. On re- 
moving from his native State, Mr. Ayers continued 
his agricultural work in Enosburg Townslnp, in 
the county wherein his daughter opened her eyes 
to the light of day. That wortiiy lady died in 
1886, .at the age of fifty-eight years. She had 
borne her husband three children, of whom our 
subject is the first-born. The others are Judson 
L., now living in Manhattan Village, and Orrin, 
who died when but three years old. 

The natal day of Cornelius J. McClure was May 
13, 1850, and ins birthplace the old McClure home, 
on the baidvs of Lake Cham|)lain, not far from St. 
Albans, Vt. He has but sligiit recollections of his 
native place, as he accompanied his parents to this 
county early in his fifth 3'ear. They traveled by 
rail to Joliet, and the childhood of our subject was 
spent amid the primitive surroundings incident to 
the cultivation and development of new land. His 
remembrance of the wildness of the prairie in- 
cludes the charming sight of a flock of eighteen 
deer. He early learned to bear a share in the work 
of the farm, and during the war, w^hen older and 
stronger hands were scarce, was counted as one on 
the harvest field and elsewhere. 

Young McClure was but fourteen years old 
when the family removed from Wilmington to 
Green Cjarden Township, and fifteen when they 
came to Manhattan Township. lie had enjoyed 
the advantages of the district schools whenever it 
was possible for him to attend them, and when 
nineteen, was given the privilege of attending Jen- 
nings Seminary, at Aurora, one term. He remained 
with his father until he became of age, and in 

1872 rented a tract of his father, and began his 
personal efforts as a farmer. In the spring of 

1873 he went West by rail to learn something of 
the country beyond the Mississippi. He became a 
brakeman on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, between 
Brookville, Ft. Wallace and Denver, and later went 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



579 



to Nevada, where he filled a similar position on 
the Central Pacific Railroad, Vjctween Toana and 
Winnemucka. lie returned to his home in tlie 
spring of 1874, by way of San Francisco an'd 
Panama, sailing from the Isthmus to New York 
• on the " Acapulco," and consuming seven weeks 
in the homeward journey. 

Resuming work on his father's farm, Mr. McClure 
in a few months became the purchaser of eighty 
acres on section 30, the operation of which he 
added to that of some of the iioniestead, continu- 
ing it until 1879. In tiie meantime, on December 
23, 1875, he had been joined in wedlock to Miss 
Emily Morgan, and at the date before named they 
located on property belonging to her, which has 
since been their home. This is the valuable estate 
on section 19, in addition to which Mr. McClure 
operates a part of section 30. After the death of 
his father he bought his brother's interest in the 
parental homestead, bringing up his lauded estate 
to four hundred and eight}' .acres. 

Mrs. McClure was born in Neansay Township, 
Kendall County, III., where her father, Moses Mor- 
gan, had settled in 1S.50. Two j'ears later he 
removed to the vicinity of Joliet, and having 
prosecuted successfully his occupation of tilling the 
soil, eventually became the owner of eleven hun- 
dred acres of land. After his death, m 1877, his 
his daughter's share of the estate w.as overseen by 
her husband. Mrs. McClure was educated at Joliet, 
and it would be hard to find a lady of more pleas- 
ing characteristics and genuine worth. Her gra- 
cious hospitality and mental culture make her home 
a favorite gathering place for friends, while to her 
husband and children it is the dearest spot on 
earth. The interesting group about the fireside in- 
cludes six sons and daughters, namely: Alice, 
Mark, Ara, Irvin, Addie and Wayne; while two 
children have gone before. 

Not only has the enterprise of Mr. McClure se- 
cured him a good estate and all the comforts of 
life, but he has gained a still better reward for iiis 
meritorious life in the good-will of numerous 
friends and an honorable reputation. He is now 
serving his third term as Township School Trustee, 
and he was Village Trustee for one year, his home 
having been included in the corporation when the 



charter was first given, but later set off. He be- 
longs to the Grange at Manhattan, having the sta- 
tion of Overseer. He gives his ballot to the 
candidates of the Republican party, and is an 
earnest advocate of temperance. 



DWARD D. CONLEY, editor and proprie- 

-j tor of the Joliet Signal, is conducting a 
L^^ journal which under his management has at- 
tained no small degree of influence in this part of 
the State. He is a native of the city of Toronto, 
Canada, and was born August 11, 1844. He was 
but an infant when his parents removed to Buffalo, 
N. Y., and in 1849, to Wilmington, this State, 
where Edward was reared to mature years, and 
which remained his home until 1889. 

In the meantime, during the progress of the Civil 
AVar and when a 3'outh of nineteen years, Mr. 
Conley entered the Union service, enlisting in Com- 
pany A, Thirt3'-ninth Illinois Infantry, which was 
assigned to the Army of the James. He partici- 
pated in man}- of the important battles which fol- 
lowed, including several engagements in front of 
Richmond and Petersburg, remaining in the service 
until December, 1865, when he received an honor- 
able discharge on the mustering ont of his regiment. 
In the meantime he had the satisfaction of witness- 
ing the surrender of Lee at Appomattox and he 
saw man}' of the prominent men who were con- 
spicuous at that time, viz.: Jefferson Davis, Presi- 
dent Lincoln, Gen. Grant, Secretary Stanton, Gen. 
Sheridan and others. He discharged his duties 
faithfully as a soldier and at the close of the war 
returned home. 

After a brief term spent in school, Mr. Conley 
engaged in the furniture business one year at Wil- 
mington, and subsequently filled various munici- 
pal and township offices. In 1871, he became in- 
terested in journalism and purchased the AVilming- 
ton Advocate which he still owns and controls. In 
December, 1886, he purchased a half interest in the 
Joliet Signal, and thiee years later became sole 
proprietor. In 1889, he removed to the city and 
put up a residence at the intersection of Western 



580 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and liuoll Avenues, where he now resides. For 
w.my years he has been the correspondent of the 
Chic.ifjo Timcx and Herald, sending in tlie local 
news from Wilmington, Hraidwood and vicinity. 
Ahonl Ajjril, 1879, he establisiied the Rraidwood 
Reporter, which he published six years. Me be- 
longs to Howen Post, No. 17, G. A. H., at Wil- 
mington. 

AVhile a resident of Wilmington, Mr. Conley was 
married December 28, 1874, to Miss Mary A. 
O'Connell. This lady was born in 1846, in Ireland, 
and is the daughter of Mrs. Hannah l>urke. now 
residing near l.raidwood. There have been born of 
this union a son and ilaughter: Edward J., and 
May. Mr. Conle}^ was reared in the Catholic faith 
and is a member in good standing of St. Patrick's 
Church. 



-i-+|-^^€-<^ 



^TNTHONY G. TAYLOR is profitably con- 
( .@/u[ i ducting farming and stock-raising opera- 

m II tions in Custer Township, where he has a 
1^^ well a|)pointed farm on section 23, and 

here he and bis family have an attractive home. 
Mr. Taylor's claims to representation in this bio- 
graphical work are not wholly as a farmer, how- 
ever, but in part as a noble type of the veterans of 
the late Civil W^ar, whom we delight to honor, 
and who, since the Rebellion closed have done so 
much to develop the fine resources of this county. 
Our subject has an enviable military record, as an 
able and trustworthy soldier, who did his share of 
hard fighting that kept the Stars and Stripes float- 
ing over a free and undivided countr3', and by his 
valor he received deserved promotion to the ofiieial 
rank of Second Lieutenant. 

Hiram Taylor, the father of our subject was a 
native of Rutland Coynt^', Vt., born 1806, and was 
there reared to the life of a farmer. His mother, . 
whose maiden name was Eliza M. Weller, was 
horn in the State of New York in the month of 
June, 1810. In 1826 she was married in the place 
<jf her nativity to Hiram Taylor, and the3' spent the 
early years of their wedded life in that State. In 
1849, they came to Will Comity and settled on the 



farm in this township now owned by Martin Tan- 
ner. I'here they resided for four years, and then 
removed to the farm now occupied by our subject. 
Here thej- made their permanent home and here the 
father of our subject died in 1877. His mother is 
still living at the venerable age of eighty years and 
is a beloved member of his household. Eleven 
children were 'jorn of her married life, two of whom 
died in the first four years of their existence and 
five of the family are now living and reside in this 
township. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born 
September 16, 1840, in St. Lawrence County, N. 
Y. His education was obtained partly in his na- 
tive State and partly in Illinois in the common 
schools. He h.as alwaj's been at home, never hav- 
ing worked away, excepting for half a month. At 
the breaking out of the war he was engaged on his 
father's farm, and watched with ardent interest the 
progress of the Rebellion. August 5, 1861, he en- 
tered the army as a member of Company AjTIiirt^-- 
niutli Illinois Infantr}-. He took part in the follow- 
ing campaigns: Slienandoah Valley under Gen. 
Shields; was with I'.urnside in his Fredericksburg 
campaign; w.as then under Gen. Banks at Suffolk, 
Va.; after that was with McClellan on the James 
River and subsequently was at Newburn, N. C; 
and later at South Carolina he fought under Gen. 
Gilmore. There he and his comrades took part in 
the siege of I'^ts. AVagner and Gregg and were of 
great assistance in the capture of those strong- 
holds. His term of enlistment having expi'-ed he 
re-enlisted after a furlough of thirty days, returned 
to Washington, went with Gen. Butler to Bermuda 
Hundred, A'a., and was active in the James River 
campaign. He remained with Butler during the 
siege of Richmond and in the spring of 1865, was 
transferred to Gen. Terry's command near Peters- 
burg, and the brigade of which he was a member 
was the first to intercept Lee. He fought in the 
following battles; Alpine Station, Md. ; first bat- 
tle of AVinchester, Va., and was in a number of se- 
vere skirmishes taking an active part in the one at 
Black Water, Va. The summer of 1863 was spent 
in the siege of Fts. Wagner and Gregg on Morris 
* Island. S. C. Then occurred Butler's march upon 
Richmond and the retreat, and Mr. Ta\lor was in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



581 



all the battles in which his corps was engaged until 
the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He served 
as a private until 1864, but his valor, trustworthi- 
ness ,and efficiency had commended hira to the no- 
tice of his commanders and in that year he was 
promoted to the position of Corporal and then to 
be Orderly Sergeant and in the same year received 
his commission of Second Lieutenant. He was 
honorably discharged December 16, 1865, at Spring- 
field. III. 

After his long and exciting experience of life on 
the southern battletields, our subject resumed the 
quiet occupation whieli he had dropped to take up 
arms in defense of his country's honor. Coming 
back to the old homestead, where so many years of 
his life had. been passed, he actively entered upon 
the duties of cultivating the soil, and rearing stock. 
He has one hundred and sixty acres of land, that 
under his able management is in a superior con- 
dition. Its neat buildings, well tilled fields and 
general air of thrift marking it as one of the most 
desiralile estates in this vicinity. Here he and his 
wife have established a home that is the center of 
comfort and true hospitality, as they take pride and 
[)leasure in making it a happy abode for their chil- 
dren. 

December 6. IH6H, Mr. Taylor was united in 
marriage to Mrs. Eliza Stewart nee Hicks, a soldier's 
widow and a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Hicks. 
Her father is a retired farmer living in Plaintield. 
By this marriage our subject and wife have five 
children: Venie is tiie wife of Edward Yates of this 
township, aiul they have one child; Belle is the 
wife of Homy Linton of Custer Park; Charles, 
Eugene and Hiram. 

Our subject has been closely identified with the 
gniwth and material welfare of Custer Township, 
and so of \Vi\\ County, since his boyhood, and is 
well-known as a man of correct habits and high 
principles, who possesses the business tact and pr.ic- 
tical ability requisite to give him an assured place 
among those members of the farming community' 
who have pursued their calling to a successful issue. 
'lis position as a citizirn of Custer Township, is of 
the best, and he has given it good service as a pub- 
lic official, always discharging his duty with con- 
scientious fidelity. He has been Director of this 




district (No. 1). He occupies an important posi- 
tion as Treasurer of the Board of Road Commis- 
sioners, and has just been appointed Enumerator of 
Census by the United States Government, for Custer 
Township. His public and private duties are so 
numerous that he has just been obliged tc resign 
the office of Justice of the Peace. In commemo- 
ration of the part which he took in the war he is now 
a member of Bowen Post, G. A. R. of Wilmington. 
He always votes the Republican ticket in National 
politics. 



^'i ARL ARBEITER, a highly respected resi- 
dent of Plainfield Township, where he is 
profitably engaged in farming and stock- 
raising, may be denominated one of the pioneers 
of this portion of Will County, although not one 
of its earliest settlers, as in improving his present 
valuable farm, he has greatly aided in its develop- 
ment and has materially added to its wealth. 

Mr. Arbeiter was born in German3-,.Iuly 25, 1827, 
in the town of Kappits Ki, (irottkau, Ober-Sehlesien. 
Henry Arbeiter, his father, was born in the same 
village, where his father, of the same name .as him- 
self, carried on farming and spent the whole of his 
life. The father of our subject was bred to agri- 
cultural pursuits and according to the laws of his 
native land, as soon as old enough, served in the 
army in the years 181.3-14-15, and fought against 
Naiioleon. After returning to private life he re- 
sumed'farmiDgand was thus engaged until his death 
in his native village in 1857. He was twice mar- 
ried and reared nine children, only two of whom 
ever came to America, our suliject .and his brother 
AVilliam, the latter now a resident of California. 

He of whom we write received excellent educa- 
tional advantages in the land of his birth, attending 
school until he was fourteen years of age. He then 
commenced to work on a farm and afterwards 
learned the trade of a brick and plaster mason, serv- 
ing an apprenticeship, and then doing journey work 
in different parts of Germany. He was not satis- 
fied with his prospects in Germany and thinking 
that he could do better in America, he sailed for 
this country in 1851, embarking at Bremen on the 



582 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ship ''AiUer" and landing at(Jiiel)ec on the 17th of 
.June, after a V03'a_a'e of seventj-two days. He 
spent four weeks in tiiat city and then came to tiie 
States and makin<j bis ifay to Chicago resided there 
one year. In 1855 he came to Wdl County, and 
engaged himself to work on a farm at $15 a month, 
and was thus employed three years. He subse- 
quently rented the farm that he now owns and soon 
bought the place which comprised eighty acres of 
land. He has done so well at his calling, that he 
h;is bought other land and now has two hundred 
and forty acres, divided into two farms that are 
classed among the best in the place, Iioth being 
under good improvement and excellent tillage and 
provided with suilalile buildings. 

In 1860. Sir. Arbeiter, by his marriage with Miss 
Catiicrina Sdler, a native of Germany, secured a 
wife who has been to him a faitliful helpmate, act- 
ively co-operating witli him in his work, and by 
her skillful management wit!) her household affairs 
contributing to their prospei'ily. Jlr. and Rlrs. 
Arbeiter have five cliildrcn, four of whom are liv- 
ing, as follows; Josej)!!, Charles, (Jeorge and Mar}'. 
Tlie latter is novv the wife of Ciiristian Larsen and 
resides in Chicago. 

For thirt\--(ive yc.rs Mr. Arbeiter has been a 
resident of this county, and in tliat time has built 
up for himself a solid and enduring reputation as 
a man of good character, whose dealings with others 
are alvv.aNS in strict accord with tlie laws of justice 
and honor. He is an active, wide awake man, 
possessing keen foresight, and is quick to take 
advantage of any opportunity to improve his 
finances. 



^EORGP: WENDLING is a good representa- 
I (^-, live of German-American citizenship and 
^^J4l t^'iG thrifty ways which make the Germans 
so successful in the i)ursuit of agriculture. He 
owns and occupies.au excellent farm in Wasliington 
Township, the property comprising one hundred 
and twenty acres on section 19, and being wcU- 
iniproved and intelligently managed. 

Mr. Wendling was born in Keteim. Als.ice, which 
at the date of his birth, May 14, 1831, belonged 



to France, but is now included in the territory of 
the Germanic Confederation. His parents. George 
and Catherine (Wagner) Wendling, were born and 
reared in the same Province, were of German de- 
scent and usually spoke that language. The father 
was a linen-weaver. He died in his native country 
March 14, 1851, at the age of sixt3'-three 3'ears. 
His companion survived and in Februarj', 1852, 
leaving two children in (iermany, came with the 
other six to America. The i)arty set sail from 
Havre, France, and landed in New York Citj' after 
a voyage of three montiis. They went at once to 
Bnflfalo, where the mother died about a 3'ear later. 
She was then about sixty years old. She and her 
husband were lifelong members of the Evangelical 
Church. j^ 

The subject of this sketch was educated in his 
native Province in both German .and P'rench, and 
grew to maturity- in the land of his birth. He ac- 
companied his motiier to the United States and 
spent a few months in Buffalo, N. Y., whence he 
came to Illinois in 1853. At Montgomer}- he 
learned the trade of a cooper and followed the 
same in Chicago for five years. In 18GG, he re- 
moved from the (iardcn City to Will Coniit\-, and 
selecting the location uiion whicii he 3'et resides, 
turned his attention to the [)ursuit of agi'icnlture 
and to improving tlie farm which he had purchased. 
He has succeeded in his endeavors to make a com- 
fortable home, and the present condition of the 
land which he occupies and its various improve- 
ments are due to his personal efforts. 

The marriage of Mr. Wendling and Miss Cath- 
erine Wagner took pl.ace in Aurora and has been 
blest b3' the birth of nine children. The3' are all 
living, and Charles, Laura, Louisa, Ella, Mary and 
Lena 3'et reside under the parental roof. John, the 
first Iiorn, married Lena Black, and they reside 
upon a farm in Kearney County, Neb. The second 
child, Ernst, who is also farming in Nebraska, mar- 
ried Louisa Reberg. Sophia is the wife of Henry 
Razer, who operates a farm in Monee Township, 
this count}'. Mr. and Mrs. Wendling belong to 
the Evangelical Church and endeavor to walk con- 
sistently with their profession. jSIr. Wendling is 
a sound Republican. 

Mrs. Wendling was born in Baden, German3', 





(ji.-L^lA-^ 




[/>\^/^^^-C^ /^^it^i^^''^^ 














^^^-T^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



587 



August 18, 1836, and with her sister Laura aecom- 
|);ini(Hl luT jiarents U> America some years later, 
.lacoli and Eva (Brown) Wagner had been liorn in 
Baden and resided tiiere until 1852. They left 
Antwerp in September on the sailing vessel " Pat- 
rick" witli the intention of mailing' a home in 
America. They did not reach New York City until 
May, 1853, having been delayed in crossing tlie 
ocean by storms and three times grounded on sand 
bars. On each occasion scver.al weeks passed before 
the vessel could be moved and they had to lay on 
tlie English coast five weeks undergoing re[)airs. 
They were not far from the castle of Queen Vic- 
toria, wlio furnished the emigrants with food while 
on shore and also gave tliem supplies for the con- 
tinuation of their voyage. AVhen they finally 
reached America Mr. Wagner and iiis family at 
once came West to Illinois, settling in Lombard, 
DuPage County. After their children were mar- 
ried the parents came to Will Count}' and lived 
with their daugliter, Mrs. Wendling, until their 
death. The mother died in 1871 at tlie age of 
seventy-two years, and tlie father in 1881, aged 
eighty-one. Both were members of the Evangelical 
Church. 

^IW ON. DVf IGHT HAVEN. A great poet has 
said, "The evil that men do lives after them. 
The good is oft interred with their bones." 
(((Cli Be it our task to record the honoralile careers 
of those who so order their lives as to exert a bene- 
ficial influence on the society in which they move. 
assist in the grand work of uplifting humanity' to 
heights before unknown 

"And, departing, leave behind them 
Footsteps on the sands of time — 

Footsteps that perhaps another 
Sailing o'er Life's solemn main. 

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother. 
Seeing, may take heart again." 

The immediate progenitor of the Hon. Dwiglit 
Haven, of New Lenox Township, was Samuel 
Haven, who was boi1i in Chesterfield, N. H.. July 
1 4, 1799. In Sheridan, ChaiUauqna County, N. Y., 
January 11, 1821, he married lleplizibah M. Denny. 



This noble woman was born in Greenville, Greene 
County, N. Y., May 29, 1802, and died in Will 
Count}', III-., August 11, 1860. For several years 
after their marriage, Samuel Haven and wife lived 
in Chautauqua County, and during that period 
four children were born to them. In September, 
1834, they removed to Illinois and settled in New 
Lenox Township, Will County, being numbered 
among the pioneers of that locality. Here Mr. 
Haven gave his chief attention to farming, resting 
from his labors on March 12, 1866, when he 
crossed the .River of Death. He was an upright 
and conscientious man, living as be believed right 
in the sight of God, regardless of the opin- 
ions of men. A strong Abolitionist, he was 
indicted for assisting negroes in their flight to 
Canada. He is entitled to the honor of organizing 
the first temperance society in Sheridan, N. Y., 
which was also one of the first in the Empire State, 
dating from 1826. He and his wife belonged to 
the Congregational Church, of which he was a 
Deacoii man}' years. 

The family of the honored couple comprised 
eight sons and daughters, the gentleman with 
whose name we introduce this sketch being the 
first-born. Carlos was serving his second term as 
State's Attorney for Cook County when death took 
took him from among his fellow-men; Samuel 
Rush died in New Lenox Township, this county, 
May 4, 1890; Emily M. became the wife of Will- 
iam B. Cleaveland, and died in Frankfort Township, 
October 20, 1855; Amanda Cordelia is the widow 
of James Goodspeed, of Joliet; Helen M. died 
July 28, 1839; Alvan S. died in New Lenox 
Township, November 29, 1878; Helen E. is the 
wife of William P. Kimball, of Chicago^ 

The Hon. Dwight. Haven was born in Sheridan, 
Chautauqua Couniy, N. Y., December 14, 1821. 
He came to the Prairie State in an emigrant wagon 
with his father, and lived with him until his mar- 
riage. During this period he toiled, studied and 
enjoyed the recreations in which farmer lads 
generally participate, and shared in some of his 
father's labors of love toward humanity, helping 
liira in work on the "Underground Railway," and 
In other ways becoming more of a companion tha.n 
many sons. He adopted the pursuit o£ agriculture 



588 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



as his life work, from which he has now retired, 
although lie still ownipies his iiieasant rural iiorae. 
It consists of one hundred and sixt3--iive acres, 
hearing the various improveuients which it would 
be expected that a man of his ability and progres- 
sive spirit would niaiie, tlic house being particu- 
larly attractive and coniforlalile. 

In Homer Township, this county, on November 
3, 1817, the interesting ceremony was performed 
which gave to Mr. Haven a companion and help- 
mate. The lady of his choice was Helen L., daugh- 
ter of tiie late Deacon Levi Sav.age. She was born 
in New York, November 12, 1825, and died in 
New Lenox, July 28, 1859. The union was blessed 
by the birtli of six children, of whom we note the 
following: Lizzie J. is the wife of A. Allen Francis, 
of New Lenox; Mary E. is the wife of Charles 
Francis; Helen L. is the wife of Thomas Ferguson ; 
Emma J. is the wife of Gilbert Van Dnser, of 
Kansas; a pair of twins died in infancy. 

Mr. Haven, in Chicago, December 26, 1861, w.as 
a second time married. His bride on this occasion 
was Miss Elizabeth Craig, who was born in Dublin, 
Ireland, and came to America when eight years old. 
.She presides over the home of which she is one of 
the chief attractions, and in whatever circle she is 
placed her intelligence, tact and amiable character 
give her prominence. She bore her husband five 
children — Dwight C, Samuel R., Edward, Edith A. 
and Bertha A. Edward die<l November 8, 1880, 
when eleven years old. 

For many years the Hon. Mr. Haven has been 
identified with public affairs in this county, and 
since 1851 lie has held a commission under every 
Governor of the Stale. He h.as been Township 
Supervisor several terras, and for upwards of 
thirty-six 3'ears has held the office of Justice of the 
Peace. He has taken an active interest in educa- 
tional affairs, exerting a wide influence in behalf of 
the advancement of the schools, and for four years 
giving especial attention to elevating the standard 
of the office of County Superintendent, to which 
he was elected in 1865. It would naturally be 
supposed that a man reared under the influences 
which surrounded his boyhood, would be deeply 
interested in political affairs, and such is the case. 
He has borne a i)rominenl part in the work of the 



Republican party, to which he has belonged since 
its organization. In the tall of 1886, he was elec- 
ted to the Thirty-fifth General Assembly, and 
served one term with honor to himself and his con- 
stituents. Since the death of his brother, Samuel 
Rush Haven, he has had charge of the business of 
the latter, and the settlement of his affairs. He has 
been blessed with a sufficient amount of this world's 
goods to enable him to gratif}' all reasonable tastes 
and desires, and to assist with his means as well as 
his personal inllueuce in various good works. 
Lithographic portraits of Mr. Haven and his wife 
appear elsewhere in this work, and it is needless to 
say that they are well nnd favoi'ably known, and 
have many warm personal friends, the circle ex- 
tending over a wide extent of territory. 




iTLi; ENRY F. PIEPEN BRINK, Secretary and 
Treasurer of the Frederick Sehring Brewing 
Company, is widel}^ and favorably known 
among the business men of Joliet, where he 
has spent the last twenty years. He is a native of 
this county and was born December 8, 1819, to 
John O. and Sophia (Willie) Piepenbrink, who 
were natives of Germany. 

The parents of our subject emigrated to America 
in 1818 and settled at Beebe Grove in the south- 
eastern part of this county where the father in due 
time became the owner of five hundred acres of 
choice land. He is still living and engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits; the mother also remains the com- 
panion of her husband and both are now quite 
well advanced in j-ears. There was born to them 
a family of eight children, all of whom are living 
and residents of this count}". Thej' were named 
respectively: Otto, Henry F., Conrad, William, 
John, Philip, lillen and Sophia. Ellen is thr wife 
of Henry Sjiorleder, and Sophia married John Di- 
erson. All with the exception of Henry F. are 
residents of Crete Township. 

The subject of this notice remained under the 
parental roof until a youth of seventeen 3'ears. 
Tlien starting out for himself went to Concordia 
College, Ft. Wayne. Ind., where he established 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



589 



himself and remained three years. Later for a 
j)eriod of six j^ears, lie was in tlie office of the 
Circuit Clerk at Joliet, and subsequently served as 
Deputy Sheriflf of Will County', a year and three 
months. At the expiration of this time he had 
evinced such an understanding of the duties con- 
nected therewith that he was appointed Sheriff. 
This was followed by his regular election on the 
Republican ticket in 1878, and he was re-elected in 
1880. At the expiration of his second term he re- 
solved to quit politics and on the 8th of January, 
1883, at tlie organization of the company with 
which he is now connected, he was elected Secretary 
and Treasurer, in which capacities he has since 
served. 

In the meantime Mr. Piepenbrink looked after 
his own personal interests in another direction, se- 
curing to himself for a wife and helpmate, Miss 
Margaretha, daughter of Frederick Seliring, to 
whom he was wedded February 25, 1879. Mr. 
Seining is one of the prominent citizens of Joliet 
and is duly represented on another page in this 
volume. Mr. and Mrs. Piepenbrink are the proud 
parents of two bright children, a son and daughter, 
Louis and Linda. They belong to the German 
Lutheran Church and have contributed liberally 
toward its support. Mr. Piepenbrink is looked 
upon as one of the leading business men of Joliet 
and has been no unimportant factor in advancing 
its material interests. 



\tiAMES L. O'DONNELL, Attorney-at-Law 
and junior member of tlie firm of Haley & 
O'DonncU has, in company with his partner, 

^JJ a well-equipped office in the Barber Building 
and enjoys a liberal patronage among the people 
who have learned to rel}^ upon him as an able at- 
torney, possessing honesty and sound judgment. 
He located in the city in 1874, and has followed 
his i)ractice continually since. 

A native of LaSalle County, III., the sui3ject of 
this notice was born August 10, 1819, and is the 
son of William O'Donnell, a native of County 
Tipperary, Ireland. The latter emigrntcd to Amer- 



ica when a young man and located in LaSalle 
County, 111., where in 1847 he was married to Miss 
Johanna Caton. He followed agricultural pursuits 
until his death, which occurred in April, 1889, 
when he was seventy three years old. Upon be- 
coming a voting citizen he identified himself with 
the Democratic party and he was a member in 
good standing of the Catholic Church. He was a 
man of quiet habits, taking no part in political af- 
fairs, being a successful and wealtliy farmer, and 
enjoying the esteem of his neighbors. The wife 
and mother is still living, making her home in La 
Salle County, 111., and of the twelve children born 
to her and her husband, nine are still living. 

Mr. O'Donnell attended the district schools of 
his native county during his younger years and 
later repairing to Niagara County, N. Y., became 
a student of St. Mary's Universit}'. At the end 
of the course he began reading law with Glover, 
Cook & Campbell of Ottawa, and later he was with 
Mayo & Widner. He was admitted to practice in 
the Supreme Court at Springfield, 111., in January, 
1874, and in April came to this county, locating 
at Braidwood, where he remained until July. The 
present partnership was formed July 29, that same 
year and has continued uninterruptedly until the 
present time. It comprises one of the prominent 
law firms of Joliet, and stands second to none in 
point of professional ability as well as citizenship. 

Mr. O'Donnell was married in September, 1877, 
to Miss Costelle E. Edgerly, and of this union 
there have been born three children : Edith, Louise 
and Francis. Mrs. O'Donnell was born in Penob- 
scot Count}', Me., and was the daughter of Lorrin 
and Sarah Edgerly, who were natives of Maine. 
Mr. Edgerly came to Joliet in 187G and is still a 
resident of the city; the wife and mother is living. 
Mr. O'Donnell votes the straight Democratic ticket, 
and in 1880 was the nominee of his party for State's 
Attorney, making a good race. He takes an active 
interest in the breeding of trotting and saddle 
horses, the use of which constitutes his favorite 
recreation. 

Mr. O'Donnell is the Attorney of the Mutual 
Loan & Building Association, in which he is also a 
stockholder and Director. The firm also are At- 
torneys for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail- 



590 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



road Company and Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad 
Company. At present they are also acting at- 
torneys for the Wabasli Road and for the First 
National Bank, of Grundy County-. 






^lEV. CHRISTIAN SAN.S, for many years 
pastor of tiie First German Evangelical Luth- 
eran Church, of Joliet, is a man of note in 
the religious circles of this section, and is 
fuliilling tiie duties of his high position in an able 
and conscientious manner. He took up his residence 
in the city in 1860, and lias become widely and 
favorably known to a large portion of its people. 
He is possessed of a thorough education, and nature 
has endowed him with talents of a more than ordi- 
nary degree. 

The subject of this notice was born in the King- 
dom of Westphalia, Prussia, June 9, 1813, and 
lived there until a man of twentj'-eiglit years. He 
received his literary and theologi(!al education 
at various institutions in his native \)rovince, 
completing them at the ag-e mentioi.eil, and soon 
thereafter set sail for America. LTpon his arrival 
here he set about learning the English language, 
and in a comparatively short time learned to speak 
fluently and write correctly. 

The first charge of Mr. Sans was in New Orleans, 
La., where, in addition to fulfilling the duties of pas- 
tor, he w.as inspector during the building of a new 
church, wiiich is still in existence. He also had 
the oversight of tliree schools, which continue to 
be permiinent institutions, and are now under the 
charge of liis two brothers-in-law, John and Jacob 
Ueber, who have followed the profession of teach- 
ing successfully for the long period of fifty years. 
Under their tuition have been graduated some of 
the most eminent men in the country. These 
schools were organized bjr Mr. Sans, who educated 
many of the teachers who afterward presided over 
them. 

Finally, Mr. Sans was attacked with yellow 
fever, wliicii he found difficulty in getting rid of, 
and decided upon coming North, feeling that that 
was the only means of saving his life. He first 



located in Garbondale, Luzerne County, Pa., where 
he assumed charge of a congregation and built a 
church and schoolhouse, and established the same 
institutions at Archibald. Next we find iiim in 
Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis., where lie or- 
ganized a societj', built a church, and placed within 
the latter a good organ, and instituted other inno- 
cent attractions in order to call the people together 
for religious worship. After a sojourn at Water- 
town for eight years he received a call to Joliet, 
and upon coming here organized a society and 
built and dedicated a church, also instituting a 
school in connection therewith, lie labored faith- 
fully in the Master's vineyard until being affected 
with asthma to such an extent that he was obliged 
abandon the niinistrj'. He may well be pardoned 
for this decision, as he had served as pastor and 
teacher for fifty-two years. He is a regular mem- 
ber of the General Si'nod, and honorary member 
of the General Evangelical Synod of North Amer- 
ica. While having left the pulpit, however, lie 
still performs many pious duties, as his health per- 
mits, assisting in burying the dead and frequently 
filling a vacant pulpit. Personally, he is of a 
kindly, genial nature, and greatly beloved by the 
people among whom he has gone in and out for so 
many years. 

The Rev. Christian Sans was joined in wedlock 
with Miss Ann Mary Ueber, in 1845, at the bride's 
home in New York City. Mrs. Sans is a native 
of Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, and came to Amer- 
ica with her widowed mother and brother when a 
young lady. Of her union with our subject there 
have been born six children, five of whom grew 
to mature years — Elias Peter, of Joliet, is Superin- 
tendent of the Hickory Street Methodist Episco- 
copal Church; he married Miss Eliza Henry, of 
Morris, this State, and died in 1888, leaving two 
children — Mabel Cora and Charles, Augusta E. is 
the wife of John Dahlem, of Joliet, and they have 
five interesting children — Lillie, Anna, Ida, Robert 
and Walter Earl; Mary is the wife of Henry C. 
Buck, of Joliet; they are the parents of five chil- 
dren, only three of whom are living, viz. : Mabel, 
Frances and Palmer; Ida Sophia married C. M. 
Henssgen, an al)le attorney of Joliet, and they have 
two children — Oscar and Eda; Frank, a resident 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



591 



of Blooinington, married Miss Mary liarker, of 
Joliet, auci they have two chihlren — Arthur and 
Mary Margaret. He is proprietor of a notion and 
toy store, called the "2so Name Store," and is do- 
ing well. 

Mr. Sans has, as is tlie custom of his country- 
men, always lived frugall}- and within his means, 
saving what he could of liis income, and is now 
the owner of valuable property, including a fine 
store building with residence and oHices. and he 
also has four flats, which accommodate three fine 
stores, and two ofHces and a dining-room occupied 
l)y the Woman's C'hristian Temperance Union. Me has 
also put up a fine residence for himself in the cen- 
tral part of the city, and is now in a condition to 
live retired from active labor and enjoy the fruits 
of his early toils. His sou, Elias P., occupies one 
of the flats convenient to the family and the 
church. 



|l(„ ENRY BEHRENS. The name of this 
ifj) worlliy German citizen is familiar to many 
^;^' of the residents of Crete Township where 
(l^ he died at his homestead, February 6, 1889. 
He left a fine estate including three hundred acres 
of well-developed land, situated on section 30, and 
which with its improvements stands as a fitting 
monument to his iiersevcring industry'. He first 
came to AVill County in 1850, and secured one 
hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Crete 
Township which became the nucleus of the fi>ie 
property which he accumulated. He labored with 
great patience and economy and as the natural 
result was in due time rewarded with a home and 
a (•ompetence, likewise the respect of all who knew 
him. 

Mr. Behreiis was born in what was then the 
Kingdom of Hanover, .lanuar}' 9, 1836, and in 
accordance with the laws and customs of his 
native Germany, was placed in school at an early 
age and received a good education in the German 
tongue. About 1850, he set out with his parents 
for America, the latter being Frederick and Mary 
Behrens who were of substantial German stock for 



generations back. They embarked at Bremer- 
haven and after a somewhat lengthy voyage landed 
in New York City. Thence they proceeded to 
Chicago, 111., and shortly afterward to this county, 
settling on land in Crete Township, where the father 
prosecuted fanning and where the mother died in 
1871. Frederick Behrens was subsequently married 
a second time and removed to Itasca, this State, 
where he died in 1884 when quite aged. He and 
both his wives were members of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Mr. Behrens of whom wo write remained on the 
farm with his parents in Crete Township until 
reaching manhood and then purchased land on 
another section of the same. After the death of 
his parents he became owner of the homestead. 
He was married July 22, 1 859, to Miss Sophia 
Ohlendorf. Mrs. Behrens was born in Hesse-Cassel, 
October 13, 1 839, anil is the daughter of Heniy and 
Sophia (Sene) Ohlendorf, who were natives of Prus- 
sia and of pure German ancestry. Two of the nine 
children born to them died in Germany. The 
remaining five sons and two daughters accompanied 
their parents to America about 1850. They were 
on the ocean seven weeks and landed in New Y'ork 
Citjr, whence tlicy came directly to Illinois and 
settled on a new farm in Crete Township, Will 
County. Mr. Ohlendorf occupied himself in agri- 
cultural pursuits, but finally removed to another 
farm in the same township, where he died in 1882. 
He was then about seventy nine years old. He 
and his good wife joined the Luthtran Church 
early in life. Mrs. Ohlendorf is still living at the 
age of eighty -three years and makes her home with 
her son August in Crete Township. 

]Mrs. Behrens was a young girl of thirteen j-ears 
when her parents came to America and she remem- 
bers many of the incidents of preparation and the 
voyage across the Atlantic. She has a good edu- 
cation in her native tongue and remained with her 
parents until her marriage. Since the death of her 
husband she has managed the farm in an admirable 
manner. There were born to them twelve children, 
three of whom — Henry, Louisa and Mary died 
young. The survivors are Christina, the wife of 
John Hartman, who lives on a farm in Iroquois 
County, this State; Sophia M., Henry, Christof, 



59-2 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



(':illuTiiu', Conrad, Emma, Willie and Bfary. Mr. 
Hchrens was an active member of the Lutbcian 
Cliureli to wlileli liis wife and t'iiihlren also Ijelonged. 
Jn [lolitic'S lie was a Republican and his sons in 
this respect also follow in the footsteps of their 
honoretl father. Besides the propertj' in Will 
Connty, the estate embraces two farms in Woodford 
Township, Iroquois County, one comprising one 
hundred and twenty acres and the other one liun- 
dreil and sixty acres. 

^i^^RANK LAMBERT. ' This gentleman is a 

Ji=i^ representive Englisli-Ameriean citizen and 
\ ^^ a [)ioneer of DuPage Township, now enjo}'- 
ing the many comforts and the e.ase of life to which 
his former labors fairly entitle him. In the toils 
and successes of long years he has been aided by a 
noble wife, who shares with him in the results of 
their labors and in the deep esteem of the man}- 
friends the}' can boast. 

Mr. Lambert was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
September 19, 1829, and is a son of William and 
Elizabeth Lambert, and a brother of George Lam- 
bert, whose biography occurs elsewhere in this 
volume. He was reared on a farm in his native 
country with but limited school privileges, and in 
1851, in company with his brother George, emi- 
grated to America. He came direct to Will Connty, 
in which he has been a continuous resident since 
his arrival. In 1859 he settled upon a tr.act of land 
on secLicm 20, DuPage Township, where he has 
made for himself a home of .attractive appearance 
and value. 

The farm secured by our subject was an un- 
broken prairie, upon which he turned the first fur- 
row and has made all the improvements that now 
stamp it as a well-developed farm. It consists of 
one hundred and sixty acres which bear no resem- 
blance to their pristine rawness, but whereon wav- 
ing fields of grain replace the rank grasses of a 
former period, and good buildings shelter a pleas- 
ant family. Hocks and herds and plentiful crops. 
Industry and perseverance have conquered un- 
toward surroundings and Mr. Lambert can [loint 



with pride to the record he has made and the share 
he has borne in the development of the country. 

The faithful companion of Mr. Lambert was 
known in her maidenhood as Miss Elizabeth Arter, 
their maniage rites having been celebrated May 
27, 185G. She is a daughter of John and Ellen 
After. both born in Pennsylvania. The former died 
June 23, 1890, in IMainfield, 111., and the latter, 
March 31, 1868. Her maternal grandfather, John 
King, was an Englishman and a Revolutionary sol- 
dier in the American Army. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Lambert eight children have been born, three be- 
ing deceased, namely: Jesse, Anna B. and Sarah. 
The survivors are : George; Ellen, wife of A. Wrin- 
hold, of Kansas; Frank S.; Alice, wife of Rollin 
(ieorge, of Minnesota, and Gr.ace. 

Mr. Lambert is a Republican, and both he and 
his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church. They 
have instilled into the mind and hearts of their 
progeny the principles of right living, carried them 
out in their own lives and now enjoy an extendecl 
circle of acquaintances among the best people. Mr. 
Lambert b.as become well known as a man of the 
strictest integrity. 



PuggE 



■jffOHN C. DOESCHER. Probably no resident 
of Crete Township is better known through- 
out this part of the county than the subject 
of this sketch, who has been Postmaster at 
Endor for the i)ast fifteen 3ears, and engaged in 
business enterprises there which have proved a 
great accommodation to the people in this part of 
the township. lie has i\.a onlj' store in the place, 
cariying a good stock of general merchandise, and 
well patronized; he also operates a sawmill for the 
manufacture of paling fences and barrel hoops, and 
a feedmill, both of which are among the )jractical 
institutions of the count}'. A natural mechanic, 
Mr. Doescher has been engaged in some practical 
mechanical enterprise since early life, and his ex- 
perience has developed his natural skill. 

Mr. Doescher is of (ierman parentage, being a 
son of Herman Doescher, who was born and reared 
in the Kingdom of Hanover, where he learned the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



593 



trade of a rope-maker. When the harbor was be- 
gun at Bremen, be went tliere and started a rope- 
walk. which he carried on until he came to America. 
His settlement in this country was made in Lake 
County, Ind., whence he afterward came to the 
home (if our subject, d3'ing at Endor when an old 
man. For a fuller Iiistory see the biography of H. 
Doescher. 

The gentleman of whom we write is the young- 
est member of his father's family and the only ciiild 
born in the United States. His birthplace was 
Brunswick, Lake County, Ind., and his natal day 
April 5, 1848. He was well reared and received a 
practical education in the schools of his native 
county, which he left, when he became of age, to 
take up arms in defense of the Union. He enlisted 
in Company G, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry in 1864, 
the regiment being under the command of Col. 
Reed, and the company being led by Capt. James 
M. Foster. Accompanying the regiment to the 
front Mr. Doescher partici|iated in a number of 
active engagements, among them being the battle 
at Murfreesboro, where he was wounded in the leg. 
His wound, however, kept him out of t!ie ranks 
but about a week. He was present at Mobile when 
Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakcly succumbed to the 
attack of the Union forces and the city was sur- 
rendered. He remained in the army until Decem- 
ber, 1865, when he was honorably discharged and 
returned to his home, proud to know that he had 
assisted his country in her hour of need. 

Mr. Doescher took up civil life as a farmer in his 
native county, also carrying on a tubular-pump 
business until August, 1874, when he came to Will 
County and became a resident of Endor. In the 
meantime, in 1870, he had taken a companion in 
jMiss Henrietta Weber, their marriage being cele- 
brated near his birthplace. Mrs. Doescher is of 
Hanoverian parentage, but is herself a native of the 
United States, having been born in Wisconsin, on 
the 26th of March, 1849. Her parents resided in 
the Empire State for some time after their emigra- 
tion from Germany, afterward going to Wisconsin 
and still later to Illinois. Both are now deceased, 
their bodies resting in the cemetery at Dalton, 111. 
Mrs. Doescher is an energetic, intelligent woman 
who was educated in Wisconsin, and is looking 



well to the ways of her household and the training 
of the children that have been given her. The 
family circle includes two sons and two daughters 
named respectivelj-: Otto H. II., Tilda, Ida and 
Henry H. Mr. Doescher has been School Treasurer 
for years, his financial ability and strict integrity 
being recognized b^' his fellow-men. He is a sound 
Republican in politics, never failing to deposit his 
vote on election d.ay. 




iILLIAM WEHMHOFER. The German- 
American citizens of Will County form a 
portion of its most substantial and reliable 
element and have contributed largely to the de- 
velopment of its agricultural resources. The sub- 
ject of this notice owns and occupies his father's 
old homestead to the original acreage of which he 
has added, until he now has two hundred and twenty 
acres of cultivated land and twenty-eight acres of 
limber. This is finely located on section 15, and 
has been his home since his boyhood. 

Mr. Wehmhofer was born in the Province of 
Hesse-Cassel, Germany, December 29, 1844, and 
came when a boy witli his p.arents to the United 
States. The3' settled at once in this county where 
the father first secured eighty acres of land and 
later doubled the amount from which he opened up 
a fertile farm and where he spent the closing years 
of his life. The homestead became the property of 
our subject in 1875, and he has effected additional 
improvements so that it has become the source of 
a handsome income, making the pi-oprietor inde- 
pendent, financially. 

William Wehmhofer, Sr., was also a native of 
Hesse-Cassel and was of pure <Terman stock as far 
back as the records go. The paternal grandparents 
spent their entire lives in the Fatherland. William 
Sr., learned the trade of a blacksmith which his fa- 
ther followed before him and also most of his 
brothers. William after reaching his majority, 
was married in his native province to Miss Mary 
Wilkening, who was born and reared not far from 
the early home of her husband. They remained 



59^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tliere until after tlie birth of tlieir eldest child, the 
siilijeet of this sketch, and then ;ibout 1810 set out 
for America, embarking at Bremerhaven, an<l after 
a safe vo^yage, landing in New I'oi'k City. Thence 
they proceeded to Chicago and shortly afterward 
to Will County. The father established a shop in 
Crete and operated this a number of years before 
settling upon his farm. He died in 1875, aged 
sixty-tliree years. He was an honest and industri- 
ous man, making a good living for his family, and 
by his straightforward dealing? with his fellow- 
citizens earned their confidence and esteem. lie had 
been reared in thedoctiincs of the Lutheran Church 
to which he faitiifull3' adhered and to which he gave 
liberally. Upon becoming a voting citizen, he 
identiiied himself with the Republican part}- of 
whose principles he was a warm sup|)orter. 

The mother of our subject is still living and 
makes her home with her daughter in Crete. Al- 
though seventy years old she is l)right and active 
and from her youth has been a consistent member 
of the Lutheran Church. William wiis the only 
son of the famil}^ and has four sisters living, all 
being married and settled in comfortable homes. 

Mr. Wehmhofer after reaching man's estate vvas 
married in Crete Township to Miss Mary Brandts. 
Mrs. Wehmhofer, like her husband, is a native of 
Ilesse-Cassel, Germany, and was born in 1850. 
Her parents Christoph and Minnie (Schwake) 
Brandts, were also of German birth and parentage 
and when their daughter was a young lad}' eighteen 
years old emigrated to America and coming to Will 
County, settled in Washington Township. They 
are still living and both have attained their three- 
score years. They are most excellent and worthy 
people and consistent members of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Mrs. Wehmhofer was the second born in a fam- 
ily of six chihben, idl of whom arelivingand with 
one exception all are married. She was reare^l and 
educated in her native province, being more than 
ordinarily bright and intelligent and was a ypung 
lady of eighteen years when coming to the United 
States, being about the lirst member of the family 
to leave the Fatherland for America. She was 
joined by her parents and the other children one 
year later. She has proven an efficient helpmate 



to her husband and they are the proud parents of 
six bright children, all of whom are at home anil 
named respectively, Sophia, Mary, Emma, Anna, 
William Jr., and Henry. Our subject and his esti- 
mable wife are members in good standing of the 
Lutheran Church and jIv. Wehmhofer like his hon- 
ored father, is a sound Republican. 



* 



-^ 



^^OBKRT GOUDV is one of those to whom 

., DuPage Township owes its present highly 
Yv cultivated antl developed condition. He 
came hither in 184.3 and well remembers tlu- 
time when settlements were "few and far between" 
and Chicago, then but a small town, was the depot 
for supplies and the market for grain. To that now 
wonderful city he went for several years as the 
trading center. 

The parents of our suhjei't were Alexander and 
.lane (Wallace) Goudy, natives of Scotland and 
Ireland, respectively, who came to America about 
1818. They located in the Province of Ontario, 
then Lower Canada, but after a short time removed 
to Vermont and still later to Essex Count}', N. Y., 
where they lived about a quarter of a century. 
They finally came to Illinois in 1845 and died in 
Will County, full of years. They were the parents 
of thirteen children, of whom the only survivors 
are our subject and a sister Jennie, wife of George 
W. Potter, of this county. 

Mr. Goudy, of whom we write, was bom in the 
Dominion of Canada, January 2, 1822, but reached 
his majority while living on a farm in Essex 
County, N. Y. He received bnt a limited educa- 
tion in the district schools there ami advanced his 
knowledge by attending school one winter after he 
came to Illinois. He has endeavored by much 
reading to overcome the deliciencies and keep up 
with the times in information regarding current 
events and topics of general interest. 

The greater i)art of Mr. Goudy's life has been 
devoted to farm work, although he learned a trade 
in his youth. When eighteen he became a black- 
smith but followed the trade only four years. For 
seven years he was lock-te]ider on the Illinois & 




^^x^ ^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBDM. 



597 



IMichigan Canal, two and a half miles north of 
Liitkp( it, III., and for two years ran a boat for 
Norton & C'o., of Lockport. The rest of his life has 
been given to agricultural labors. He came to Illi- 
nois in 18J3, and for several 3'ears worked as a 
farm hand by the month. The estate of one hun- 
dred and twenty aores he now owns has been se- 
cured bj' industry and persevering efforts and 
))laeed under good cultivation by the owner, whose 
merited success is a luntter of rejoicing to his man)' 
friends. 

On the loth of October, 1848, Mr. Goudy led to 
the hymeneal altar Miss Ophelia Welch, a native 
of Ohio, whose estimable qualities had won his re- 
gard. The happy union has been blessed by the 
birth of four children, and the parents have been 
called upon to part with three — William II., Mary, 
and Charles R. The living child, Julia, is the wife 
of J. E. Davis, and they make their home with our 
subject. Mr. Goud}- has served as School Director 
and .as Township Highway Coinmissioner a number 
of years, with credit to himself and those who 
|)laccd him in (>ttice. He is a Detnocrat in politics, 
lie and his wife are now in the prime of life, en- 
joying the fruits of useful and well spent years, 
surrounded by friends and well-wishers, whose re- 
>|)cct they have gained by their honest endeavors 
and kindly spirit. 



ik 



-*^-f4 



(C@j\INCENT L. D. BARNEY. Among the 
,f/ honored pioneers of New Lenox Tovvuship, 
y/ none are more worthy of mention than Mr. 
15;Lrney, a portrait of whom is presented on the 
opposite page. Without perhaps making any- 
great stir in the woild, he has acquitted himself as 
an honest man and a good citizen, and possesses 
those kindly traits of character which have drawn 
around him hosts of friends. In no less manner 
lias the lady, who for a period of twenty-two 
years has been the sharer of his earthly for- 
tunes, earned the esteem and confidence of the 
community. Their home is one of the most hos- 
l)itablein the county, and is the frequent resort of 



the friends whom they have attracted to them 
during their long residence in this county. 

In noting the parental history of our subject we 
find that his father, Perns Barney, was a native of 
New York State, and married Miss Electa Morton, 
who was born ar.d reared near the early home of 
hei' husband. After uniting their lives and for- 
tunes they settled near AVatertown, N. Y., and 
thence, in 1836, emigrated to Illinois, and for 
several years lived in the vicinity of Babcock's 
Grove, DuPage County. Their next removal was 
to Waukegan, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives. The father was called hence October 
28, 1877, and the mother Septembtr 29, 1885. 
There was born to them a family of seventeen 
children, two of whom died unnamed in infancy, 
and ten of whom are yel living (Ma)', 1890.) 

The subject of this sketch was the second child 
in the family, and first opened his eyes to the light 
May 19, 1823, in Rutland, near Watertown, N. Y. 
Ho was thirteen years of age when his parents 
came to Illinois. The family left their Eastern 
home in 183G, taking passage on a schooner for 
Milwaukee. The latter city was reached June 24, 
and after remaining there about two mouths, on 
the 15th of August they left for DuPage County, 
HI. They traveled in a primitive manner, with 
three yoke of oxen and two wagons, camping for 
the night wherever darkness overtook them. On 
arriving at their destination thej' settled in a 
shanty about fourteen feet square, and there lived 
until the following summer, when the)' erected and 
moved into a new house. DuPage County con- 
tiimed to be their home for eighteen years, during 
which period six of the children married. The 
remainder of the family then removed to Lake 
County, 111., and since then the remaining children, 
with the exception of the youngest, have settled 
down in homes of their own iu different States. 

Under the parental roof our subject grew to a 
stalwart manhood, and at the age of twenty-six 
l)repared to establish a home of his own. He was 
then married, June 17, 1849, in New Lenox Town- 
ship, t(/ Miss Clarissa, daughter of Silas Parker. 
Clarrissa L. Parker was born February 28, 1829, in 
Weslford Township, Chittenden County, Vt. In 
her eighth year she removed with her parents to 



5^8 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Illinois (then the "Far West"), arriving in Chicago 
July 1, !«;!(;. Tliey settkd in Plainfleltl, Will 
County, 111., where she lived about eight years, 
and then removed to New Lenox 'I'ownsiiip, Will 
County. The young people located upon the farm 
now owned and occupied by our subject, and here 
he has since uninterruptedl3' followed agricultural 
pursuits. Of this union there was born a family 
of seven cliildren, tlie eldest of whom, a son, James, 
died when eighteen months old; Caroline is the 
wife of George ISIcIntyre, and they live in Clii- 
cago; Sarah married Hiram Summers, and they 
are also located in Chicago; Silas is farming in 
New Lenox Township; Charles is a resident of 
Wilmington, this State; Emma lives in Chicago; 
Clara is at home with her father. Mrs. Clarissa 
Barney departed this life at the homestead April 
17, 1865. 

Our subject contracted a second marriage Octo- 
ber 1, 18G7, at Chicago, with Miss Sarah Ann, 
daughter of the late Archibald Clybourne, of that 
city. Mrs. Sarah Barney was born March 24, 
1830, in Chicago, where she received her education 
and was reared to womanhood. Mr. Clybourne 
wa.s a butcher by trade, and one of the prominent 
business men of the city. There is living of this 
union onlj' one child, a son, Archibald. INIaggie 
and Mary died in infancy. Mr. Barney's farm 
embraces eighty-five acres of choice land, upon 
which have been effected good improvements. The 
house is especially neat and comfortable, and with 
its surroundings forms a very attractive home. Mr. 
Barney gives his uniform allegiance to the Repub- 
lican part}-, and has served as a School Director in 
his district. Aside from this he has never assumed 
the cares and resposibilities of office. 



ijOBERT B. GRAVES has been closely iden- 
tified with the farming and stock-iaising in- 
terests of Will County for a quarter of a 
century, and has been no unimportant factor 
in extending its agriculture, and thus in promoting 
the material prosperity of this part of the country. 
He owns and is successfully managing a fine farm 



in Plainfield Township, that is well stocked, and 

is well improved in point of cultivation, and sup- 
plied with neat and substantial buildings. Mr. 
Graves is a veteran of the late war, in which he did 
honorable service as a brave and patriotic soldier, 
and in commemoration of that eventful peiiod of 
his life and of his country's history he is now a 
respected member of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public, belonging to Bartlesou's Post, No. G. 

Our subject's native place is among the beauti- 
ful hills of Orange Countj', Vt., in Williamstown, 
December 18, 18.'?2, being the date of his birth. He 
comes of sterling New Englaiul stock, and liis father, 
Dav^Ldi^raves, was a native of Massachusetts, as was 
also his father. The latter removed from the old Bay 
State to Vermont in the early years of its settle- 
ment and became a pioneer of the State. The 
father of our subject was but a boy when his par- 
ents went to the G reen Mountain State to iicw a new 
home from the wilderness, and he was there reared 
and married, Amelia Persons, a native of that 
State, becoming his wife. He resided in Williams- 
town until 1845, and then came to Illinois, the re- 
moval being made with a team to Burlington, and 
thence by steamer to Whitehall, and from there by 
way of the Champlain and Erie Canal to Buffalo, 
and thence by lakes to Chicago, arriving there in 
September of that year. He located in Cook 
County, buying two hundred and fifty acres of choice 
land in Shaumburg, which, including improve- 
ments, stock and crops, cost him $2,000. He soon 
became prominent in the public life of the town 
and assisted in its organization, and was otherwise 
useful as a citizen. He lived there ten years and 
then sold his farm advantageously and removed to 
McHenry County, where he bought another farm, 
where he dwelt until 18G7, when he sold that place 
and coming to Plainfield, died in the home of our 
subject at the good old age of eighty. four years. 
His wife preceded him in death one year, she also 
having attained the venerable age of eighty- four. 
They reared three children: Daniel, who lives at 
Ashton, Dak.; Robert l'>.; William E., a resident 
of Pevely, Mo. 

Robert Graves was a boy of thirteen years when 
he came to Illinois with his parents. He was reared 
to the life of a farmer and was actively engaged in 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



599 



this ocenpalion when the great rebellion broke out 
In 1802 lie laid aside his work to take up arms in 
defense of his country's honor, leaving his pleasant 
home and many warm friends to go forth to the 
liardshi[(s and struggles of a soldier's life. Hebe- 
came a member of the Fifth Independent Battery 
of Illinois Light Artillerj-, and going South with his 
conipan}', took part in several battles and skir- 
mishes with the enemy, lie was an actor in the 
battle of Kingston, in the siege and capture of 
Knoxville, Tenn., and was at the battle at Straw- 
berry Plains. In the winter of 1803-61 he and his 
comrades were in camp in Tennessee and suffered 
greatly from the rigors of the cold January so well 
remembered b}^ the soldiers. The men were ]50orly 
clad, not having drawn any clothing since the pre- 
ceding April. Our subject was protected only by a 
blouse that was unliiied and a thin pair of pantaloons 
that were nearly through at the knees. Fortunately 
they were in a well-wooded country, and they were 
enabled to kee[) up good fires. After the fall of 
Atlanta, Mr. Graves joined Thomas' command at 
Nashville, and during the winter went to W.ashing- 
toD, D. C, from there to Alexandria, where he 
embarked for Newbern, N. C, and from there 
niarclied to Wiser's Forks, and thence to Golds- 
lioro, where be once more came under Sherman's 
command, and was there when Johnston ca[)itnlated. 
From there his company was sent to Greensboro, 
and thence to Charlotte, and from there to Chi- 
cago, where it was discharged, July 18, 1865, after 
three years' faithful and honorable service. 

After his militar}' experience Mr. Graves came 
to Will County and rented a farm in Wheatland, 
and in 1868 bought his present farm, which is lo- 
cated one mile southeast of Plainfield Village. 
There are one hundred and four acres of excep- 
tionally fine farming land, that is under high culti- 
vation,is provided with all the necessary machinery-, 
with ample buildings, and is well stocked with 
horses and cattle of a high grade, Morgans being 
his favorite in the former, and Holsteins in the 
latter. 

Mr. Graves has been twice married. The maiden 
name of his first wife was Marilla Ketchum, and 
they were united in marriage February 22.1857. 
She was born in North Adams, Mass., and waf a 



daughter of Levi Ketchum. After a married life 
of seventeen years this devoted wife and mother 
was removed from the household over which she 
had presided so faithfully, her death occurring 
June 11, 1874. One son was born of her union 
■with our subject — Walter R. Mr. Graves was mar- 
ried to his present estimable wife, formerly Mari- 
etta King, September 15, 1875. Mrs. Graves was 
born in Erie County, N. Y., a daughter of Al- 
vin J. and Ann King. She is a good and true 
woman, and looks carefully after the interests of 
her family. The home circle is completed by the 
two children born to her and her husband — Alice 
A. and Robbie K. 

Mr. Graves is a man of honor, truthfulness and 
strict integrit}' in all his business and social rela- 
tions, and is classed among our most useful and 
highly esteemed citizens. He is public-spirited and 
is activelj' interested in whatever will advance bis 
adopted town, and takes part in the administra- 
tion of its civic affairs, doing his share to advance 
it materially, socially' and morally. He is now 
serving his fourth term as Assessor of the town- 
ship, discharging the duties of his office so ably 
and imijartially as to deserve and receive the com- 
mendation and confidence of his fellow-citizens. 
He is a man of sincere and liberal religious views, 
which find ex[)ression in the LTniversalist faith, and 
he and his family are members of the society of 
that denomination in Plainfield. In politics he is 
a stanch Republican. 



-^-^'^^i:^?^^^^^^ 



■*-« " V- 



<lp5DMUND DIBBLE, a veteran in the late 
1^ war in which he did good service, for which 
/*■ — '-^ he was promoted from the ranks to the po- 
sition of Sergeant, has since leaving the army iden- 
tified himself with the sturdy, wide-awake, pro- 
gressive farmers of this county, his farm, lying 
in Troy Township, comparing favorably with 
any in the vicinity in regard to its appointments. 
Mr. Dibble was born in Lenawee County, 
Mich., December 25, 1838, to Isaiah and Zoey (La 
Dnke) Dilible. His father was a native of New 
York and was of German descent, while his mother 



GOD 



FOUTKAIT AND BlOGKAl'llIUAL ALBUM. 



was from Detroit, Midi., nnd was of Fronc-li ex- 
Irjiclioii. Our siilijecl I't'iiiHiiied in liis native place 
until he was Iwinly years of aye, receiving his 
edue.-iliou in llie local <iistrict school. Leaving 
the home (^if his liirth ho came to Kankakee, III., 
where he was working on u farm when the war 
liroku out. In .luly, 1862, he offereil his services 
to the liovernmcnt anil enlisteil in the t)nc Uun- 
(Ireil and Thirieenlh Illinois Infantry. lie took 
part ill the seige of Vicksburg, battle of Champion 
Hills, and was at the battle of Arkansas Post on 
the White River. While liefore ^■icksburg, he w.os 
detailed with others lo run a mine under Ft. Hill, 
in wliicii was placed a great (piantity of powder 
which was discharged on the 22nd of May and a 
ciiarge made on the works simultaneously, the ex- 
[ilosion blowing up liie whole side of the large iiill 
on which the fort was located. His regiment then 
did guard duty at Memphis, where Mr. Dibble, for 
his conduct in battle and general elliciency, was 
promoted to Commissary Sergeant, he being on 
delatched duty at the Provost Marshal's ollice. 
While there he sulfered with rheumatism which af- 
terward turned to erysipelas and though he is en- 
titled to a i)ensiou under the law, he has never 
made application for one. June 27, 1 805, Ser- 
geant Dibble W!is mustered out of the ai'ni3', hav- 
ing done faithful and honorable service for the 
c.iiise of his country fur three long and weary 
years. 

After his military experience our subject came 
to.Ioliet with his family of wife and one child and 
soon seLlled in Tro^'. In 1868, he bought one hun- 
dred acres of land, lo which he has since .added 
one hundred more, all of which is under a Bnc 
state of cultivation, is amply supplied with needed 
l)uil(lings. and is in a llunrishing condition gener- 
ally. 

To liie wile, the hnnu'iuaker, wlio lenders his 
home comfortable anil attractive, Mr. Dibble was 
married at Kankakee. Mrs. Dibble's maiden name 
was Celia Sauinions. .'^Iic is the daughtar of Wil- 
liam T. Sammons, who had moved to Troy Town- 
shi|) while our subject was in the army. Two cliil- 
dri'ii have been born of this union, both f>f whom 
are now married and well settled in life. Duane 
was married to Miss I'inneo, a ilaughter of .1. 15. 



i'innco, and their children are — Lotta Kloise, and 
a babe, Kiigcne; Helen, married Kdwin G. Fargo, 
who now lives in Iowa on a farm near (iilmore 
City, Humboldt Coiinlw and they have one child- 
Chester DeWitt. 

Mr. Dibble is a whole-souled, genial- hearted 
man, and the unsullied repulutioD that he has al- 
ways bo.-ne entitles him to the conlidence and es- 
teem that is accorded him by his fellow citizens. 
Such is their respect for him, that although he is a 
strong Republican, having an active interest in 
politics, twice they have called him to the respon- 
sible ollice of Assessor, the town being a Demo- 
cratic strong-hold, throwing two Democratic voles 
to one Republican. He is patriotic and public- 
spirited in every way and is earnestly alive lo the 
ccUicatiiinal needs of his township, and has served 
zeakiiisly as School Director of his district for 
many years. He keeps alive tiie memory of his 
days and nights on the balllc-lield by his connec- 
tion with the Grand Arm}' of the Republic, of Jol- 
iel. 



KV. SAMUEL T. CARPKNTER, late a 
minister of the Episcopal Church and who 
i \^ was well known to many of the residents of 
this county .as a man thoroughly devoted to 
the Master's work,w.as a native of Glassboro, N. 
J., and born September 25, 1810. He received a 
thorough education, being gr.adualed at Kenyon 
College, at Ganibier, Ohio, and soon afterward en- 
tered ujioii tln^ duties of his ehosen calling. His 
lirst charge was in .Sharon, Conn., and he subse- 
quently located in Monroe, Mich. He w;is for a time 
Chaplain in the Main Street Hospital in Covington, 
Ky. and also at Camp Deiiison, Ohio. His death oc- 
curred December 20,187 I, in Cinciniiali,( Hiio.when a 
little more than three-score and four yeais of ngi\ 
By his first marriage Mr. Carpenter became the 
father of two children, one of whom, Sainiiel t". B. 
served in the I'nion Army .as a member of Ciini- 
pany B, l)ne Hundredth Illinois Infantr}'. He eu- 
dtired great hardship and ex|i(isiii'e and excessive 
marching, which so undermined his health that he 
died from llie effects thereof October 1, 1871. af'.er 




'\ 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



003 



a long illness in Cincinnati and Joliet. The other 
child, Frances M., a daughter, makes her home 
with her stepmother in Joliet. 

Later Mr. Carpenter was wedded to Miss P^mily 
D. Thompson, wiio was born in Philadelpln'a, Pa., 
August 31, 1830. Her parents were Rieiiard and 
Elizabeth (Denn}') Thompson, and the father while 
a resident of the Quaker City, occupied himself as 
a commission merchant. In that city he passed 
awa3'. Mrs. Thompson died at the residence of Mrs. 
Carpenter in Joliet,in May, 1 872. Until her marriage 
Mrs. Carpenter lived in Fliilridelphia and Wilming- 
ton, Del. The ceremony was performed June 29, 
1852, at the bride's home in Wilmington, by Bishop 
Lee of the Episcopal Church of that city. Of this un- 
ion tiiere were born five children, all of whom are 
living. Herbert D. was born in Smyrna, Del., 
June 2, 18.53, and after completing his literary 
education began reading law under the instruction 
of Phelps & Clement; he was admitted to the bar 
in December, 1878, and is now practicing his pro- 
fession in Joliet, being located at No. 102 Jeffer- 
son Street. He is an ardent supporter of the Re- 
publican party. Florence married Albert W. 
Fiero of Joliet; Horace T. is in business at Mil- 
waukee, Wis.; 11. Howell is engaged in railroading 
in .Joliet; Louis T. C. is a salesman in a wholesale 
house in Chicago. Mrs. Carpenter and her chil- 
dren located in Joliet in 1865, and there she has. 
since lived. Siie is, religiously, a member of the 
Episcopal Church and stands at the head of a fam- 
ily which is highly spoken of throughout the city. 



^>^^^^^^^f^y<^- 



'ATHER THOMAS F'. O'GARA, Pastor of 

St. Ro.se's Church at AVilmingtou, was born 
in Ireland in 1846; his parents Thomas and 
Bridget (McGinnis) O'Gara, having also been na- 
tives of the Emerald Isle. They came to America 
when our subject was an infant of one year and lo- 
cated in Lawrence, Mass., where they resided for 
several years. In 1879, they removed to Ottawa, 
III., where the\' were both called to the land of 
eternal happiness, the father in 1887, at the ad- 
vanced .ige of eighty -two 3'ears, and the mother one 



year later at the age of eighty years. Thej' left 
eleven ciiildren, of whom the subject of this sketch 
was the seventh in order of birth. 

Hoof whom we write, grew to manhood in Law- 
rence, Maus., and received an academic education. 
He was in the dry-goods business for several years 
and when about twenty-three years of age began 
studj'ing for the priestiiood and completed his 
studies at iMontreal, Canada, in 1878, being the 
same year ordained a priest. He immediately came 
to Wilmington and took charge of the present 
parish where he has continually' resided since that 
time. He has besides his work here, charge of St. 
Patrick's Church at Wilton, this count}', and is a 
man lield in high esteem by all the citizens of Wil- 
mington and elsewhere with whom lie comes in 
contact. 

A fine portrait of Father O'Gara issliown on an- 
other page of this volume. 

ERNY SPANGLER. A str.anger would not 
not be in this country long without hearing 
the name whicb stands at the head of this 
biographical notice, and learning that it is 
the cognomen of a prominent citizen of Jackson 
Township and one who is widely known through- 
out tiie count}'. At present this gentleman holds 
the office of Supervisor, a position in which he has 
served his fellow-men for several years, his contin- 
uance in it proving conclusively that the duties 
have been discharged in a satisfactory manner. 
This is not the only public capacity in which Mr. 
Spangler has acted. In 1882 he was elected County 
Treasurer, and for four years his financial ability 
and integrity were made useful in that oa|iacity. 

Pennsylvania was the native State of David 
Spangler and Amelia Batey, who became man and 
wife and reared a family of nine children. They 
removed to Summit County, Ohio,in which the latter 
years of their life were spent. There their young- 
est child was born February 26, 1837, he being the 
gentleman of whom we write. He remained in his 
native State until he was twenty years old, in the 
meantime becoming well versed in the management 




604 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of a faim, as his father was an agriculturist, and 
acquiring a good education. 

Upon leaving his native State, Mr. Spangler re- 
paired to this county and at once made a settle- 
ment on section 1 2, Jackson Township, engaging 
in agricultural ))ursuits. So successful have been 
his labors that he now owns live hundred and sixty 
acres in Jackson and Manhattan Townships and 
has an assured financial standing. Every detail of 
the work carried on uijon his place is under care- 
ful oversight, and every part of the large estate 
evinces the taste and ability of the owner. A full 
line of buildings may be seen thereon, all substan- 
tial and well designed, while stock and machinery 
are excellent and suflScient in number and quantity. 
The pleasant home of Mr. Spangler is presided 
over bj' a laily whose intelligence and grace add to 
the attractions of the hospitable dwelling. She was 
known in her maidenhood as Miss Rachael Grove, 
and was a native of Summit County, Ohio, in 
which her marriage to our subject took place. Mr. 
and Mrs. Spangler have four living children, 
named respectively, Samuel M., Ellery G., Alvin O. 
and Dora A. They mourn the loss of a daughter, 
Alraeda M., who died at the age of nine years. 
Mr. Spangler is a Democrat and hns taken quite an 
active part in political affairs. The family is re- 
garded as a credit to the section in which they re- 
side, and were a wish expressed regarding them, it 
would be that they might long continue their resi- 
dence here, as their present health promises will be 
the case. 



<Sx J>AV1ER MUNCH. Nowhere in the Missis- 
y^^ sippi Valley can more beautiful farms be 
» ^ found than in the Prairie State, and in no 
section of it arc any more attractive than in Will 
County. On section 19, Joliet Township, lies a 
body of land sloping to the south and comprising 
one hundred and twenty-two productive acres, 
which, under the hand of a progressive and intel- 
ligent farmer produce abundantly. The estate is 
a home of which any man might well be proud, all 
the improvements upon it being excellent and in- 
cluding every convenience and proper means of 



adornment. The owner of this fine estate, although 
of foreign birth,, has spent the greater part of 
his life in America. 

The ancestral home of the Munch family was in 
that section of Europe the possession of which has 
been a subject of controversy between two of the 
most powerful nations of the earth.and which is now 
included in the German Empire. This country — 
Alsace — was a part of France when Xavier Munch, 
Sr., was born near Strasburg. He married Cecelia 
Potter, and after the birth of four sons and three 
daughters emigrated to America, crossing the 
ocean in the spring of 1839. During that summer 
the family lived in Leraont, III., and in the fall 
removed to Joliet, where they made their home 
about two years. They then returned to Lemont 
for a short sojourn, but in April, 1812, rented 
land in Troy Township, AVill County, of the late 
Andrew King. Upon it Mr. Munch resided about 
two ye.ars, when lie settled on the farm now occu- 
l)ied by our subject, remaining here until Apiil 18, 
1852. He then went to California to engage in 
mining, but never returned, and it is supposed 
that he died there. Mrs. Munch breathed her last 
in Joliet, November 8, USoO. 

The gentleman with whose name this sketch is 
introduced, is the second child in the parental fam- 
ily, and W.1S born in Alsace, July 31, 1823. He had 
but fairly entered his teens when the family came 
to America, and he followed his father in his vari- 
ous removals until 18^7. He then enlisted in the 
regular army and participated in the Mexican War, 
returning in 1848 to Joliet, and again taking up 
his residence under the parental roof. There he 
remained until his marriage, February 9, 1849,- to 
Miss Mary M. I'fleger. He then settled on section 
18, Joliet Township, whence five years later he re- 
moved to his present home. Not only has be 
manifested ability in his agricultural career, but 
has lived an upright life, dealt honorably with his 
fellow- men, and in every domestic relation has 
been kindly and considerate. In jiolitics he is in- 
dependent, but generally votes with the Democrats. 
Both he and his wife belong to the Catholic 
Church. 

The lady, who in the summer of 1849 became 
the wife of our subject, shared his joys and sor- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



605 



rows until June 22, 1860, when she was called 
from time to eternity. Like her.husband, she was 
a native of Alsace. Their union resulted in the 
birth of seven children, named respectively; Ma- 
tilda, Ferdinand, Daniel, Marion, Lawrence, Eliza- 
beth and Frances. 

Mr. Munch contracted a second matrimonial al- 
liance in Joliet, choosing as his companion Mrs. 
Catherine Shaw Freedel, also an Alsatian. She has 
borne him eight children — Kate, Frank, Rose, Louis, 
Anthony, Sophia, Celia and Charles. Her former 
marriage had resulted in the birth of five children, 
of whom the survivors are : Joseph, Mary, and Al- 
fred Freedel. She is an efficient helpmate, a good 
neiglibor and a devoted mother. 



#-# 



-i^— 




^1^=^, ENJAMIN D. RITCHEY. This gentleman 
has done much for the growth and develop- 
ment of the section in wiiich he resides and 
for inany a year has been known and hon- 
ored as a wortlij' citizen of Wesley Township. 
After years of activity he has retired from business 
pursuits, disposed of the farms which he owned, 
retaining only an interest in buildings in the vil- 
lage of Ritcliey, and is now taking his ease, as far 
as labor for sustenance is concerned. 

The father of our subject was Matthew Ritchey, 
a native of Scotland, whose parents came to Penn- 
sylvania at a very early day, whence he subse- 
quently removed to Ohio. In the latter State he 
married Rachel Davis, a native of Virginia and a 
(laughter of a Welshman. This was the third mar- 
riage of Matthew Ritchey and resulted in the birth 
of four children, two of whom are now living. The 
fatlier departed this life in 1824, the mother sur- 
viving until 1862. 

The suliject of this brief biogra|)hieal sketch is 
the first-born of his mother's children, his natal day 
lieing October 24, 1815. His birth took place in 
Ross County, Ohio, where he spent his early years, 
beginning a personal career at an early age. When 
twelve years old he hired out by the month on a 
farm and continued to 8up|)ort himself in this way 
till he had reached the age of twenty years. He had 



conceived the idea of buying a farm and working 
out its payment, and he and his brother John carried 
out the idea successfully, thus becoming the owners 
of one hundred and fifty acres in the Buckeye 
State. In the fall of 1855 they sold, and removing 
to Illinois settled in this county and the township 
wherein our subject still resides. He purchased a 
partly improved farm and engaged in mixed farm- 
ing, having cattle and horses which he had brought 
from Ohio. 

In 1862 Mr. Ritchey and his brother embarked 
in the mercantile business, but after a time sold out, 
our subject subsequently buying the business him- 
self and carrying it on for several years in addition 
to operating his farms. Never having married he 
has had families keep house for him, and during 
the past twenty-eight years has made but one 
change. He has proved his ability as a man.ager 
and mone3'-m.aker and insured himself against want 
unless an overwhelming catastropiie befalls him. 
Not only so but he has been useful in local oflices 
and in various movements which would tend to 
improve the country. Ritchey Station takes its 
name from himself and brother. 

]\Ir. Ritchey for several years belonged to the 
Grange, of which he was Master. He was Town- 
ship Assessor and Collector, and has been offered 
the position of Township Supervisor but decliiietl 
it. In 1 880 lie-was appointed United States Census 
Enumerator for Wesley Township, and he has been 
Postmaster at Ritcliey for seven years. He has fre- 
quently been administrator of estates both in Illinois 
and Ohio, and has also been guardian in the latter 
State. This fact alone will sufHce to show that he is 
looked upon as a man of the strictest integrity- and 
great prudence. 

Mr. Ritche3' lias always taken an active interest 
in political issues, has frequently been a delegate to 
county conventions and otlierwise borne a fair share 
in the local cam|iaign work. He became of age a 
few days before the Presidential election of 1836, 
and cast his first vote for Gen. William Ilenrv 
Harrison. Four years later, during the ever memor- 
able "hard cider" campaign in the Buckeye State, he 
cast his second vote for "Tippecanoe" who proved 
the successful candidate. Some years later, when 
the Republican party came into existence he voted 



606 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



for John C. Fremont, and 1888 lie liad the pleasure 
of voting for Gen. Benjamin Harrison, a lineal de- 
sc'cndant of the old hero who liad been his first love 
when becun)ing a voter. 

In 1844 Mr. Kitchey rode ten milesi^n horseback 
on two consecutive niglits to hear the eloquent and 
renowned temperance orator, .lolin 15. Gougii, and 
enlisting under iiis lianner has been a consistent 
temperance man from that day. 



*53gB^' 



-^r»- 



^p^EORGE W. BARTLETT, Insurance, Real 
III ^—. Estate, Loan and Collection Agent, although 
^^4' comi)aratively a new member of the busi- 
ness circles of Joliet, is advancing rapidly toward 
the front with bright prospects of soon reaching a 
place second to none in the community. He is a 
stirring and energetic man, with such qualifications 
as especially lit him for his present business, in 
which he is building up a good trade. He has fol- 
lowed this occupation for the past fourteen years, 
during which time he has represented such com- 
panies as the North America, of Philadelphia; the 
Phoenix, of Brooklyn; the Hartford, -ZEtna, Con 
necticut and Hartford, of Hartford; the Royal, of 
Liverpool; and the Traders', of Chicago. Those 
which he now represents are the Continental, of 
New York, and the Agricultural, of Watertowu, 
N. Y. 

In Genesee County, N. Y., Nathaniel Bartlett 
and Emily Gilbert were born, reared and marrried. 
The}' came West in 1855, locating in Grundy 
Count}', 111., where they are yet living. Their 
family comprises three children — Fred A., a jew- 
eler at Lockport; Elmer E., a molder in Joliet; 
and George W., our subject. The father is an en- 
gineer by trade and h.'is always pursued that avo- 
cation. 

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch 
was born December 20,1856, in Grundy Count}', and 
spent the first thirty-two years of his life there. Quite 
early in life he began to manifest the energy 
which is so prominent a characteristic of his nature, 
taking up the occupation of a newsboy in Morris, 
and learning telegraphy while still a boy, although 



he never [j^rsued this. work. For some time he 
clerked in a dry -goods store and then took up the 
insurance business, carrying on at the same time 
other lines of work. For seven years he clerked 
for C. H. Gould, President of the Grundy County 
National Bank, and also looked after the gas fitting 
in the iilace. He was the builder and manager of 
the Telephone Exchange, at Morris, and also of 
the toll line south of that city, which united the 
towns of Mazon, Hill Park or Wauponsce, Verona, 
Kinsman, Gardner and Minooka with the county 
seat. 

An important step in the life of Mr. Bartlett 
took place in September, 1881, it being no less than 
his marriage with ]Miss Fannie Zimmerman, whose 
[)Mrcnls, Mr. and Mrs. Casper Zimmerman, have lived 
in Grundy County a number of years. The happy 
union has been blessed by the birth of one bright 
daughter, Carrie M., in whose growing intelligence 
the parents take great delight. Mr. Bartlett is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and the Repub- 
lican party. 

/^ HARLES N. SPRAGUE, senior member of 
[if the firm of Sprague & Hess, forms, with 

^^ his partner, one of the important factors 
among the business interests of Joliet, operating 
a creamery and dairy. He has been engaged in 
the creamery business since 1880, following this 
for a period of six years very successfully. The 
firm now turns out two hundred pounds of- butter 
per day, and besides this, deals extensively in but- 
ter and cheese in a wholesale w.ay. He associated 
himself in partnershi|) with Mr. Hess March 1, 
1890, enlarging the milk route and increasing his 
facilities for handling all kinds of dairy produce. 
The firm unquestionably Stan's 'at the head of the 
dairy interests in Joliet. 

Our subject was born in DuPage Township, this 
county, January 19, 1846, and is the son of one of 
its earliest settlers, Thomas J. Sprague, a native 
of New York. The mother bore the maiden namg 
of Lydia Swift. The parental family consisted of 
nine children, six of whom are living, making Iheir 




^^ 




'<^T~^1<^L<::^<^^^^^^ 



k-k 








V 






y4^ 6^ i5^i-t«--^i^-g>c' 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



611 



homes mostly in Illinois. Tlie father prosecuted 
funning in DiiPagc Township until the spring of 
1 890. then retired from active labor and took up 
his residence iu Joliet, where, with his estimable 
wif(\ he still lives. 

Mr. Sprague has all his life been familiar with 
agricultural pursuits. He obtained his education 
in the district school, and when a young man of 
twtnty-two years established domestic ties, being 
married November 25, 1869, to Miss Allie C. Kill- 
mer. Mrs. .Sprague was born November 10, 1850, 
ill DuPage Township, and is the daughter of R. 
W. and Hannah Kilimer, who are natives of New 
Yoik. The father is now living in Joliet, and the 
mother is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague are the 
parents of three children, two of whom are living, 
these being daughters — Hattie and Mat)el. Mr. 
Spr.ague and his famil}- live modestly in a com- 
fortable home andenjo}- the esteem and confidence 
of their neighbors. In politics Mr. Si)rague votes 
Ihe straight Democratic ticket. He is one of tlic 
pniminent men of the city, and while a resident of 
DiiTage Township officiated as Assessor and Town- 
ship Clerk. He has been for some years connected 
with the Masonic fraternity. 



PEWITT CLINTON SEARLES. Tiie por- 
) traits on the opposite pages will be imme 
diately recognized as those of a highly 
respected citizen of Will County and his estimable' 
wife. l\Ir. Seailes is well and favor.abl\' knowi; 
iliioughout this count}', both in business circles and 
public life. As an agriculturalist of superior in- 
lelligence and progressiveness, he has wielded a 
potent influence in placing this county in the front 
ranks of its sister counties, and Troy Township 
liiids in him one of its most enterprising citizens 
and a leader among its farmers and stock-growers. 
Mr. iSearles was born January 30, 1830, in Sum- 
mit County, Ohio, and was reared near Columlnis. 
His parents were Amos and Hannah (Hulbiirt) 
Searles. They had come from Connecticut and 
were early pioneers of that part of Ohio. His 
mother was a daughter of Isaiah Ilulburt, a Revo- 



lutionary soldier, who enlisted when fourteen years 
of age, and faithfully served throughout the entire 
war, being under Washington the whole seven 
}'ears. Amos Searlcs was a descendant of people 
who came to this country early in the seventeenth 
century and settled on Long Island, where some of 
the family still reside. 

Our subject passed the early j'ears of his life 
within eighteen miles of Columbus, and when 
twent3'-one years of age left his old home to try 
his fortunes in the Prairie State. He bought a 
farm about three miles from where he now lives, 
which he disposed of three years later and in 1856 
purchased the one on which he now resides. It 
was at that time a tract of wild prairie and much 
hard labor was required to bring it to its present 
high state of improvement. He put up a building 
in which he lived, using a part of it for a barn, until 
the latter part of the summer when he erected a 
small house. This latter was afterward burned, 
and clearing away large quantities of the hazel 
brush which stood on his land, Mr. Searles erected 
a more substantial residence. He has since put np 
an excellent set of buildings, erecting his present 
house in 1866, and now has one of the best places 
in the county, consisting of six hundred acres of 
land in a fine state of cultivation. His farm is 
well stocked with cattle and hogs of the best breed, 
as lie makes a specialty of fee<ling that class of 
stock. 

Mr. Searles was married in 1866, to Miss Harriet 
Walker, of Plainfield, III., a daughter of Capt. J. 
Walker, who is credited with being the first settler 
in Will County and who was a soldier in the War 
of 1812, taking part in the battle of New Orleans 
and in many Indian fights. During the Black 
Hawk War he was Captain of a company and was 
very active in subduing the Indians. In 1828 he 
came to this county with his family from St. Clair 
County, III., and pre-empted for his first claim a 
part of the land on which the village now stands. 

The mother of Mrs. Searles bore the maiden 
name of Walker, and was the daughter of Jesse 
Walker, who came here as a missionary in 1826. 
He was from East Tennessee, while the family origi- 
nated in Rockingham, Ya. Upon arriving in Illi- 
nois in 1804, Jesse Walker, who was a minister in 



612 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the Methodist Cluucli, settled in St. CLiir County. 
During this long journey he had been accompanied 
liy his family, who made the trip on horseback. 
He became ver}- well known in the county and 
State, and was a contemporary and associate of 
Peter Cartwright. Mrs. Capt. Walker, prior to 
her marriage, was a missionary among the Indians. 
The Hrst frame Imilding erected in Chicago was 
built of lumber sawed at Capt. Walker's mill in 
Plaiufleld, Ihis county. 

Possessed of a noble character and fine mental \ 
eiidowments, Mr. Searles would have been an honor 
to any community. A man of broad views, keen 
observation and extensive information, be has a 
fine library well su|)i)lied with choice books. In 
the managenicut of |)ublic affairs he has taken an 
in\portant part, and for eight years was Supervisor 
of the townshi|), which is strongly Democratic. He 
is a stanch Republican, but his well-known ability 
and popularity carried the da3'. 

Mr. Searles and his wife have had four children, 
of whom three are living, one having died in in- 
fancy. Maud is a young lady at home; Linn \\'. 
operates the farm, and Edna is a maiden of fifteen 
years. The f.imily are members of the Metliodist 
Episcopal Church, in which they arc active woikers. 
Socially, tlieir fjienils arc many, for their refinement 
has made them respected wherever known. 



^^^ 




JN ICHARD O. GREENLEAF. Cashier and 
r bookkeeper for the Bates Manufacturing 



A\ Compan}-, assumed the duties of his present 
^) position soon after the organization of that 
company in .loliet. He has been a resident of this 
county since June, 1881, and first engaged in mer- 
cantile business. In 1881 he was proffered his 
present position and arranged his private affairs so 
that he could conveniently accept. 

A native of South Hurwick, Me., the subject of 
this notice was born January 31, 1828, and wa.s the 
son of Richard and Eliza (Akerraan) Greenleaf , the 
former of whom removed from Newburyport, 
Mass., the old home of the family, to Charlestown, 
that State, where he engaged in the mercantile busi- 



ness. A few years later he died, leaving his widow 
with one child, the latter. Richard O., our subject, 
with whom the mother novv makes her honie. She 
was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1805, and 
has consequently now arrived at the advanced age 
of eighty five jears. 

Mr. Greenleaf grew to mature years in Newbury- 
port, Mass., where he comi)leted his education and 
soon afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits, re- 
maining in the Bay State until 1857. He then re- 
moved to Nashua, X. H., where he sojourned until 
18G1. The Civil War now having broken out, he 
on the I'Jth of April, that year, immediately after 
the firing upon Ft. Sumter, raised a company under 
the call for one hundred days' men and this being 
assigned to the Army of the Potomac, they repaired 
thither and remained in the service until the 9th of 
August. Being then mustered out Mr. Greenleaf 
returned to New Hampshire and immediately raised 
Company B, which was assigned to the Fourth New 
Hampshire Infantry, and of which he was made Cap- 
tain. Soon after repairing to the South, they en- 
countered the enemy at various points and saw- 
considerable active service including the siege of 
Morris Island, near Charlestown. 

Returning North soon afterward with his regi- 
ment, Capt. Greenleaf with his company was as- 
signed to the Tenth Corps, Army of the James, and 
he thereafter followed tlie fortunes of his regiment 
unlil the expiration of his term of enlistment in 
September, 18G1. He had in the meantime been 
promoted to the rank of Major, with which title he 
was mustered out. 

VV^e next find Mr. Greenleaf in Hillsborough 
County, N. 11., where he remained until 1872, and 
then came to Illinois engaging in mercantile busi- 
ness until 1878. In October of that year he re- 
turned to Nashua, N. H., where he remained until 
1881, aiul that year became a resident of Joliet. 

Mr, Greenleaf was married September 16, 1861, 
in Nashua, N. H., to Miss Martha A., daughter of 
Samuel Flinn. Of this union there are no children. 
Mr. Flinn was a native of Ireland and one of the 
organizers of a large cotton manufactorv in New 
England; he and his wife are now deceased. Mr. 
Greenleaf, politically votes the Democratic ticket. 
About 1858 he indentified himself with the Masonic 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



C13 



fraternity in Nasbua, N. H., and is now a member 
of Rising Sun Lodge. He also belongs to John (1. 
Foster Post, at bis old liorae in New Ilaniijsliire, in 
vvbic'ii lie is Post Commander. Socially, and in busi- 
ness circles Mr. Greenleaf bears an excellent repu- 
tation, and is well worthy of representation in a 
work of this kind. 

lj/__, ERMANN STUDTMANN. Northern Illi- 
J] nois, like all of the otiier States ef the Un- 
ion, owes no small share in its rapid growth 
,K0) aTid development to llie energy and indus- 
try of its sidjstantial German citizens. They came 
here mostly poor in purse but well litted b}' liab- 
its of industry ami economy to battle with the dif- 
ficulties attending the ojiening ui) of new farms, 
:ind instituting homes in the land of tlieir adoption. 
Among tliese may be properly mentioned Peter 
Siudttnann, the father of our subject, who came 
liilhcr from the Fatherland in October, 1873. as- 
sisted ids sons as best he could in his labors, and 
died at his home in 1885. 

Peter Studtmann was a native of the Kingdom 
of Hanover as also was his son Hermann, of this 
fkelcli, the latter being born May 13, 18-18. The 
n.otiier bore the maiden name of Mary Vonderohe. 
She s|ient her entire life in her native Hanover, 
dying about 1865. The parental family con- 
sisted of two children, both of whom came to 
America. Hermann was a youth of nineteen years 
when crossing the Atlantic, and after landing at 
New York City, he made his w.ay to Chicago, 
111., but on!}' sojourned there a few weeks. AVe 
next find him in Peru, this State, of which he was 
a resident for about five years. In September, 
1.S73, he came to New Lenox Township and se. 
lected a tract of land on section 20, where he took 
up his abode and has since lived. lie commenced 
in life dependent upon his own resources and 
while in La Salle County was employed by the 
month as a farm hand. He is now the owner of 
one hundred and sixty acres of good land, all of 
which is in a productive conditicm, embellished 
with neat modern buildings and having all the 



other appurtenances of the well-regulated country 
homestead. His first house was destroyed by fire 
October 22, 1889, but he reliuiltaiid is rapidly re- 
trieving his loss. 

Mr. Studtmann was married in New Lenox 
Township Marcli 20, 1873, to Miss Lena, daughter 
of Christian and Caroline (Stein) Keitel. Mrs. 
Keitel died in German}- in 1871. Mrs. Studtmann's 
father is still living in this tovvnship. She was 
born in Germany November 22, 1848, and came 
to America in January, 1872. Of her union with 
our subject there have been born six children, one 
of whom died in infancy. The survivors are Ma- 
tilda, Hermann .Jr., Bcrnhard, Lizzie and Frieda- 
lien. In ]H)litics Mr. Studtmann is a stanch Dem- 
ocrat. He has served as School Director in his 
district and lioth he and his wife are members of 
tlie German Lutheran Church. He is a go-ahead, 
enterprising citizen and is rapidly taking a posi- 
tion among the leading men of his community. 



^-^ 



ON. FRED WILKE, of Beecher, is one of 
j^) the most prominent men in this part of the 
^ county. Not only is he well known as a gen- 
^ era! dealer in all kinds of grain, as a farmer 
and breeder of Holstein cattle, but he has also come 
before the public as an official who has served with 
credit to himself and his constituents in the legisla- 
tive halls of the State. He moved to Beecher in 
the fall of 1889, succeeding to the grain trade of 
Mr. II. Matthews, deceased. Prior to that time he 
had resided on his farm, which is located on sections 
17 and 18, of the fractional part of "Washington 
Township. The estate comprises three hundred 
and thirty-five acres, favorably located and well 
improved, and has practically been made what it is 
by the present owner. 

The Hon. Fred Wilke was born in Westphalia, 
German}', March 17, 1829. His father, Herman 
Wilke, was a native pf the same Province and be- 
longed to a respectable family who were engaged 
in husbandry. He married FLlizabeth Waltman, 
who had been well and carefully reared, after his 
marriage settling near their birthplace. When our 



614 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



subject was eleven ypnrs old the wife and mother 
died, at the age of thirty-nine years. The husband 
and father survivt^d but three years, being fifty- 
eight years old at the time of his decease. Both 
parents were active members of the Lutheran 
Church and endeavored to train their children in 
paths of usefulness. Their farail}' comprised five 
children, one of whom died in Germany, the others 
came to America and three are yet living, two 
making their home in Will County, III., and the 
other in Lake County, Ind. 

After he was old enough to enter the army our 
subject served his country, according to the custom 
of that laud, his connection with the soldiery being 
from 1850 to 1852. In the spring of 1854, he em- 
barked at lirenmrhaven on a sailing vessel which 
anchored at New York City after a voyage of si.x 
weeks. Mr. Wilke went <lireetly to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where he found employment as a teamster, 
making that city his home uniil 1860. He had 
visited Will County, 111., in 1857, purchasing land 
which was slightly improved and upon which he 
settled iu 1 SGO. It was situated on section 17, 
Washington Township, and is a part of the estate 
now owned by .him. The energy of Mr. Wilke 
soon gave him a pronsinent position amt>ng the 
farmers and stock-raisers of the vicinity, and ere 
long he was enabled to add to his landed estate and 
put the whole place under excellent improvement 
and cultivation. 

The lirst marriage of Mr. AVilke took place in his 
native land, his bride being Miss Ann Nunker, who 
was born in the same neighborliood as liimself and 
whose good qualities he thoroughly understood. 
A year after be had come to America she followed 
him across the briny deep, joining him in Cincin-- 
nati, where she died at the birth of her second 
child who did not long survive. Mrs. Wilke was 
but tvventy-four years old when calleil from time 
to eternity. She was a birthright member of the 
Lutheran Church and had consistently carried out 
its teaching in her daily life. Her first-born, Mrs. 
Lizzie Scheiwe, died ut the age of thirty-four years, 
leaving three children. 

The second matrimonial alliance of Mr. Wilke 
was contracted in Cincinnati, his bride on that oc- 
casion being Miss Stena Brutlag, who was born in 



Westphalia. She was reared to the age of twenty 
years in her native land and then crossed the ocean 
alone, coming to Cincinnati, where soon afterward 
she became the wife of our subject. She is the 
mother of two children, one of whom died in in- 
fanc3'. The living is a son, H. F., who married 
Miss Lena Meier, who died leaving one child — 
Fred. He subsequently married Miss Sophia Meier, 
who, although bearing the sams surname, is not 
related to his first wife. This union has been blest 
b^y the birth of four children: Emma, Lena, Amelia 
and Herman. II. F. Wilke now occupies and oper- 
ates his father's farm in Washington Township. He 
is a Republican in [lolitics and he and his wife l)e- 
long to the Lutheran Church. 

The subject of this biographical sketch is now 
serving as Supervisor and Treasurer of the town- 
ship, the former of which offices he has held almost 
continuously since 1870, the only exception being 
the time when he was representing the county in 
the Legislature. He has been Assessor some 3'ears 
and Collector one term. In 1888 he was elected 
to the State Legislature, where he prc)ved to be a 
valuable worker for the good of the constituency 
which he represented and the interest of the county 
at large. His record as a member of comndttccs 
and a worker on the floor is creditable to himself 
and those who elected him. He is a sound Hepid)- 
lican. He and his wife are active members of the 
Lutheran Church and i^rominent iu every good 
work which is going on in the community. The 
personal traits of Mr. AVilke are such as to give 
him the reputation of a " flrst-class fellow" and he 
exerts an extended influence for all that is moral 
and elevating. 

, ocx> , 
oCx>^ ' 

"\T/RIAS EICHELBARGER, a Pennsylvanian 
by birth, has been associated with the farmers 
and stock-raisers of Illinois for several years, 
and has been much prospered in his agricultural 
undertakings and is now the owner of a large and 
well conducted farm on section 4, DuPage Town- 
ship. 

Our subject is a native of Lancaster County, 
Pa., born April 23, 1839, to John and Susan Eich- 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



01.1 



clbarger, who were likewise natives of that State 
and were of German descent. His father is now 
deceased. His mother, who is between seventy 
and eiglitj- years of age, makes her home in Nap- 
erville, this State. Our subject is the oldest son 
in the family of whom tlie following survive: 
L'rias; John, living in Kansas, (Dickenson County) ; 
Mary, wife of Joseph Taylor, of Du Page Town- 
sliip. 

Urias Eichelbarger was reared in the phice of liis 
liirtli and at the youthful age of twelve ycais, loft 
tiie parental home to make his own way in the 
world. He lived out with a farmer until he was 
fifteen years old and then began to learn the 
bhicksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of 
lliree years. At the expiration of that time he 
opened up asmithj' in his native county and car- 
ried on his calling for several j-ears. After aban- 
doning that trade for a short time, he engaged in 
marketing, buying butter, eggs and otiier farm 
produce. He then began farming for liimself in 
J>ancaster County and carried on agriculture there 
for three j'ears. In 1869, he came to Illinois and 
fur a year and a half resided in NapervlUe. Du 
Page County, where he worked as a journeyman 
blacksmith. After that he again took ui) farming 
and pursued the calling as a renter in Wheatland 
Township for eleven years. At the expiration of 
that time he purchased his present farm in UuPage 
Township. This comprises three hundred and 
forty seven acres of land which is under fine til- 
lage and exceptional improvement, its fields 
yielding rich harvests and it is provided with con- 
veniently arranged buildings. Mr. Eichelbarger 
acquired this property solel}- by the exercise of 
those faculties that make him an intelligent per- 
severing, industrious member of society. 

During these years of labor Mr. Eichelbarger 
has not been without the assistance of a capable 
wife who has labored b}' his side since their mar- 
riage in 1851). Mrs. Eichelliargcr's maiden name 
was Martha Eshleman and she, like her husband, is 
of Pennsylvania origin. They have five children 
living, namely: John, Abraham, George,Susan, wife 
of James Brossman,and Amanda. 

Mr. Eichelbarger is in every sense a live, wide- 
awake man, of strong common sense, and a keen 



insight into the best methods of conducting agri- 
culture to the best advantage, as is attested by the 
fine condition of his farm. In jrolitics he is a 
firm believer in the policy of the Republican party 
an(f supports it b^- voice and vote. He served 
three years as Road Commissioner of DuPage 
Township, and has been School Director of his 
district a number of j'ears and in both capacities 
has aided in advancing the best interests of the 
community with commendable public spirit. 



ARMON V. FRAZER. This venerated cit- 
izen of Homer Township is approaching 
y^r, the seventy-fourth 3'ear of his age, having 
.^) been born October G, 1816, and his native 
State was New York. His parents were James G. 
and Polly (Hawkins) Frazer, natives of Connecti- 
cut, whence they emigrated to Monroe fe'ountj', 
N. Y., settling near the town of Pittsford. Later 
in life they joined their children in this county, 
and spent their last days in Homer Township. 
There was born to them a family of five sons and 
four daughters, nine in all, and Harmon V. was the 
third in order of birth. He lived in his native 
State until about thirty-four years old. 

In the meantime Mr. Frazer was married in 
Pittsford, N. Y., September 16, 1847, to Miss Sa- 
raantha Warren. In October, 1849, the^' came to 
this county and settled in Homer Township, of 
which they have since been residents. Mrs. Fra- 
zer was born April 3, 1825, in Pitcher, Chenango 
County, N. X., and was the second in a family of 
ten children, five of whom are living. Her par- 
ents, Ely and Sarah (Ferguson) Warren, were na- 
tives of New York and spent their last years in 
that State. 

Mr. Frazer's farm comprises one hundred and 
tw-enty acres of good land, which through his 
management has become very fertile, yielding the 
richest crops in Northern Illinois. He has neat 
and substantial buildings, and by the assistance of 
his good wife has been enabled to accumulate a 
competence for their declining years. They have 



616 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



no children. In politics Mr. Frazor gives his un- 
divided support to the ProiiiliiLiuii party, being 
totally opposed to the nianut'aeture and sale of in- 
toxicating liquors. He and his wife are promi- 
nently connected with the Methodist Ei)iscopal 
Ciiurch, and enjoy the friendship and aequainlnnce 
of the best residents of tlie county, wiio liave 
known them long and well and learned to appre- 
ciate them for their sterling worth. Mr. Fra/.er is 
genial and hospitable, while his estimable wife is 
in no wise htcUing in those cpialitics which liave 
gained them a good position in their coniuuinity, 
where they are universally spoken of as being 
among the most wortliy. 




ETER C'HlvlSTENSEN owns and oecu[)ies 
an excellent farm on section 5, Jackson 
Township. Being under the control of a 
man whose life has been spent in agricult- 
ural eniplojment and who is ambitious to excel, it 
is thoroughly tilled and well managed in ever3' 
particular. The buildings upon it are above the 
average and tlie whole makes up a home which 
might well please a more ambitious man than our 
su bject. 

The life of Mr. Chiistensen has been marked by 
no remarkable events and his liistory is only that 
of one who quietly pursues the labor which he has 
chosen and fintis Ids cliief pleasure beneath his own 
roof-tree. He was born in Denmark June 4, 1846, 
remaining in his own country until the summer of 
18()9, when he embarked on an outward-bound 
vessel. He landed in New York City and thence 
came to Illinois, selecting Will Count}- as his future 
home. For two years he worked by the month in 
Chanuahon Township, after which he rented the 
farm which he still occupies and which is owned 
Ijy his wife and her sister .Sarah. 

In this township, December 28, 1880, Mr. Chris- 
tensen was united in marriage with Miss Nancy M. 
Hemphill, daughter of the late .Tames and Uachael 
(Porter) Hemphill. The bride's parents were old 
settlers of this county, having come hitlier in 183.5 
from Fountain County, lud., where they had been 



living a few years. To that region they had gone 
from Adams County, Ohio. Their home in this , 
county was made in .Jackson Township, where they 
lived until their death. Mr. Hemphill died during 
the latter part of the Civil War, his widow surviv- 
ing until October II, 1872.^^/rhey were members 
of the .Alethodist Church and are remembered with 
great respect by tiiose wlio had the pleasure of 
their acquaintance. The cheerful manner in which 
they endured the trials whicli surrountl the path- 
way of early settlers in an agricultural region, the 
kindliness which the}' exhibited toward their fel- 
lon-men, and their |)ious lives gave them excellent 
rei)Ute. Their family consisted of eight children, 
whose recoid is as follows: JMary A., who is now 
dead, was the wife of Thomas A. Mapps; .lohnand 
.James are residents of .Jackson Towushii); David, 
a twin brother of .lames, lives in Chanuahon Town- 
ship; Sarah and Cyrus live in Jackson Township: 
Rachael A. died when seven years old; Nancy M. 
is the wife of our subject. Mrs. Christensen was 
born in Jackson Township, and under the careful 
training of her parents her character developed 
and she became a woman capable of wortiiily filling 
her sphere in life. 



^ ■^>*-^- 




^\ AMUEL HOOD, is a retired physician 
whose home Is on a line farm near the 
village of Crete. When failing health 
compelled him to abandon the practice of 
liis [)rofession he turned his attention to agricul- 
ture in wliich he lias proved successful, reaching a 
prominent station among the farmers of the country. 
His Jiome comprises one hundred and fifteen acres 
on section IG, Crete Township, and is well improved 
and is kept well stocked with good grades of cattle, 
horses, etc. Dr. Hood formerly owned one hun- 
dred and fifty acres here, where he has lived for 
almost half a centuiy. Not 011I3' on account of 
his enterprise in the vocation which he has adopted, 
but still more on account of his Christian character 
and cultured mind is Dr. Hood highly esteemed, 
his reputation extending far and wide. 

Although born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Dr. 



PORTRAIT BIOGRAPHICAL AND ALBUM. 



617 



Hood is of English ancestry in both lines, his father, 
however, having been born in the Emerald Isle. 
.Samuel Hood, Sr., was a raercliant, he was four 
times married, and ii> 1840, came to America, set- 
tling on new land in Cook County, 111., where he 
devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He died 
when eight3'-seven years old, having survived his 
fourth wife twelve 3'ears. He was successful in 
worldl}' affairs and well known in and about Bloom. 
He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Tlie motlier of our subject was Maria E. Van- 
haften, who was born in Bombay and became the 
wife of a Surgeon General in an East Indian Com- 
pany, named NcNeilens. Dr. McNielens and wife 
tinaily settled in County T^'rone, Ireland, and tiiere 
liie Surgeon General died and his widow subse- 
quent!}' married Samuel Hood. She died a few 
years later, when her son, our subject, was but a 
chilli. He is the only survivor of the two children 
born to her and his f.ather. Mrs. Hood belonged 
to a line English family, was a life long membei 
of the Methodist Cliurcli, and the possessor of a 
luight mind and much culture. 

The natal day of Dr. Hood was -lune 25, 1815. 
He received his fundamental education in the puli- 
lic schools of County Tyrone, and when eighteen 
years old became a student of medicine, first serv- 
ing three years in an apothecary shop and then en- 
tering a medical college in London, England. 
Three years later he was graduated, and going to 
Liverpoolhe took passage for America. After five 
weeks and three days spent upon a sailing vessel, 
he landed in I'hiladeliihia, Pa., whence he went to 
Pittsburg. He afterward practiced at different 
places in the Key Stone .State for a number of 
years, removing thence to Gentry County, Mo., 
whore he continued his professional labors for four 
years. He then came to Illinois and after twentv 
j'ears of professional life became a farmer. His 
reputation as a ph3sician is a creditable one and 
the energy which has brought him success in his 
later field of labor, was equally manifest in carry- 
ing into practice the knowledge of Therapeutics 
which he had obtained in a famous school and in 
adapting it to the need? of his patients. 

One of the most important steps in the life of 



Dr. Hood, was his choice of a life companion, with 
whom his marriage was celebrated in Butler 
County, Pa. She bore the maiden name of Ellen 
Stewart, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, 
and came to America with lier parents about the 
year 1830. For more than fifty years she has 
shared in the toils and successes, the joys and the 
sorrows, which have gathered about her husband's 
pathwaj-, proving her worth as wife, mother, and 
meml)er of society. Although now seventy-two 
years of age, she is still smart and active; she 
possesses a mind of more than ordinary biightness 
and her intellect has been exercised in various lines 
of thought, her domestic duties not preventing her 
from taking an interest in the world's affairs. 

To Dr. and Mrs. Hood, nine children have been 
born, but four of whom are now living. The 
deceased are, an infant; Thomas, a smart young man 
who died unmarried at tlie .age of twenty' one years; 
Samuel, another bright and promising youth, 
who died when eigliteen years old; David, who 
died at the .age of seven; and an inf.ant. The old- 
est of the living children is John J., who is now 
farming in the Upper Peninsula of Jllcliigan; he 
has been twice married. The maiden name of his 
first wife was Jennie Hunter, his present wife having 
borne the maiden name of Calherine Caldwell. 
Mary is the wife of Nelson .Seymour, a farmer at 
Ilomewood, Cook County. Maria married Henry 
.Se5'mour, engineer of the Crete Manufacturing 
Company. Harriet is the wife of Roland Ilewes, 
tlieir home l)eing on a farm in Crete Township. 
Dr. and i\hs. Hood belong to the Jlethodist Epis- 
copal Church, and the Doctor is a sound Republi- 
can in politics. 



^^ 




LEXANDER BALLANCE. The railroad 
i @/LJI i business is a prominent industry of Joliet 
and the men who have charge of its vari- 
ous dejiartments are conspicuous figures in 
mechanical and financial circles. The gentleman 
above named has been foreman of the round 
house of the Micliigan Central Railro.ad for nearlj' 
Iwentj' years and enjoys the frieridship and con- 



618 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



fidence of the officers of the roarl. who consider 
him a valuable member of their corps. He bears 
the reputation of a tiiorough mechanic and iiis 
faithfulness lias stood the test of j'cars. Such has 
been his industry that not a month's pay has been 
missed in all the years of his service as foreman, and 
in a capacity previously occupied. 

Mr. Ballance was born in the Dominion of Can- 
ada, in the year 1854, and accompanied his parents 
to this country when five years of age. The loca- 
CHtion selected was Michigan City, Ind.. and there 
the lad grew to maturity. He attended tlie public 
schools and under the system in which llic lloosier 
State takes just pride, became versed in inactical 
knowledge of the chief branches of study. When 
eighteen years old he entered the machine shops of 
the Michigan Central Railroad, and after a faithful 
apprenticeship was employed as a master mcchimic 
and later as foreman of the round house in that 
city. 

A satisfactory service of five years led to his ap- 
pointment to the position he occupies to-day. As a 
citizen he bears a good re|nitation and among his 
subordinates he is spoken of as one in whose kind- 
liness they have trust, while acknowledging his 
strict oversight of tlic details of their work. Mr. 
Ballance is unmarried, but his mother who is still 
hale and active keeps house for him. He has re- 
cently purchased an elegant location where they 
will ere long reside. His father breathed his last in 
Michigan City in 1881. 



ji^^REDERICK Fn^DYMP:NT is associated 
|p^(g' with the agricultural interests of Will 
lL\ County as an active and capable farmer, 

and his farm in Plainfield Township is one of the 
most desirable in this vicinit3', as it is highly cul- 
tivated and is replete in all its appointments. Mr. 
Fiddyment was born in Norfolk County, England, 
July 3, 1839, a son of William Fidd3'ment, of that 
place. Daniel Fiddyment, grandfather of our sub- 
ject, is also supposed to have been born there, and 
he w.as there reared to the life of a farmer, dying 
also in his native England. His widow and three 



sons, W'illitun. .John and Walter, came to jVnierica, 
and she died at the home of her son .lohn, in 
Lockport, Ills. 

The father of our subject was bred on a farm, 
living in England until 1849, when, having re- 
solved to make a new start in life, he eiiibarked 
for America in the month of July, taking passage 
at London, in the sailing vessel '-Lucinia.'' After 
a long and stormy voyage, he landeii at New 
York, in the month of August, and one week later 
set out for Illinois, coming by the Hudson River 
and Erie Canal tu IJuffalo, thence by the lakes to 
Chicago, and from there by canal to Lockport, 
this county. For ;i few years after coming here, 
he worked in his brother's distillery, and then 
turned his attention to farming, buying a tract of 
wild timber land three miles north of Lockport. 
He erected suitable buildings, greatly improved 
the land, and there built up a comfortable home, 
in which he died in the month of April, 1878. 
The maiden name of his vvife was Hannah Nivet, 
and she was a native of the same shire as himself. 
She still resides on the old homestead, having 
reared four children, as follows: Daniel, who re- 
mains with her; Frederick, our subject: Hannah, 
who married William Fisher and lives in Lockport; 
and Walter, who resides in Lemont. 

The sou. of whom we write, was a lad of ten 
years when he accompanied his parents to this 
country, and he still remembers well the incidents 
of the long and perilous voyage. He was cjuite 
young when he commenced work with his father, 
and was with him in the distillery about lifteen 
years. Then he began his career as a farmer and, 
in 1868, first became the owner of land, buying a 
tract of wild prairie on section 32. Plainfield Town- 
ship. He did not, however, locate on the place at 
that time, but rented land for two or three _vears, 
and then settled on his own land. In 1875, after 
greatl}' improving the place, he disposed of it at a 
good price, and bought the farm on which he now 
lives. This farm, one of the finest in the neigh- 
borhood, lies on both sides of the DuPage River, 
and comprises one hundred and seventy-two acres 
of as fertile farming land as is to be found in Will 
Count}'. It was here that the lumber was cut and 
sawed for the first frame house ever erected in 




Res.ofDedrich Brumund.5ec 29., Green GardenTp.WillCo.IllCThisFarm for sale.) 




Residence OF F. Fiddyment,5ec.ii&2o.PlainfieldTp., Will Co. 111. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



621 



Chicago. Not only has Mr. Fidrlyment erected 
fubslaiilial and commodious buildings, but lie lias 
|)lac(Ml ilic land under admirable tillage, and has 
all the conveniences for carr3ing on his operations 
to the best advantage. A view of his pleasant 
home appears elsewhere in this volume. 

l!y his marriage, in 18CC, to Catherine Raush, a 
native of Germany, Mr. Fi<ldyment secured a no- 
ble wife, who has cbeerfull}' aided him in his work 
of upbuilding their home. They have ten chil- 
dren living, namely : John, Elizabeth, Emma, Fred, 
Willie, Jlary, Franklin, Julia, Grace and Florence. 

It is the united testimony of his fellow towns- 
men that Mr. P'iddynient is in all respects a man 
of conscientious principles and exemplary habits, 
and one who is free hearted, kind and considerate, 
always vvilling to lend a hand to those less fortu- 
nate than himself. In liis religious views he s^'ra- 
[lathizes with the tenets of the Methodist Church, 
and is a faithful attendant at divine services in 
the bouse of worship dedicated to that denomina- 
tion in Plaiufield. 




IKinUCH liRUMUNU. A high rank 
among the farmers of Green Garden 
Township is accorded to the gentleman 
above named, and he well deserves the 
good report of his fellow-ni^n by reason of his 
energy and activity in his own worldl}' affairs and 
in public enterprises, as well as for his pleasing 
iraits of chaiaeter. He owns one hundred and 
tvventj' acres on section 29, eighty acres on section 
28, and fort}- acres on section 32, this fine body of 
land lying about eight miles from Frankfort. His 
residence is a very pleasant one, as may well be 
imagined by the reader, who will notice a view 
of it in this volume. 

Diedrieh Brumund, Sr., the father of our sub- 
ject, was an early settler in tliis township to which 
be came in 1819. He was born in Oldenburg, 
Germany, and there received an excellent educa- 
tion to which was subsequently added the knowl- 
edge of the Dutch language, which he acquired 
while cletking in Holland. He became a merchant 



and was succeeding in bis career when be deter- 
mined to try his fortunes in the New World. Cross- 
ing the Atlantic he selected Will County, III., as 
tiie scene of his future labors and the second year 
after his arrival bought land near Mokena and set- 
tled upon it. He began store-keeping on his 
farm, but when the railroad was built through the 
neighboring village lie abandoned his former oc- 
cupation and gave his entire attention to farming. 
His early experiences were not always pleasing, 
including as they did the hauling of goods from 
Chicago with oxen, which on one occasion ran 
avvay into the canal. 

Mr. Brumund became the possessor of three 
hundred and seventeen acres in the home farm, 
and some seven hundred acres in Green Garden 
Township, together with Iowa land and two sec- 
tions in Stoddard County, Mo. As he was able 
to get land cheap from the Government when he 
first came and soon became successful in his farm 
work, it is easy to see one reason for bis great 
prosperity. He bought soldiers' land warrants, in 
this way also adding to bis real estate and like- 
wise adding to the funds at the command of the 
lads who were not able to cultivate the ground. 
He was a fine mathematician and scholar,possessed a 
large amount of the spirit which desires the devel- 
opment of the country, and became well known, 
not simply as a man whose labors are crowned 
with v>orldly success, but as a worthy citizen and 
and upright man. He belonged to the Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran Church and helped in building the 
edifice in which the congregation worshipped. He 
breathed his last Februaiy 17, 1885, in his sixty- 
seventh year. 

The wife of Diedrieh Brumund, Sr., bore the 
maiden name of Nicholine Folkers. Like her hus- 
band, she was a native of Oldenburg, in which 
city their marriage was celebrated. She is now 
living in Euglewood, Cook County. When she 
and her husband came to America they were ac- 
companied by four children. Others were added 
to their family, seven being the number who grew 
to maturity. Of these the oldest, G. H., enlisted 
in 1861 in the Twentieth Illinois Infantry and af- 
ter serving tliree months came home seemingi}- at 
the point of death. He recovered his health how- 



622 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ever, and again enlisted, becoming a niuraber of 
the Sixty-fiflli i-eginient, witli which he served un- 
til again taken very ill. He was removed to the 
(Juincy lIosi)ital and finally taken to his home. 
lie lived until 1883 when he breathed his last in 
Florida. Next on the family roll were Peter 
and Helen, twins, the former of whom became a 
l)hysician and died iu Colorado in the fall of 188'J; 
his twin sister married L. Jorndt, and is living in 
Stoddard County, Mo. The next of the family 
circle is the subject of this notice, and following him 
are Julia, wife of Prof. J. Leuder, of Elmhurst Col- 
lege, and Lina and Lizzie who live in Englcwood. 

This gentleman whose cognomen forms the head- 
ing of this sketch, was born November 16, 1848, 
iu Oldenburg, Germany. He was still an infant 
when his parents left Bremerhaven on the sailing 
vessel "Ornholt Boming" and seven weeks later 
lauded in New York. His boyhood was spent 
upon the farm in this .State and he attended the 
district schools. He was early taught to work and 
uo man in the county has labored harder than he. 
He plowed when he was so small that the handles 
were scarcely within his reach. When twenty 
years old be and hia brother, G. H., went to the 
Indian Territory to cut hay, the latter having a 
cattle ranche. They traveled b3' riiil to Leaven- 
worth. Kan., and there bought a team with which 
they continued their journc}' to Baxter Springs on 
the Spring River, which they made their head- 
quarters. The}' remained there six months, put- 
ting up some six hundred tons of liaj', paying the 
Indians twenty-five cents per acre for the privi- 
lege of cutting. 

Young Brumund liked the country and had no 
objection to his eniplo3raeut, but he could not 
stand the chills and in November returned by stage 
to Ft. Scott, and thence by (!ars to his home. Af- 
ter spending two weeks with his friends he went 
to Bloomfield, Stoddard Count}', Mo., and taking 
possession of one hundred and sixty acres of his 
fatlier's land near there, he improved and oi)crated 
it until the following July. He then returned to the 
Prairie State and led the lady of his choice to the 
hymeneal altar, the interesting ceremony which 
united their lives and fortunes taking place in 
Joliet, August 29, 1870. The young couple began 



house-keeping on the Missouri farm, remaining 
thereuntil November, 1872, when they again be- 
came residents of Illinois. 

Mr. Brunuind operate<l his father's jjlace near 
Mokeua six years and in March 1K71), traded his 
own Missouri property for (mio hundred and 
twenty acres of the farm uiion wliidi he now lives. 
With the exception of a small house no improve- 
ments had been made, and the nevv owner at once |! 
began the course which has resulted in making of 
the property one of the most pleasant homes in 
this section. He broke the l.'uid, put in tiling, 
built an excellent house, barn and other edifices, 
set out an orchard and grove, and enclosed and 
divided the land by good fences. The barn is 
eighteen feet high and has a ground dimension of 
30x68 feet; the corn crib is 40x26 feet, and the 
other structures are of corresponding size. Addi- 
tional land has been purchased by Mr. Brumund 
and he is carrying on a successful business in the 
cultivation of grain, principally corn and oats, and 
in the raising of hogs, cattle and other stock. He 
now has about twenty head of Ilolsteins of good 
grade. 

The lady to whose housewifely skill and amiable 
disposition Mr. Brumund owes the comfort of his 
home life, bore the m.aiden name of Dorothea Bat- 
tenhausen. She was born in Kur-Hessian, Cier- 
inany, March 19, 1850, being the oldest child of 
Adam and Catiierine (Walper) Battenhausen, who 
were born in the same village as herself. The 
other members of the household in which she 
spent her maidenhood are Henry, now living in 
Martin County, Jlinn.; Mrs. Jenny Baumgartner 
of Peotone; and Mrs. Katie Saunter of Frankfort 
Township. 

In 1853, Mr. Battenhausen emigrated to Amer- 
ica, settling ill Cook County, 111., where he con- 
tinued his former occupation of a farmer. In 
that ct)unty he died in 18(i4, at the age of forty- 
seven years. ,He had been a soldier in the Ger- 
man army and for some years had official rank. 
He belonged to the Evanglical Church. Mrs. Bat- 
tenhausen survived until Febiuary, 1888, being an 
inmate of our subject's home during the latter 
years of her life. She was sixty -seven years old 
when called from time to eternity. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



623 



Mr. and M IS. Briiiiuiiid are the parents of five 
children, named respeotivelj', Ljdia K., IJiedrich 
A., Frank (;., Alvin J^. and Lina A. Tlie older 
daugliter was graduated at Val|)araiso, Ind., taking 
tiie business course in the college there and nearly 
completing the two years' teacher's course. She 
is now engaged in teaching in the neighboi'iiocxl of 
her home and is successfully pursuing her chosen 
vocation. The oldest son is now pursuing his 
studies in tlie Wentworth Scliool, Chicago. For 
seven years Mr. Brumund has been a member of 
the School Board of which at this writing he is 
Clerk. Me held the office of Assessor for one year. 
In politics he is a sturd3' Republican and his ser- 
vices have been called into requisition as a mem- 
ber of the Central Committe, and delegate to 
county conventions. Fe is enrolled among the 
mend)ers of the Evangelical Church at Peotone, 
and was formerlv Trustee. 



'\f;ACOI'> ADLFR, senior mendjer of the 
firm of A<lier Bros., is with his brother 
Peter, conducting successfully a large meat 
market, prominently located on Exchange 
Street, Joliet, and forms no unimportant factor in 
the business community of this thriving city. An 
experience of thirty years in the cattle and meat 
trade, has given him an insiglit into all the details 
of the business, and succeeded in making him com- 
[laratively independent, financially. He is of Ger- 
man birth and ancestry, and possesses in a marked 
degree the substantial and reliable qualities of one 
of the best nations on the face of the globe. 

The subject of this .sketch was born in the Prus- 
sian Province of Greis Metsig Brodorf, March 17, 
1837, to Michael and Margaret (Sebastian) Adler. 
The family in 1838. euiigratcd to America, landing 
ill the then unimi)ortant city of Chicago, Maj' 20. 
Later they located in Will Couiitj', where the 
fatlier engaged in farming. The family comprised 
then but two children, one of them being .Taeob 
who is now the only member of the family living 



who was born in the Fatherland. The farm lay 
in the vicinity of New Lenox. I'he father was a 
resident of Joliet Township from 1813, to 1870. 
He had therein a fine farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres, besides considerable city property and 
town lots. He finally removed to Joliet, which re- 
mained his residence twenty-one years prior to his 
death which occurred July 10, 1889. lie had then 
arrived at the advanced age of eighty-five years. 
The mother died December 15, 1888, aged eighty- 
four. Michael Adler was born November 2, 1803, 
and his wife, Margaret, December 6, 1804. Both 
were members of St. John's Catholic Church. 

The elder Adler, upon becoming a voting citi 
zen, identified himself with the Republican party 
with whom he remained until after the extinction 
of slavery, when he wheeled over into the ranks of 
the Democracy. He became quite prominent in 
local affairs, served on the School Board and in 
some of the minor offices. He accumulated a 
comfortable property, putting up buildings on Jef- 
ferson and Chicago Streets. His honesty and inte"-- 
rity caused him to be highly respected in his com- 
munity. He was a self-made man in every partic- 
ular, commencing at the foot of the ladder and 
climbing up to a good position, socially and finan- 
cially among his fellow-men. To him and his 
good wife there was born a family of eleven chil- 
dren, four of whom died in earl}' life. The sur- 
vivors are Jacob, our subject; Margaret, the wife 
of Frederick Rappal of Cook County; Angeline 
is with the sisters of St. Francis; Peter, who Jives 
with our subject; Veronica and Mary live together 
in the old homestead; Jasper died at the a"e of 
twenty -six years. 

The subject of this notice developed into man- 
hood on tlic old farm in Will Countj', remainino' 
a member of the parental household until reachino- 
his majorit}'. He then joined the caravan going 
to Pike's Peak, journeying across the plains from 
Leavenworth and following the old trail, makin"- 
the first i)art of the journey with lK)rses, then tak- 
ing oxen and being on the road three months. 
Arriving at his destination he engaged in mininf 
and remained in that vicinity until the api)roaeli 
of winter. Then satisfied with his experiment 
in the wild West, he returned to his native haunts 



624 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mild llie following year engaged in shipping cattle 
to C'liiciigo, IJoston and New Voik City. He also 
commenced butchering and established himself in 
the meat business. He purchased many of his cat- 
tle in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado. Kansas and Mis- 
souri, shipping mostij' to the East. Later he be- 
gan buying cattle which he shipped to Chicago 
and to this he has given his attention largely for 
the last ten years. 

Mr. Adier established his meat market about 1801 
and has been engaged off and on in the meat mar- 
ket and agricultural business for a term of years, be- 
ing fortunate in his business enterprises. For 
the last five years, his brother Peter, has been his 
chief assistant, although he operated with him con- 
siderablj' previous to this time. He is the owner of 
the National Hotel Hloek, in which his market is 
situated and he has other improved property on 
Joliet and Chicago .Streets, and also farm propert}'. 

Mr. Adlcr cast his liisl I'resideiitial vote for 
Abraham Lincoln and voted for three Repulilican 
Presidents thereafter; then feeling that he had 
reason to change his views, he allied himself with 
the Democratic party, of which lie is a stanch su|)- 
[lorter. He is a man prompt to meet his obliga- 
tions, and occupies no sccondar}' position among 
the business men of his adopted city. He has 
represented the Sixth Ward in the City Council 
four years, but otherwise has refrained from as- 
suming the responsibilities of oflice. 

Mr. Adler was married January 13, 18G6, to 
Miss Emily Erhard. Mrs. Adler was born in July, 
1842, in Joliet, and is the daughter of George and 
Louisa (Perilot) Erhard, who were natives of Ger- 
many and early settlers of this county, to which 
they came in 1835. They are now deceased. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Adler there have been born eleven 
children, of whom only seven are living, namely: 
Louisa, Jacob, Emily, Lawrence, Michael, Patricia 
i^I. and Catherine. They form a l)right and inter- 
esting group and will be given the best advantages 
the city affords from an educational ))oint of view. 
Mr. and Mrs. Adler are connected with St. John's 
Catholic Church, whose church edifice Mr. Adler 
assisted materially in building, and he has always 
contributed liberall}' to the support of the society. 
The family occupies a neat, modern residence on 



South Chicago Street.and they number their friends 
by the score among the people where they have 
lived for so many years. 



'^^: 



E^^ 




HELDON YOUNG. A list of the old set- 
tlers of this county would be incomplete 
without the above name, which is borne 
by one of Jackson Township's most intel- 
ligent and public-spirited citizens. He is one of 
the older members of a large family born to Phillip 
and Sarah (Teeple) Young. His father was born 
in Montgomery County, N. Y., and died in Oneida 
County. His mother was born in Schoharie County, 
and there breathed her last. In the count^' which 
was his father's birthplace lie of whom we write 
was born, December 3, 1820, and continued to live 
until the fall of 1838, when lie became a citizen of 
Illinois. 

After reaching this State, Mr. Young determined 
to ni.ake Will County his future home and at once 
began his residence in .lackson Township. His 
taste led him to adoiit the vocation of farming 
which he has been successfully pursuing from early 
life, llis home is a pleasantl}- located farm, upon 
which good buildings have been erected and other 
improvements made, and many fond memories 
cluster about it. To it he brought his bride not 
long after their marriage, and here an interesting 
family has grown up about him; here also some 
griefs have befallen him, some of his offspring 
having been removed from him by death, and his 
true hearted wife having here breathed her last, 
June 28, 1887. 

The lady whose sterling qualities won the regard 
of Mr. Young in his earh' manhood, bore the name 
of Eliza Hougham. She was born in Ohio, August 
18, 1822, and came to this county about 1839, rid- 
ing about one hundred and fifty miles on horseback 
with her father. The latter, Jonathan Hougham, 
died in Indiana, her mother having also breathed 
her last in that State, in Parke County. Miss 
Hougham became the wife 'of our subject Decem- 
ber 1, 1842, the marriage rites being celebrated in 
Jackson Township. They became the parents of 



sJ'f'v' 



J^ 



/ijj*^' •7'"\ffi5?:^i 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



C27 



twelve children, eight of whom reached mature 
years and seven of whom are yet living. The 
cliildren were named Ara B., Nancy A., Lana A., 
.Jonathan, John S., Albert L., Laura, Mary E., 
Emma, Julia E., Mattic E., and Walter H. 

Of the surviving members of this family circle 
we note the following: Ara is now living in ISIin- 
den. Neb.; Lana is the wife of E. D. Williams; 
Mary E., is the wife of Levi H. Eib; Emma is the 
wife of Marion Palmer; Julia married Robert 
Eaton; Mattie is the wife of Frank Pierce; Walter, 
wlio is still at home, possesses a Sno education 
being a graduate of Brown'sUniversity, at Prov- 
idence, U. I. Mr. Young's abilities have been made 
useful to his fellovv men, whom he has served as 
!Su[)etvisor. Road Commissioner and School Trus- 
tee, for many j'ears liaving been incumbent of the 
last named position. In polities he is a Democrat. 
He belongs to the Baptist Church of which his wife 
was also a member. 

\i,^-) -m ^, , 



y^^^EORGE WIHTTIER. Of the enterprising 
'if <5¥' "^'^'^s"* of Joliet who have been called 
^^A| from the active scenes of life, none have 
been better known perhaps or more sincerely 
mourned than Mr. Whittier. His portrait, which 
we are pleased to present on the opposite page, 
represents a gentleman whose long and successful 
business career in the city of Joliet gained for him 
the re|)utation of being honest, public spirited and 
generous. His business qualifications were fine, 
while as a neighbor and friend it was universally 
conceded that he held the good will of the commu- 
nity in which he lived, always assisting those in 
need and ever having a kind word for those around 
liini. A marked trait of his character was, that 
wliencver he pledged himself to any obligation or 
the i)erformance of any task, he never failed to 
redeem his pledge. 

This gentleman was born in Sommersworth, 
N. H., November 27, 1830, his parents being Jo- 
seph and Nancy (Locke) Whittier. When he was 
six years of age his parents moved from that State 
to the land of Penn, locating in Philadelphia, Pa., 



but with that restlessness which characterizes 
Americans as a rule, before many years had passed, 
they made another change of residence. For a 
time they resided in Penobscot, Me., whence the 
father came to Illinois in 1859, and established him- 
self in the lime business. Hither the son, our 
subject, came two years later and joined his father 
in the enterprise, in which success crowned their 
efforts. After a worthy and honorable life the 
father was called hence, August 12, 1889, at the 
advanced age of ninety-five years, eight months 
and eleven days. He had thus almost rounded 
out a full century, and his life was filled with good 
deeds and worthy actions. Starting in life poor, 
he seemed to have taken for his motto, " Either I 
will find a way or make one." In his honorable 
endeavors he was successful and prosperous. 

Joseph Whittier was a cousin of the far-famed 
poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, whom Americans 
delight to honor and whose fame has penetrated 
distant lands. Unto Joseph and Nancy Whittier 
were born the following children, besides George, 
our subject: Samuel, now a resident of New 
Brunswick; Joseph, who is engaged in the lumber 
trade in East Saginaw, IMich.; Mrs. Adeline Buflfom, 
deceased; Mrs. Lydia Jones, whose husband is an 
attorney in Bangor, Me.; Charles, of San Jose, 
Cal.; Mrs. Eliza Walworth, wife of a Univer- 
salist minister in Baltimore, Md.; and Mrs. Ellen 
Smith, of San Diego, Cal. 

A few months after the death of the father, our 
subject also passed to rest November 10, 1889, and 
now lies buried in Oakwood Cemeter}', Joliet. 
He left a widow and three children, daughters, to 
mourn their loss. Many friends also had been 
made during tiio years of his residence in Joliet. 
He had, politically, been a stanch Democrat, and 
socially, was welcomed in the best circles of the 
city. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah M. 
Lindsay, and their wedding ceremony was cele- 
brated at the home of tiie bride's parents, .James 
and Eliza (Purrington) Lindsay, February 10, 
1854. James Lindsay followed the occupation of 
a cooper and farmer, and unto him and his wife 
were born the following children: Henry H., now 
a resident of Lincoln, ]\Ie. ; Mrs. Eliza E. Hasey, in 
Joliet; Mrs. Lucy Severance, also of Lincoln, Me.; 



628 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and Mrs. Wliittier. The latter was born in the 
Pine Tree State, in the town of Chester, .lamiary 
10, 1832. llor marriage with our subject was 
blessed by the birth of three children — Mrs. Ange- 
line Stedman, of Oak Park, now a part of Chicago; 
Mrs. Lucy M. Way man, of Chicago, and Miss 
Claire, who is yet with her mother. The widow 
and daughter occupy tiie homestead, .where tliey 
enjoy the fruits of a life tliat was spent in provid- 
ing for their welfare. Their home is one of cul- 
ture and refinement, and they are held in high es- 
teem by those to whom their characters and attain- 
ments are known. 




IIRI8T0F BATTERMANN. Those who 
believe tiiat comfort is not to be found in 
country life, have but to visit the home of 
the above-named gentleman, to see conclusive evi- 
dence to the contrary, and to learn that a farmer's 
family nia3' be surrounded witli evidences of taste 
equal to those found in the majority of city homes. 
The estate to whicii we allude is located on section 
19, Crete Township, and comprises two luindred 
and thirt_y-eight acres of well developed land. Jt 
is well stocked witli domestic animals and farm 
im))lements and machiuer3' of the best models, tiie 
evidences of progressive agriculturism being every- 
where manifest. The buildings which adorn the 
place are commodious and well designed, and in- 
clude every convenience for household and farm 
work. 

The subject of this notice is a native of the 
kingdom of Hanover, having been born near the 
city of the same name, April 22, 1822. He is the 
son of Henry Battcrmann, a native of the same 
kingdom, who was reared when cloth-weaving was 
the predominant industry tliere, and who was thor- 
oughly skilled in that trade. While following it 
in the capital city, he mariied Miss Dorothea Batt- 
uiann, who was born j\ist l)e3-ond the limits of the 
kingdom, but grew to womanhood within it, her 
parents having settled there when she was quite 
young. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bat- 
tcrmann remained in the city, working hard, and 



rearing a f&mily of three sons and one daughter, 
onr subject being the youngest son. 

When he had reached a proper age tu learn a 
trade, our subject served an apprenticeship of three 
years as a weaver, after which he worked as a jour- 
neyman for a short time. The accounts which had 
reached his ears of the country bej^ond the sea, 
convinced him that a broader field for life's labors 
was to be found in the United States, and he de- 
termined to come hither and make- himself a home. 
Accordingly, on March 11, 1847, he took passage 
at Bremerhaven on a sailer, and after a tedious 
V03'age of several weeks landed in New York City, 
anchorage being made June C. After making ar- 
rangements for coming West, he went to Albany, 
and ttiere took passage on a canal boat, but tiring 
of the trip, he disembarked, and began work as a 
laborer, earning money with which to reach Chi- 
cago. When he arrived in this country, he was in 
debt -§19, but ho has since made a comfortable 
little fortune, doing it all by his own ])ersistent ef- 
forts. The comfortable home which he possesses > 
is not only a pleasant al>idiiig place for his own 
later 3'cars, but he looks forward to its being the 
home of his children after he is gf)ne. It became 
his home in 1852, for three years prior to wliiih 
date he had lived in Cook Coiiut_y. although he did 
not purchase land until after he had come here, 
previously w'orking as a farm laborer. After he 
had been in this countiy some years, his parents 
came to America with an older son, finally- reach- 
ing this county, where both died when about sev- 
enty j'cars of age. They were life-long and active 
members of the Lutheran Church, and worthy 
Ijeople, who left to their ilescendants an honored 
name. 

The wife of C. Battermann was born in Bremer- 
haven, (Tcrmany, on Christmas da^', 1833. She is 
the third child and second daughter of Herman and 
Johanna (Steffen) Doescher, and one of a family 
of six children. A fuller account of her family 
is to be found in the biography of Herman N. 
Doescher, on another page in this volume. She 
was tenj'ears of age when her parents came to the 
United States, their settlement being made in Lake 
C'ount3', Ind., where she grew to womanhood, acquir- 
ing useful habits and ,an estimable character. Her 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



62?) 



marriage to our subject was celebrated in this county, 
October 10, 1852, and has been blessed by the 
birth of nine children. The daughter — Johanna — 
died in infancy. The record of the surviving 
children is as follows: Herman married Anna 
Barger, and is farming near Brunswicii, Lake 
County, Ind.; Henry, who is a harness-maker in 
Dyer, Ind., married Lena Richard; Edward, a 
blacksmith at Hobart, Ind., married Carrie Ricliard ; 
Charles is at liome, operating the farm ; Albert mar- 
ried Lena Olstermier, and their liome is on a farm 
in Lake County. Ind.; Henrietta is tlie wife of 
Charles Bcrger, a harness-maker in Ilobart, Ind.; 
Matilda is still living under tlie parental roof; 
August is an engineer and blacksmith, living in 
Hobart, Ind. 

In politics Mr. Battermann is a sound Re|)ubli- 
can, and his six sons are equally standi in their 
support of that party. He and his wife are active 
members of tlie Lutheran Church. Tlie financial 
prosperity of Mr. Battermann is due to those quali- 
ties which win respect from one's associates, and 
his moral character and intelligence add to tlie repu- 
tation in wliicli he is lield. 



<| IfelLLIAM M. CLOV\^ is the son of one of the 
\&Ji' "'OSt prominent pioneer families of Will 
W^ County, who located in Wheatland Town- 
ship in an early day of its settlement, and ever since 
tjje name has been closely connected with its de- 
velopment and material prosperity, its present 
representative wearing worthily the mantle of his 
sire. As a wide-awake, intelligent and progressive 
farmer and stoci^-raiser, our subject bears an im- 
portant part in sustaining and extending the great 
agricultural interests of his native county. He 
owns a farm on section 14, that compares favorably 
in all respects with the best in this locality. 

Our subject was born December 18, 1850, intliis 
county, a son of the late Robert and Rosanna 
(ISIcMicken) Clow, natives of Scotland. The father 
of our subject came to this country in 1837 with 
his father's family, his raotlier liaving died in the 



old country. They first located in New York State 
and remained tliere till 184.3, when tlie}- came to 
Will County. The family were among the first 
settlers of the county, and purchased a large tract 
of wild prairie, coni[)rising nearly one thoiisanil 
acres of land for whicli was paid -^51.25 per acre. 

Robert Clow, the father of our subject, became a 
prominent man in this part of the county, both in 
its public life and in promoling the growth of its 
agricultural interests, and in iiis death September 
15, 1888, the county lost one of its most revered 
pioneers. He iiad always displayed great public 
spirit and substantiall3- aided all schemes for the 
improvement of the county or township. He 
served as .justice of tlie Peace and as Supervisor of 
Wheatland Townsliip, fulfilling the duties thus im- 
posed upon liim with marked ability. In his poli- 
tics he was a Republican aiid used liis influence to 
promote the interests of tiie party. The mother 
of our subject was born in 1825, and is now pleas- 
antly passing her declining years in the home of 
her son, John B. Clow, in tliis township. 

The parents of our subject had eight children of 
whom the following five still survive: William 
M.; Ellen J., wife of Charles H. Farqubar of Chi- 
cago; Adam S. a resident of Wheatland Township; 
John B.,also of this township; Rose, wife of H. H. 
Highland of this township. The names of those 
deceased are: Sarah II., Grace M., and Rachael. 

William, the subject of this sketcii, grew to a 
manly vigorous manhood amid the pioneer influ- 
ences that still obtained in this county during his 
youth. A bright, apt scholar, he was given excel- 
lent educational advantages, receiving the rudi- 
ments of his education in the district schools of 
Wheatland Township, and subsequently entered 
Clark Seminary, now known as Jenning's Seminar3' 
in Auiora, III., where he pursued a fine course of 
study that will be a help to him in any calling in 
which he is engaged. He first entered the teacher's 
profession and for two terms taught school success- 
fully. But having a natural taste for the vocation 
to which he had been reared, he then turned to it, 
and has since devoted his time to agricultural pur- 
suits, and is actively engaged in farming and stock- 
raising. He owns a farm of two hundred and thirty 
acres, all of which is under cultivation, is highl}' 



630 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ini|)rt)ve(l, and with its commodious, well-appointed 
buildings and rich harvest fields, is one of the most 
desirable pieces of property in this part of the 
county. 

In his marriage in KS71, with Miss Eliza V. 
Cherry, Mr. Clow secured tiie blessing of a true 
wife who is devoted to the interests of her family. 
Four children have come to them : Ida G., Robert 
C, Anne L., and Charles H. Mrs. Clow is a native 
of the city of Buffalo, N. Y., and a daughter of 
Moses and Sarah A. (Mills) Cherry, of that city, 
both of whom are now deceased. 

William Clow brings to his work a fine equip- 
ment of brain, energy, readiness of resource, and 
adaptability to circumstances that make him an in- 
fluence in promoting the financial prosperity" of his 
native county. His genial nature and general up- 
rightness of character have won him many friends, 
and with his wife he stands among the first people 
of the community. In his politics, Mr. Clow is a 
member of the Dcmocratic'party. He has taken 
part in public affairs as Township Clerk one year, 
and as Road Commissioner of Wheatland Township, 
and in both capacities proved himself to be a sa- 
gacious and faitliful civic oflicial. 



ENRY 8PANGLER is the fortunate owner 
of a good farm, pleasantly located one mile 
^ from the village of Plainfield, that is sup- 
plied with substantial buildings, good ma- 
chinery, is under excellent cultivation, and is 
otljerwise well improved. Our subject is a Penn- 
.sylvanian by birth, born in Potter Townshi|), Cen- 
tre County, January 2.5, 1834. His father. John 
Spangler, was a native of the same State, born, it 
is thought, in Lancaster County, and his father, 
Peter Spangler, is supposed to have been a native 
of the same county, born of German parentage. 
lie removed to Centre County in an early d.ay of 
its sfcttlement and became a pioneer of Potter 
Township, where he bought and improved a tract 
of land, and was engaged in farming thereon the 
remainder of his life. 

The father of our >ubject was a boy when his 



parents removed to th.at place, and there he learned 
the trade of a carpenter, which lie followed for a 
time and then turned his attention to the calling 
to which he had been reared, and farmed in Centre 
County until 1818. In that year he came to Illi- 
nois, making the journey by teams, and crossing 
but one railroad on the way, which was a primitive 
affair, having wooden rails and an iron strap on 
the top of them. He cast in his lot with the pio- 
neers of Plainfield who had preceded him to this 
pleasant pl.acc. He bought thi'ee hundred and sixty- 
acres of parti}' improved land and was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits some years until his letire- 
ment from active life to Joliet, where the rest of 
his days were passed. The maiden name of his wife 
was Catherine Stem, and she was a native of Ccuitre 
County, Pa., her father, Adam Stem, having been 
a farmer in that part of Pennsylvania. She died 
on the home farm in Plainfield Township. 

He of whom we write was a lad of thirteen years 
when he accomjianicd his parents to their new home 
in the Prairie State, and he well remembers inci- 
dents of the journey and of the pioneer life that 
they led there. He assisted his father on the farm, 
gaining a good practical knowledge of the calling 
that he was to adopt for his life-work. He was en- 
gaged with his fatiier until he was twenty-one, and 
he then rented the farm from liim and carried it on 
successfully, continuing to rent land until 1873. 
He had accumulated considerable money and in- 
vested it in his |)resent homestead, which comprises 
one hundred and seventeen .acres of as fertile land 
as is to be found in this exce[)tionally (ine farming 
region. He h.as erected suitable buildings, has all 
needful aiipliances for carrying on agriculture to a 
good advant.agc, and has his land under admirable 
tillage. 

Mr. Spangler was married, in 18.')7, to Miss Mary 
Heinselman, a native of Pennsylvania and a (laugh- 
ter Geoi'gc Heinselman; she was a prudent, thrifty 
woman and an excellent housewife, and has con- 
tributed her share in the upbuilding of their home. 
Five children have been born to them, four of 
whom are living — Kate, Frank, Clinton and Mclviu. 

Mr. Spangler is industrious, shrewd, and meth- 
odical, and alw.ays has his affairs in a good condi- 
tion. He stands well in this communitv in the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALP.UM. 



633 



varied relations of husband, father, neighbor and 
citizen, and is esteemed for his good qualities of 
liead and heart. lie and his family are members 
ill good standing of the German Evangelical 
Cluirch. Mr. Spangler is independent in [loiilics, 
voting for the man ratlier than for party. 



-4-+ 



+-^ 



?t,OBERT R. CRELLIN. In making note of 
the early settlers of the Prairie State, the 
\^\ the name of Mr. Crellin is justly entitled 
to a prominent position. Though several 
yoars have elapsed since he was removed by death, 
iii memory is still cherished by a large circle of 
fri.nds. He came of a worthy ancestry,' and was 
remotely related to a family of tlie same name in 
the Isle of Man, representatives of wiiich are now 
b>cated in San Diego and San Francisco, C'al. AVith 
the exception of relatives living near Joliet, these 
are the onlj- known families of the name in the 
United States. 

Ohio was the native State of our subject and in 
Avon he was born October 25, 1843. His father, 
Tliomas Crellin, was a life-long farmer by occupa- 
tion and a reliable citizen. The mother bore the 
maiden name of Catherine Hampton. The family 
settled in Jackson Township in 1852, the father 
purchasing Government land from which he im- 
proved 1 farm and there with his estimable wife 
spent the remainder of his days. 

The subject of this notice remained a member of 
the parental household until his marriage, which 
occurred April 23, 1867. His wife. Miss Leonora 
Kelley, was born on the Isle of Man, August 31 
1849, and is still living, being now a resident of 
Joliet. Her parents, Robert and Catherine (Cowle) 
Kelley, emigrated to America when their daughter 
was a child of three years, locating first in Lake 
County, Ohio. There Miss Kelley spent her girl- 
hood days, remaining under the parental roof until 
leaving it to become mistress of her own homo. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kelley remained residents of Ohio 
until 1880, and then came to Florence Township, 
this county, where they lived until the fall of 1888. 
Tlien retiring from the active labors of life they 



removed to tbe city of Joliet where the father died 
July 1, 1889; the mother is still living. The pa- 
rental household included eight children, three of 
whom arc living and located in Illinois ar\d Indi- 
ana. Mr. and Mrs. Crellin after their marriage 
settled on a farm in Florence Township where 
they laljored together in the building up of a home 
and effected good improvements. Then on account 
of the failing health of Mr. Crellen they removed 
to Joliet, where his death occurred, November 30, 
1887. The famil}' residence in the city is pleasantly 
located at No. 310, Richards Street, and Mrs. Crel- 
lin still owns the farm which is the source of a 
comfortable income. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Crellin there was born a family 
of four children, two daughters and two sons, viz: 
Ella, Laura, George and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. 
Crellin united with the Richards Street Methodist 
Episcopal Church manj' years ago. The cultured 
tastes of the family are indicated in their home sur- 
roundings, and a fine librarj-, filled with select 
works furnishes many an hour's recreation. Miss 
Laura Crellin completed her studies at the High 
School in Joliet and for the past three years has 
been engaged as a teacher. Miss Ella has fitted her- 
self for the same profession, being a graduate of 
the Normal School, Normal Park, III., and Joliet 
High School. She has already had three years ex- 
perience as a teacher. George, a youth of sixteen 
years, has already started out for himself. The 
yougest son remains at home with his mother. 

The many friends of Mr. Crellin will be pleased 
to notice his portrait, presented on another page. 



ENRY .J. SAWYER is a well-known manu- 
facturer of Joliet, although at the present 
time retired from active business pursuits. 
P^or a number of years he was a member of 
the firm of Adler & Sawyer, whose boot and shoe 
establishment on Jefferson Street was one of the 
[)rominent retail stores of the city. Mr. Sawyer 
was Superintendent for the firm of M. Selz & Co., 
of Chicago, who had a prison contract, their business 
consuming 1500,000 per year in the purchase of 




634 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



materials and manufacture of goods. He possesses 
a practical knowledge of tlie business from the 
foundation up, liaving himself worked through 
every department, and liaving also a decided judg- 
ment and tact lias proved himself an excellent 
huyer, organizer and manager of a large establish- 
ment. His personal ro|iutation is that of an hon- 
orable man and worthy citizen, and he therefore 
commands the respect of his fellow-men. 

The natal day of Mr. Sawyer was Januarj' 22, 
1825, and liis birthplace the city of New York. He 
is a son of John B. Sawyer, an Kastern man, whose 
circumstances were such that the lad was put out at 
the age of nine years, having his own way to make 
from that early age. His younger days were spent 
in the southeastern part of Worcester County, Mass., 
where he gained a knowledge of manufacturing, 
the firm of Bowker & Fhipps starting a boot and 
shoe manufactory in 1846, of which he took charge. 
When they oi)eued a wareroom he continued as man- 
ager for them until 1850, at which time he accepted 
a position with 15. I). Godfrey, one of the leading 
men in the State as a manufacturer in the same line 
of business, in Milford, Mass. With this gentle- 
man Mr. Sawyer remained until the spring of 1857, 
when he lost his wife and changed his abode to 
Hopkinton, Mass., where he remained for six years, 
still in his old line of business. 

Tiie next move of our subject was to Chicago, 
where he took charge of the manufacturing part 
of the boot and shoe business of Davis, Sawyer & 
Co., retaining the position for a period of six 
years, until the time of the great fire. An oppor- 
tunity then offering, he came to Joliet in the em- 
ploy of M. Selz & Co., who had a prison contract, 
Mr. Sawyer being the only person in the concern 
who understood shoe manufacturing. He therefore 
acted as General Superintendent of the manufac- 
tory, organizing the l)usiness, and buying all their 
goods and material for nearly fifteen years. Their 
house was the largest in Chicago in tlieir line of 
business. 

In 1887, his health failing, Mr. Sawyer withdrew. 
He was the manufacturer of the Sawyer boot, which 
was first made by tlie firm of Davis. Saw3er & Co., 
during his management, the first prison enterprise 
in tliat line that was successful, the material which 



he used being the best and the goods well made 
and reliable. The concern emplojed five hundre<l 
convicts and a large amount of skilled citizen labor 
and was altogether a magnificent business. Prior 
to his withdrawal from active management Mr. 
Sawyer became a member of the new firm of Adier 
ife Sawder, retaining his interest until 1889. 

Mr. Sawyer has not engaged in active business 
affaiis for some time, and the past two winters 
have been spent b}' him in Florida. He has been 
too busy to indulge in any [lolitical aspirations, but 
votes with the Republican party at all times. He 
is a member of the Masonic fraternit}', having 
membership in Corinthian Chapter, No. G9, of Chi- 
cago, although not at present very active in the 
order. His worldly possessions are the result of 
his activity and abilit}' in business, and of his wise 
management of the remuneration which he has 
received, and reflects credit upon him and his 
efforts. 

The first wife of Mr. Sawyer was in her girlhood 
Miss Chloe S. C'omey, of P'oxboro, Mass. She was 
removed from him by death April 4, 1857, leaving 
two daughters, who are still living. They are Alma, 
wife of Clarence A. Claflin. of Omaha, Neb., and 
Mary B., wife of Clarence A. Thompson, now of 
Hopkinton, Mass. After having remained a widower 
for a number of years, Mr. Sawyer contracted a 
second matrimonial alliance, being united on Jan- 
uary 27, 1869, with Sarah A. Cook, of Blackstone, 
Mass. The union has resulted in the birth of six 
children, all living and still at home. Thej' are 
named respectively: Henrj' J. Jr., Gordon II., Mabel 
A., Gertrude L., KIsie L. and Ernest M. 

'jf;;OHN O. BARRETT, a prominent figure 
among the hardware interests of Joliet, has 
for many years been connected with this 
l^v^!!^ department of trade and acquired a good 
understanding of it in all its details. He is a man 
who attends strictl}- to business and one who bears 
the reputation of being strictlj' reliable and worthy 
of being trusted in any business which his judg- 
ment may justify liim in undertaking, lie carries 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGUAPHICAL ALBUM. 



635 



a well-selected stock of goods, valued at $35,000 
aii'l (luring the year 1889 transacted a business of 
lilOT.OOO. There is a prospect that during the 
year 1890, his sales will even exceed this figure. 

Mv. Barrett was born in Joliet, 111., March 10,1851, 
and is the son of W. F. and Clamana (Onderdonk) 
Barrett, the former of whom was a native of Len- 
nox, Mass., and a tinner by trade. When leaving 
his native State he went over into Canada and 
worked for a time in the city of London. From 
there he emigrated to Jackson, Mich., and thence 
to .loliet in 1850. The parental household con- 
sisted of three sons and three daughters, two of 
whom are deceased. Sarah E., (Mrs. Baird) is a 
resident of Walsenburg, Col; Charity Maria (Mrs. 
Carson) is a resident of Joliet; John O., our sub- 
ject, was the next in order of birth. W. F., Jr., 
is in the wholesale millinery house of D. B. Fisk & 
Co., Chicago; Elizabeth Acker remains at home; 
Edward C. is with his brother, John O., in the 
hnrdware store. The father died in Joliet June 4, 
1.S79. He was prominent in local affairs and had 
licen a member of the City Council a number of 
years. The mother is still living on the West Side, 
ill Joliet. 

Mr. Barrett acquired his education in the com- 
mon school and subsequently for a time was en- 
gnged as a clerk in the hardware store of T. P. 
Ford. lie was married September 16, 1873, to 
Miss Mary C, daughter of Benjamin Warren of 
Worcester, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett have no 
children. Mr. Barrett votes the straight Republi 
can ticket, but has declined to assume the respon- 
sibilities of office. 



> ^-*-^- 



E^TCHOLAS KORST, whose home is on sec- 
11 tion 5, Jackson Township, is the fortunate 
g owner of two hundred and seventy-three 
acres of valuable land, a part of which lies in Jol- 
iet Township. The most of the buildings upon 
the estate were erected by himself, and they in- 
clude every needful and convenient structure, all 
well built, well designed, and kept in perfect re- 
pair. The other imiu'ovements which have been 



made upon the estate are equally as good, and it 
needs but a glance to assure even the most unob- 
scrving of the fact that industry, frugality, and en- 
terprise are prominent traits in the character of 
the owner. A meniion of his name secures the 
additional information that he is numbered among 
the public-spirited and reliable citizens of the sec- 
tion in which he has made his home for many 
years. 

The birth of this gentleman took place in the 
Kingdom of Prussia, September 24, 1827, and he 
acquired a good understanding of the more im- 
portant branches of education, under the system 
which C4ermany so generously provides. He 
learned the trade of a stone-cutter, following it both 
in his native land and after coming to America, 
for many years. Believing that in the United 
St.atos he would have a better opportunit\' to use 
to his worldly advantage the energies which na- 
ture had bestowed upon him, he emigrated in 1857. 
He bade adieu to his native land June 27, and 
landed in New York at noon, August 12. He 
came direct to Chicago and thence to Joliet, near 
which city he lived until 1873. He then settled 
on the farm where he now lives, still following 
his trade in connection with his farm work. 

When Mr. Korst made his first appearance in 
Joliet he was accompanied by his wife and three 
children, and his capital in trade amounted to 
twenty shillings. The property wiiich he has ac- 
cumulated and the manner in which his family 
has been reared, is one of the best proofs that he 
possesses the qualities above mentioned. He is a 
man of more than ordinary intelligence, in whose 
society an hour can always be spent to advantage 
and his personal character is such as to cause him 
to be regarded with great respect. He has been 
useful in the community as School Director and 
Overseer of Highways. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat. He and his family are communicants of the 
Catholic Church. 

The faithful companion of Mr. Korst is a lady 
of his own country, born September 3, 1830, and 
bearing the maiden name of Catherine Surges. 
The rites of wedlock were celebrated between them 
November 27, 1852, and since that day Mrs. Korst 
has shared as a devoted helpmate in the toils and 



636 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



successes of lier husband. They are the parents of 
eleven chikheu — Susannah, Simon, John, William, 
Barbara, Michael, Mary, Frank, Nicholas and 
Peter, now living, and Mathias, who died in in- 
fancy. Susannaii is now the wife of Edward Baum; 
Simon lives in Chicago; John in Jacivson Town- 
shiji; William, in Minnesota; Barbara is tlie wife 
of Joseph Hody maker; Mary is the wife of Jacob 
Eis. 

—^ M — ^— 



v«p?JDWARD HOWARD AKIN. This name 
iM ^'" '^° remembered by the older residents 
/*' — ^ of Will County as belonging to one of its 
most prominent citizens and successful men. He 
was born in Jolinstown, N.Y., July 3, 1815, and de- 
parted this life at his home, in Joliet, December 
26, 1880. He was the offspring of a good old 
family, being the son of Al)raham and the grand- 
son of Edward Akin, the former of whom spent 
his last years in Locki)ort, Will County, 111. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden 
name of Asenath Matthews. When his son was 
but a boy, Abraham Akin removed with his famil}- 
to Onondagi County', N. Y., and purchased a farm 
of five hundred acres near Syracuse, upon which 
he settled, and where Edward H. grew to man- 
hood. The latter when twenty-one years old left 
the farm and entered a store at Liverpool, N. Y. 
This movement was the result of a long mental 
conflict under the conviction that he was fitted for 
something better in life than labor in the field. 
He laid down his hoe one day and told his mother 
that if hfi could make liis living in some other way 
he would never hoe another row of corn. 

Tiie parents of our subject remained on the 
farm in New York State as long as the father was 
able to engage in active labor. They then 
came to this county, and the father died three 
j'ears later, in Lockport, in 1846. The mother 
died July 28, 1872, at the same place. Mr. Akin, 
of whom we write, putting his resolve into execu- 
tion, entered a store in Liverpool, N. Y., where he 
began his mercantile career. Later, in company 
with his father, under the (irm name of Akin & 
Son, he carried on general merchandising at Liver- 



pool, N. Y. He also engaged in the manufacture 
of salt at Liverpool, and continued a resident of 
Onondaga County, N. Y., until removing to Ber- 
rien County, Mich,, in the fall of 1847. Later, he 
went to Chicago with his family, and there his 
eldest son, John, was born. On account of the 
breaking out of cholera, he left Ciiicago and re- 
turned to the residence of his parents in Lock- 
port, 111. 

In April, 18.")0, INIr. Akin, in company with a 
parly from Lockport, crossed the plains to Cali- 
fornia, driving mules and oxen, and arrived at his 
destination after a three months' journey. He oc- 
cupied himself at mining successfully along the 
Ynba River, also at Placerville and Sacramento. 
Bcturning to Lockport in October, 1851, he pur- 
chased his mother's farm. In 1854 he removed to 
Joliet and established a stave manufactory and 
cooper shop. This enterprise proved successful 
and gave employment to twenty men continually 
until 1861. For six years afterward Mr. Akin en- 
gaged in the manufacture of flour at Hennepin. He 
returned to Joliet in 1867 and, in company with 
others, carried on a woolen mill, of which he was 
Superintendent. He subsequently embarked in the 
real-estate business and followed this until his 
death, which occurred December 26, 1880. 

Mr. Akin laid out the subdivision, of which he 
was owner, which is now called Brooklj-n, and 
erected the Akin Block in 1877. He was regarded 
as an enterprising business man and contributed 
his full share toward the growth of his adopted 
city. He was a Mason in good standing, having 
attained to the Knight Templar degree, and in 
politics he was an ardent Republican. He regu- 
larly attended the Central Presbyterian Church, 
of which he was a supporter, and also a Trustee 
during the later years of his life. He was one of 
the founders of the People's Loan & Homestead 
Association, of which he was also a Director, and 
one of the Directors of Oakwood Cemetery. He 
was likewise Treasurer of two Masonic bodies. 

Mr. Akin was married Juno 10, 1840, in Cort- 
land, N. Y., to Miss Sophronia C. Merrill. This 
lady was born September 18, 1818, and is the 
daughter of Abel and Charlotte (Curtis) Merrill, 
who sjient their last 3'ears in New York State. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



639 



Her father died when Mrs. Akin was only three 
years old. The four children born of this union 
are all living. Charlotte was born September 3, 
1842, at Liverpool, N. Y., and resides with her 
mother in Joliet; Lucy H., who was born in Liver- 
pool, June 18, 1846, also resides with her mother; 
John J., l)orn August 26, 1848, married Maargar- 
eta S. Miller, of Philadelphia, Pa., is Secretary and 
Treasurer of the Cable Company owned by the 
Chicago Syndicate, and makes his headquarters at 
Los Angeles, Cal.; Kdward C. married Louise, 
daughter of the late Judge Josiah McRoberts, 
is State's Attorney for Will County and is a resi- 
dent of the city of Joliet. He lead law under tiie 
instruction of George S. House, was admitted to the 
bar and is one of the most successful practitioners 
in the county. Mrs. Akin has been a member of 
the Presbyterian Church since 1835, and since 
1854 of the Central Presbyterian branch. She is a 
lady greatly respected in her community and en 
joys the friendship and acquaintance of its best 
|iiM>ple. 

We clip the following, in regard to Mr. Akin, 
from the Joliet Republican: "Both in public and 
[jrivale life Mr. Akin was held in high respect and 
admiration. As a husband, none were more lov- 
ing and kind. As a father, he trained his chil- 
dren to be men and women of the world, and able 
to All their parts in the play of life. As a citizen, 
Mr. Akin has left a bright and honorable record, 
and 3'et, though he has passed from among us, he 
left behind his better part — tlie legacy of his hon- 
orable example." 



y;ILLIAM E. HENRY. Examples of per- 
sistence in a chosen vocation and of hon- 
est labor followed by success, are numer- 
ous, and it is ever a pleasure to record the lives of 
those who furnish them. A portrait of the sub- 
ject of this biographical record appears on the 
opposite page. He is one of those men who have 
spent many years in one calliDg and whose lives are 
marked by honorable dealing and moral principle. 



He is now engaged in the real-estate business at 
Joliet, where he has long resided. 

Joseph and Nancy (Apgar) Henry, the parents 
of our subject, were of German descent and natives 
of New Jersey, in which State the father was en- 
gaged in farming. He died at the age of about 
sixty 3^ears, and his wife passed away in 1864. 
Their family comprised three sons and four daugh- 
ters, of whom the subject of this sketch is the first 
born. George died at the age of nineteen years ; 
Jacob A., is living in Joliet; Mrs. Lydia A. Lowe 
resides in Fredericksburg, Ohio; Mrs. Rebecca 
Swackhammer lives in New Jersey; Mrs. Catherine 
Washburn, now deceased, resided in Massachusetts; 
Mrs. Ellen White, a widow, lives in Joliet. 

The subject of this sketch opened his eyes to the 
light in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, 
N. J., November 24, 1820, and passed his boyhood 
days in his native State. At the age of twenty 
years he begfin his career as a railroad man by ob- 
taining a position in the track department of the 
Hartford & New Haven Railroad. For thirty-three 
years he continued to do railroad work, during that 
time laying about two thousand miles of track in 
seventeen dirferent States. His last venture in that 
line was a contract for laying one hundred and 
sixty-five miles of the track of the Grand Trunk 
Railroad, from Valparaiso, Lid., to Lansing, Mich., 
and terminated unfortunatel3', as he has never j'et 
received his pay. 

In 1849, Mr. Henry removed to Wellington, 
Ohio, and made it his home until 1854, when he 
returned to his native State, ten years later coming 
to Joliet, 111. Here he connected liimself with the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, as Roadmaster, con- 
tinuing with that company until 1870, when he 
took the contract before mentioned, which proved 
an unremunerative one. During the years of 
1863, 1864, he had charge of the railroad tracks, 
bridges, etc., in the army of the Potomac. At the 
time of the battle of Anteitam, Md., he was laj'itig 
the horse-car road from Pennsylvania Avenue to the 
Post-office and Navy Yard in Washington City, as 
its contractor. The Chickahominy bridge was 
built by him, as contractor, before the war. 
In 1873, he was elected Mayor of Joliet, and under 
bis faithful oversight, the interests of the city were 



640 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



rapidly cleveloped. In 1876, having permanonlly 
retired from llie railroad business, be opened a real- 
estate office in wiiicii ho yet continues. 

In politics Mr. Henry is a life long Democrat, 
.lames K. Polk having received his first ballot in 
the State of Connecticut, when a property qualifi- 
caiion was required in order to secure the right of 
suffrage. lie belongs to the Masonic fraternity 
which he first joined in Cleveland, Ohio, January 
24, 1850. 

The first marriage of Mr. Henry took place Jan- 
uary 20, 1845, his bride being Miss Elizabeth Stan- 
nard, of Westbrook, Conn., vvho shared his for- 
tunes until 185 1, when death removed her from 
husband and family. She was the mother of five 
cliildren, two of whom are yet living, their names 
being George W., and Jacob J., and both being 
residents of Joliet. On January 20. 1856, Mr. 
Henrj' contracted a second matrimonial alliance, 
his companion being Miss Susan C. Shurts. This 
union has been blessed by the birth of seven child- 
ren, of whom those named below are yet living. 
John is the general manager of the Hubbard Pub- 
lishing Company in St. Louis, Mo. ; Elmer is en- 
gaged in the crockery l)usiness in Joliet; Joseph E., 
is a furniture dealer of this city; Flora and Lillie 
remain with their parents. 



' ■ ' °^ 



-^ 




/>?^EORGE J. MUNROE, Attorney-at-Law, in 
Joliet, and'Presidcnt of the Citizens' Loan 
and Trust Company, of Kansas City, Mo., 
holds an honored i)lace in the commercial circles of 
this county. During the twelve years in which he 
has made a specialty of loans, he has successfully 
bandied $1,818,000 mainly for Eastern parties. He 
also handles municipal bonds and other negotiable 
securities. At present Mr. Munroe advances his 
own money largely in making loans and in pur- 
cbasing securities, afterwards selling them to in- 
vestors at home and in the Flast and realizing 
handsome returns. 

The subject of this notice was born February 11, 
1853, in Baraboo, AVis., and is the son of John and 
Adelia (Paddock) Munroe who are still living and 



ike County, i 
od and re- 1 



residents of Baraboo, Wis. John INIunroe was born 
in 1833 in Munroe County, N. Y., where be lived 
until reaching man's estate. He then emigrated to 
Southern Wisconsin, but five jcars later changed 
the scene of bis operations to Sauk Count}', of which 
be was a resident forty-two years, and engaged in 
farming pursuits. Then wisely retiring from active 
labor he removed to the city of Baraboo, where be 
and his wife are highly respected and are promi- 
nently connected with the Unitarian Church. 

The parents of our subject were married at Bar- 
aboo, Wis., in 1851. Mrs. Adelia (Paddock) Mun- 
roe was born in 1833 in Antioch, Lak 
III.., where she was reared to womanhood 
ceived a good education. She taught school some 1 
time prior to her marriage. Of this union there 
were born three children, all of whom are living, 
viz: George J., our subject; Ward, who conducts 
a cold storage warehouse in Baraboo; and Bessie, 
the wife of Frank Teal of that city. The elder 
Munroe was prominent in local affairs during the 
years of bis active life, holding the ofHce of Town- 
ship Treasurer and Scliool Director, and during tiie 
Civil War was entrusted with a large amount of 
funds to payoff the discharged soldiers at Madison, 
Wis. He was a strong Union man and uniformly 
voted with the Rc^publican party. For many years 
be was one of the Commissioners of Sauk Count}'. 

The Munroe family is of Scotch origin and was 
first represented in lliis country b}- the great-grand- 
father of our subject, George Munroe, who crossed 
the Atlantic at an early da}' and settled in Munroe 
County, N. Y., and which in all probability was 
named after bira. Tlie groat-great-grandfather was 
also named George, and was one of the pioneer 
farmers of Munroe Count}', N. Y. Their descend- 
ants have inherited in a marked degree the worthy 
and substantial traits of their ancestors, being men 
who have held important positions and who have 
almost uniformly been found worthy of the trusts 
relegated to them. 

The subject of this notice pursued his early 
studies in the schools of his native city and when 
a youth of sixteen years repaired to Oberlin, Ohio, 
and entered the famous Oberlin College, of which 
he was a student two years. Later he attended the 
Normal School at Lebanon, tUiio, and from which 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



641 



he was duly gnuliiated and subsequently followed 
the profession of a teacher in tlie Buckeye State. 
For some time he was Prinei|«l of the scliool at 
Marlboro, Ohio, which numbered six hundred 
pupils. Thence, in the year 1874, he removed to 
Chicngo, 111., for the purpose of reading law. He 
was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court at 
Springfield in 1877, and soon thereafter came to 
Joliet, where he followed his profession success- 
fully to the present time. In the carl^' days of 
Kansas City his attention was called to its growing 
prosperity and he accordingly made some iiivest- 
inents which have proved very valuable. The 
Citizens' Loan & Trust Association commenced 
business February 1, 1889, and at the close of the 
first year was enabled to make a most satisfactory 
report of the condition of the company wliich has 
already established itself (irmly in the confidence 
of the business men of that place. No small credit 
is due to President Munroe for the successful man- 
ner in which it has been conducted. 

The subject of this notice was joined in wedlock 
with Miss Addie Simond, of Joliet, November 21, 
1877. The following year Mr. Munroe entered 
uiion the regular practice of his profession in the 
same office which he now occupies and where he 
has trans.acted a very successful business. Mr. and 
Mrs. Munroe occupy a snug home in the Seventh 
Ward of the citj', and are now the parents of two 
bright children, a daughter and son, Jennie and 
Harold. Mr. and Mrs. Munroe are both members 
in good standing of St. John's Universallst Church. 
Mrs. Munroe was born May 22, 1856, in Joliet, 
and is the daughter of Salmon 0. and C. J. (Treat) 
Simond, who were natives of New York. Mr. 
Simond was one of tlie pioneer farmers of Munroe 
County, N. Y., but after coming to Joliet became 
identified with its educational interests and was 
elected Superintendent of Schools. He won his 
waj' into the confidence and esteem of the com- 
munity by his straightforward and upright life 
and held various offices, the duties of which he 
discharged in a manner creditable to himself and 
satisfactory to all concerned. He died at his horne 
in Joliet, May 30, 1888. His widow is now living 
with her son-in-law, Mr. Munroe. She bore the 
maiden name of Jane Treat, and was born in Cat- 



taraugus County, N. Y. To her and her husband 
there was born a family of two children, Mrs. Mun- 
roe being the only one now living. The Simond 
family were among the earliest settlers of this 
county, and made for themselves a good record in 
connection with its growth and development. 



.^^ IIARLES H. BLOGG. In a city like .folict 
(ll n ''''^ subject of fuel is an important one and 

^^/' a trade in that necessary article furnishes 
occupation to many dealers. The subject of this 
sketch, although he has not been engaged in busi- 
ness here for any great length of time, has already 
built up a fine trade. He handles all grades of hard 
coal together with the Wilmington and Indiana 
block coal. His boyhood was passed upon a farm, 
and in the pursuit of agriculture he was ennaged 
until 1888, when he established his present business. 
His nature is an energetic one, and his early train- 
ing developed liiose traits which are needful to a 
successful business career and secured for him the 
practical education without which a man can 
scarcely succeed. 

Mr. Blogg is still quite young, having been born 
June 22, 1851. His birthplace was Norwich, Eng- 
land, his parents removing to Lockport, 111,, when 
he was about six years of age, and he is the oldest 
of six sons and two daughters born' to them. 
He is a member of the Modern Woodmen organi- 
zation and of the First Presbyterian Church. His 
private character is above reproach, while in knowl- 
edge of general topics and current events he keeps 
pace with the times. The estimable lady who pre- 
sides over his cozy home is the daughter of one 
of Will County's wealthy farmers, whose home is 
at Plainfield. Her maiden name was Mary Ann 
Goodson, and her parents were William and Sarah 
Goodson, whose voyage across the Atlantic was 
their wedding journey. Mr. and Mrs. Blogg were 
married February' 14, 1877, and are the parents of 
one child, Mabel. 

The parents of our subject are John and Maria 
(Hilling) Blogg, natives of England, whence they 



came to America in 1857. 



lu England John Blogg 



642 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



wa-: a farm laborer and had spent twentj' one years 
in the employ of one man. Reaching the United 
States he located at Lockport, 111., spending sonic 
years in the employ of John Fiddymcnt. lie then 
engageil in farming for himself, first as a renter 
and later as the owner of real estate. The brothers 
and sisters of our subject are: William, whose 
home is in Florence, Will County; Mrs. Sarah 
Faulkner of Wilmington, this county ; Edward, an 
engineer in the wire works at Lockport; Samuel, 
an engineer in Joliet; Mrs. Mary Dickson of Lock- 
port; Albert lives in Wilmington; George and 
Hcnrv reside in Florence. 



;""r".M 't?tft: M 'i M t t'. t 



5^ HARLF:S F. blood. This gentleman needs 
little introduction to the people of Will 

i^J Count}', as he has long been recognized as 
one of the leading men of Joliet. He is universally 
l)opular in both social and business circles and is 
possessed of more than ordinar}' abilit}', together 
with the energy and enterprise which seldom fails 
to win. After filling many positions of trust and 
responsibility in connection with the city fire de- 
partment, he was promoted to the rank of Chief of 
Police, which office he held until June, 1890. 

A native of the Empire State, Mr. Blood \v:is 
born in Aurora, Erie County, F^ebruary 14, 1844, 
and is a son of Horace and Nancy (Fairbanks) 
Blood, who were natives of Putnam, Vt., and were 
of Scotch extraction, the father born in 1804 and 
the mother in 1808. They spent their childhood 
and youth in the place of their birth and there, 
also, in 1828, they were married. Horace Blood 
was a harness-maker by trade but, in 1834, upon 
leaving the Creen Mountain State, emigrated to 
New York and engaged in farming. He served 
with distinction in the Patriot War and was prom- 
inent in local affairs, serving as School Treasurer 
and Commissioner and occui)ying other positions 
of trust. Soji)nrning in New York State until 1869 
the father of our subject then deciding to push on 
further westward, emigrated to Jasper County, Ind., 
where he followed farming until his death, in Sep- 
tember, 1889. He was a good man in the broadest 



sense of the term and made for himself an honora- 
ble record for integrity and usefulness. The mother 
departed this life at the old homestead in Indiana, 
in 1887. Eleven children comprised the parental 
family, embracing four sons and seven daughters. 

Mr. Blood was the second son of his parents, and 
at the breaking out of the Civil War enlisted when 
only a youth of seventeen years in the Tenth New 
York Cavalry. He gave a faithful service of three 
years to his country, serving under Gens. Stone- 
man, Pleasantou and Sheridan, in Kilpatrick's Bri- 
gade. He was with the latter at the capture of 
Pickett's Division and fought at Gettysburg and 
Antietam, following the arm^' of the Potomac in 
all of its great movements and when it covered 
itself with glory. At Trevilian Station, Va., ho 
was wounded in the foot, but not so seriously asio 
prevent his continuance with his regiment. He 
endured with fortitude the various hardships and 
privations of army life, and at the expiration of 
his term of service received an honorable discharge. 

Returning now to his old home in New York 
State, Mr. Blood resumed his studies in the acad- 
emy, where he remained one year. He then came 
to this count}', locating in Plainfleld in 1808 and 
engaged in butchering. Later he went to his father's 
home in Indiana where he sojourned two years. In 
the meantime he was married, June 29, 1871, to 
Miss Caroline Foncannon. This lady was born in 
Montezuma, Ind., in 1848, and was the daughter of 
an old soldier of the late war who gave up his life for 
his countr}'. Immediately after marriage the 30ung 
couple came to Joliet and Mr. Blood bscame the 
emplo3'e of J. D. Paige in the bottling works, where 
he continued until 1879. 

Being called upon now to discharge the duties of 
Assistant Township Assessor of Joliet Township, 
Mr. Blood entered u|)on the duties of this position 
which he held three years. Next he was made en- 
gineer of the City Fire Department and was thus 
occupied until the spring of 1888. Still advanc- 
ing, he was next appointed Chief of Police, and in- 
troduced many reforms in connection with the 
force, which under his supervision increased in 
numbers and efficiency. At the close of his police 
duties, in June, 1890, he formed a partnership with 
T. P. Houghton, and commenced dealing in coal. 



■SS^^ 






■■fev-, 



I 5' 




Jacob Spaulding. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



645 



coke, etc. His business lieadquarteis are at No. 
731, Washington Street, and his patrons are num- 
bered among the leading residents of the cit}'. 

To INIr. and Mrs. Blood there has been born a 
family of six interesting children, the eldest of 
whom, a son, Harry, died when four years old. The 
survivors are Otto, Ernest, Christine, Horace and 
Mj'ra. Tiiey occupy a snug home on Bluff Street 
and enjoy tlie association of many friends. Mr. 
Blood belongs to Lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F. at 
Lockport, and Bartleson Post, No. G, G. A. R. at 
Joliet, also Lodge No. 2, U. V. U. at Joliet. 



\l]ACOB SPAULDING is distinguished as 
being the oldest living pioneer of Wheat- 
land Township, where he has made his home 
for nearly half a century, and it gives us 
pleasure not only to record his life in this volume, 
but also to present his portrait on the opposite 
page. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, carrying on 
his business at his well-appointed farm on section 
21, so as to derive a good income therefrom, and, 
free from the necessity of constant labor th.at 
beset his early years, he can enjoy the fruits of a 
well-spent life as it declines toward its close. 

Mr. Sijaulding was born in Norfolk County, 
England, August 23, 1810, to Jacob and Mary 
Spaulding, who were also natives of that country. 
The earlj' j'cars of his life were spent in the laud of 
his nativity, and he was reared as a farmer and 
laborer, receiving but few advantages in the line 
of education while he remained on his native soil. 
After coming to tliis countr}- he attended the 
evening schools in this State, and acquired the 
rudiments of an education. In 1836 he took his 
life and fortunes in his own hands and emigrated 
to America, taking passage at Yarmouth on a sail- 
ing-vessel, and after a voyage of eight weeks and 
four days landing in tjuebec, Canada. He did not, 
however, make a lengthy stay in the Queen's domin- 
ion, but crossed the border to Jefferson County, 
N. Y. 

After working there as a farm hand for a few 
mouths, Mr. Spaulding then took up his residence 



in Onondaga County. He was there for some 
three years, working as a farm hand, and in 1840 
sought the pioneer State of Illinois. He hired out 
here for the first summer, but the next summer, 
being more independent, he began farming on 
shares. He was thus engaged for two seasons, and 
finally settled on his present farm in 1844. This 
he had purchased the year before from the Govern- 
ment, paying -^1.25 an acre for the eighty acres 
that then comprised his homestead. When he 
settled on it the surrounding country was very 
sparsely inhabited, and his farm was in a lonely 
place, there being no other house between it and 
Plainfield. A furrow had not been turned on the 
land, and our subject had to begin at the very 
beginning and evolve his farm from the wild 
prairie, the land being just as the Indians had 
left it. 

A great deal of pioneer work has been accom- 
plished by the systematic labor of Mr. Spaulding, 
and under his skillful hand the farm has become 
finely improved; he has added to its acreage until 
he now has one hundred and sixty acres of as fer- 
tile and finely tilled farming land as m.ay be found 
in the township. Here he and his wife have built 
up a substantial home, supplied with all the nec- 
essities and comforts of life. To this good woman 
who presides over his household, Mr. Spaulding 
was united in marriage January 1, 1818. Mrs. 
Spaulding's maiden name was Jane Vinson, and 
she was born in Cornwall County, England, Febru- 
ary 13, 1827. Her parents were William and Mary 
(Corry) Vinsen, natives of England. In 1833, 
when Mrs. Spaulding was in her sixth year, she 
accompanied her parents to America, sailing from 
Bedford, and after a voyage of eleven weeks land- 
ing on Prince Edward Island. On the very next 
trip of the vessel in which their journey had been 
made, she sank about a half mile from Charlotte- 
town, Prince Edward Island, but another ship 
rescued her passengers. The family lived on the 
Island until 1844, and in that year came to Illinois 
and resided in Kendall County for a short time. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding have been born ten 
children, six of whom are still living — Martha, 
wife of Lansing Lockwood; Edmund; Flora, wife 
of Hugh Lemmer; Cora, wife of Lewis Harford ; 



646 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Frank; and Nina E., wife of James Peck. The 
names of llic dccensed eiiildien are: Jacob W., 
Mary P., Kiclianl W. and Charles H. 

Coming here when in the prime of a vigorous 
manhood, and having passed so man}- of the yvars 
of his life here, Mr. Spaulding is well known and 
is greatly esteemed, his reputation for veracity, 
integrity, and unostentatious piety being of the 
highest. As School Director and as Librarian of 
the Library, which positions lie has hehl for several 
years, educational matters have received careful 
attention from iiim. He was at one time Pound 
Master. He and his wife are among tlie most res- 
pected members of the Baptist Cliurch, and lead 
consistent Christian lives. 






\t/OHN FRIDLEY. This gentleman is one of 
those residents of Florence Township whose 
position demonstrates the ability which as 
farmers and financiers have marked their 
lives. Beginning his worldly career as a poor man 
on rented land, he has accumulated a large share 
of this world's goods, including a 6ne tract of 
two hundred and thirty-seven acres of productive 
land. It is situated on section 9, and attracts 
more than a passing glance from the passer-by on 
account of the large barns and other good out- 
buildings that adorn it, the neatness and order 
manifested in all its parts, and the homelike and 
well built residence, under whose roof one is sure 
that geniality and good cheer abound. 

Mr. Fridley was born in Switzerland, in Febru- 
ary, 1822, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Frid- 
ley, who spent their entire lives in that romantic 
land. The family is of German stock, as are most 
of the residents of the section of Switzerland in 
which they lived. He of whom we write is the 
sixth child of a family of nine sons and daughters. 
In his native land he was reared and remained un- 
til he was thirty-three years old. He then em- 
barked for America accompanied by his bride, and 
made his home in Jofiet for a few months. In 
1856 he removed to Reed's Grove, Jackson Town- 
ship, where he prosecuted his labors until 1870, at 



which time he removed to the farm he now occu- 
l)ies. On this tract of land he has made the ex- j 
ccUcnt improvements that m.ark it as the home of ' 
a man of energy and good judgment. 

The lady who on November 28, 1855, became 
the wife of our subject, was known in her maiden- 
hood as Miss Mary Yonker. She was born in 
Switzerland in 1829, and still lives to enjoy with 
husband and children the comforts earned by years 
of industry and prudence. The only son of our 
subject and his wife is ,Iohn F., who on January 
4, 1884, married Miss Mattie A. Yonker, of Mor- 
ris; he remains at the old home assisting his fatlier I 
in the care of the estate. The only daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Fridley is Mary A. This lady on 
October 14, 1885, became the wife of Benjamin 
Yonker, of Morris, a half brother of her sister in- 
law. They are now living on a farm in the same 
townsliij) as her parents. The vote and influence 
of Mr. P'ridley was given to the Republican party 
in whose principles he is a firm believer. He be- . 
longs to the Evanglical Church. Not only by liis | 
associate members, but by all to whom he is known, 
he is respected for his uprightness and ability, 
while the members of his family are likewise re- 
garded with favor by their acquaintance. 



7 ITZ J. ROBINS, one of the oldest settlers 
of Wheatland, did good service as a pio- 
i\ neer of the county in the early years of its 

settlement, actively assisting in the development of 
its rich agricultural resources, and is now enjoying 
the fruits of his early labors in his pleasant home, 
finely located on section 27, on one of the best 
cultivated farms in the township. 

Mr. Robins is an Englishman b3' liirth, his native 
place being on the Isle of Wight in the English 
Channel, where he was born October 2, 1826, to 
James and Sarah (Holly) Robins. His paternal 
grandfather was Joseph Robins. 

The subject of this sketch is the fourth child in 
his father's family, and passed the early j'ears of 
his childhood on his native isle, remaining an in- 
mate of the parental householii till his sixteenth 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



647 



year. He was then apprenticed to a general ear- 
pei.ter and wagon-maker in Devonshire, England, 
and had served for two years to learn the trade. 
Ambitious to see something more of life and to 
visit this country, of which he had heard so much, 
flunking that his prospects of earning something 
more than a mere livelihood would be better here 
than in the land of his birth, he emigrated to the 
United States in 1843, taking passage at South- 
anii)ton on a sailing vessel, and after a voyage of 
about five weeks, landing in New York City. He 
came directly to Illinois and for a short time 
worked at his trade in Chicago. Observing the 
many advantages that the remarkably fertile soil 
of Illinois gave to the farmer, he abandoned his 
calling to give attention to agricultural pursuits, 
and in tiie fall of 1845, located on his present farm. 
This was at the time in a wild condition, he being 
tiie first white man to locate on it. His first work 
was to erect a small frame house, one and one half 
story in height and 16x26 feet In dimensions, which 
he made his Lome for a number of years. In 1871 
he remodeled and added lo it and made his i)res- 
ent commodious, conveniently arranged dwelling. 
His farm comprises one hundred and twent^'-live 
acres of land, which he has placed under good cul- 
tivation and has supplied with excellent improve- 
ments. 

October 2, 1851, Mr. Robins and Miss Elizabeth 
Kinlcy were united in marriage. She is a native 
of Prince Edward Island, born July 3, 1832, and 
a daughter of William and Ann (Allen) Kinley. 
Her father was a native of the Isle of Man and her 
mother was born in Nova Scotia, both being 
descendants of a sterling English ancestry. 

ToMr. and Mrs. Robins has been born a large 
family of children, of whom the following eight 
survive : William K.,a resident of Cherokee County, 
Iowa; Alfred M.; Idell C, wife of R. S. Sager, of 
Story County, Iowa; Lucy A., wife of M. J. Ken- 
son, of Story County, Iowa; Ethel M., wife of 
J. C. Eyer; Eva I., wife of Albert Lemer, Buena 
Vista, Iowa; Russell C, and Bertha: The names 
of the deceased children are Georgina, Lizzie, Joiin 
J. and James. 

Through his long residence here Mr. Robins is 
well-known, and he is regarded as a thoroughly 



good man, whose life is guided by principles of 
rectitude and unswerving integrity, whose loyal 
citizenship is an honor to the place, and whose will- 
ing helpfulness and roundabout common sense 
makes him a good neighbor and a safe counselor. 
He favors ail schemes for improving his adopted 
township, and did good service as Road Commis- 
sioner in the term that he held the office. He is a 
Prohibitionist in politics. He and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church at Plainfield, and 
cheerfully give their support to every good work 
that is carried on by its pastor and members. 

a APT. EDWARD McALLISTER is classed 
among the leading farmers of Plainfield, 
' where he has a farm that in point of culti- 
vation and general improvement is considered one 
of the most desirable in the township. Our sub- 
ject is a fine representative of the citizen-soldiers 
of the United States who fought in the late war 
and saved the Union from dissolution, and he won 
an honorable record as an intelligent, brave soldier 
and cflicient leader. 

The Captain was born in the town of Salem, 
Washington County, N. Y., December 24, 1828. 
His father, William McAllister, was a native of the 
same town, and a son of the Hon. Hamilton Mc- 
Allister, a native of Scotland. He was born and 
reared in that country, and came from there to 
America accompanied by two brothers, one of whom 
settled in Philadelphia and the other in New 
York. The grandfather of our subject was agent 
for a company of large land-owners, and held 
power of attorney to do business for them. He 
was one of the three first white men who ever set- 
tled at Salem, where he took up a tract of timber 
land and cleared a fine farm. He soon began to 
take a leading part in public life, and was one of 
the foremost citizens of Washington County. He 
was its first Sheriff, and represented the county in 
the State Legislature. That was the time when 
each member had to pay his own expenses, and as 
money was scarce, many of the legislators had to 
1 resort to various expedients to foot their bills, 



C48 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and it is told of him Ibat liis faithful wife made 
butter and sent it to Albany- to pay his board. In 
the early da3's of settlement of the county there 
were no mills, and on one occasion his wife took a 
sack of wiieat on horseback by an Indian trail to 
Albany, forty miles distant. The maiden name of 
the grandmother of our subject, was Sarah Dick, 
and siie was born in Ireland, and was of Scotch 
ancestry. 

The father of our subject grew to stalwart man- 
hood in his native count}-, and followed agricul- 
ture all his days, placing himself among the most 
substantial and well-to-do farmers of the county. 
lie inherited a part ol the old h imestead and 
bought out the interest of the other heirs in it, and 
there his entire life was passed in tranquillit}- and 
prosperity. The maiden name of his wife was 
Anna Shoudler, and sue was also born in Wash- 
ington County. Her father, Andrew Shoudler, 
is thought to have been a native of the same 
count}', his anccstrj' originating in Holland. He 
was a farmer and also kept a tavern on the Troy 
and Whitehall Road. He spent his last years on a 
farm. The mother of our subject died on the old 
homestead eight years after his father departed this 
life. To that worthy couple were born six chil- 
dren, live of whom were reared to m.aturitj'. Archi- 
bald w.as a pioneer farmer of Plainfleld, coming 
here in 1848, and he died in Chicago. William K. 
was for many years one of the most eminent 
members of the legal profession in Illinois. He 
was at one time Judge of the old Recorder's 
Court, of Chicago; from 1870 to 187.3 ho sat on 
the Supreme Bench of the State. After his resig- 
nation from that ponition he was again elected a 
member of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and 
served in that capacity until he was called to be 
Judge of the Appellate Court, and he held that 
office at the time of his death at his home in 
Ravenswood, Chicago, in 1888 or 1889. Our sub- 
ject's sister, Catherine, married John C. Walker, 
and lives in New York State. His brother, Jesse, 
who was a farmer and stock man, is now deceased. 

He of whom we write passed the earl}' years of his 
life in his native State, but in the prime and vigor 
of the 0]X'niiig years of his manhood he left the scenes 
of his youth and his many frfends, having re- 



solved to see what life held for him on the bound- 
less prairies of the "Great West," and coming to 
Illinois, he cast in his lot with the settlers of Will 
Count}-, locating on the farm that he still occu- 
pies, and which under his careful and skillful man- 
agement is made to yield large harvests and a 
comfortable income. He was Ijusily engaged in 
agricultural pursuits when the first alarm of the 
war was sounded, and he was prompt to offer 
his services to his country. He previously been 
Cai)tain of a company of State militia, and April 
21, 18G1, it was called out by the Governor and 
sent to Cairo, and was there organized as Company 
K, Tenth Illinois Infantry, but September 1 was 
mustered in as Company K, Finst Illinois Artillery, 
generally known and spoken of in histories as Mc- 
Allister's Battery, in honor of its brave Captain. 
Our subject was soon solicited by Gen. Prentiss, 
the commander, to remain and take charge of the 
fort. The Captain hired men, whom he paid out 
of his own pocket, to recruit a company, of which 
he was commissioned Captain, and was in command 
at the battle of Shiloh, where his men, inspired by 
his presence and spirited example, did noble serv- 
ice. The hardships and privations of military life 
proved too great for even the hardy constitution 
of our subject, and soon after that battle he wiis 
obliged to succumb to sickness and to resign his 
position. He returned home, and as soon as suf- 
ficiently recuperated from ill-health, he resumed 
farming, and has ever since been pros|)erously en- 
gaged at that, havnig his farm of one hundi-ed and 
sixty acres of choice farming land under high cul- 
tivation, and has it amply supplied with substantial, 
roomy buildings, and all the needed appliances for 
carrying on agriculture after the best methods. 

Capt. McAllister had the good fortune to secure 
in the wife, to whom he was wedded in 1860, a 
true helpmate and companion, one who knows well 
how to make home pleasant and attractive. Mrs. 
McAllister's maiden name was Fanny M. Bebee, 
and she is, like himself, a native of Salem, N. Y., 
a daug'hter of Norman and Sophie Bebee. Five 
children have been born to our subject and his 
wife, namely: Carrie, Ada, Jessie, Clyde and Will- 
iam King, the latter being deceased. 

Honorable and upright, a loyal citizen, true hus- 




^n 



/^^r^C S: 




^^x-Zi^ 



t_ «^ 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



651 



band, tender father and faithful friend, in our sub- 
ject townsliip and county find an example of their 
best citizenship. The Captain votes with the Re- 
publican party, and is one of its strongest sup- 
porters in this vicinity. He is public-spirited and 
takes a deep interest in civic affairs, and has repre- 
sented riainfleld on \he County Board of Super- 
visors. Socially, he is a member of Plainfield 
Lodge, No. 536, A. F. & A. M. A man of clear 
and progressive views on all questions of general 
interest religiously, he is a Univcrsalist, he and 
his family being members of the Univcrsalist So- 
ciety, of Plainfield. 






r'REDERICK SEHRING. The brewery in- 

« terests of Will County acknowledge as 
_[[ among their leading men the subject of this 
notice, a portrait of whom appears on the opposite 
page. He is prominent in the affairs of Joliet and 
has been a member of the City Council since 1874. 
Of German birth and parentage, he was born in 
Langen Duch}', Hesse-Darmstadt, December 19, 
1834. His father, Weigaud Sehring, was a soldier 
in the War of 1813, in Germany, and married Mar- 
garetlia Keim. They came to America in 1847, 
settling in Frankfort Township, Will Countj', 
where the father occupied himself as a farmer until 
1854. That year he removed with his familj' to 
.loliet and conducted an hotel until 1860, while in 
the meantime, Frederick, who was fond of his 
books, devoted himself to study. At their home 
in Joliet, the parents both passed to their Last rest. 
Mr. Sehring began his business career .as a 
Deputy Clerk in the Recorder's office of the count3^ 
where he remained until 1863. He was then 
elected County Treasurer and served two terms; in 
March, 1874, he was elected to represent his ward 
in the City Council, where he has since served with 
credit to himself and satisfaction to his constitu- 
ents. Ho at an early age evinced unusu.al business 
capacities and in 1868, had accumulated sufficient 
means to go into business, which he tlid in com- 
pany with a partner under tlie fiini name of .Toseph 
Braun & Co. With •ii6,000 capit.al they established 



what has now become one of the finest breweries in 
the Northwest. This was conducted successfully 
until .January, 1883, when it was enlarged and in- 
corporated under the title of the Fred Sehring 
Brewery Company, with our subject as President; 
Henry .Sehring, Vice-President ; II. F. Piepcnbrink, 
Secretary and Treasurer, and L. J. Sehring, Super- 
intendent. The new corporation started in with a 
capital slock of $50,000, and the following month 
bought out the brewery of Henry Eder opposite. 
The brewery now has a capacity of thirty thousand 
barrels per year and give employment to twenty- 
five men. The plant occupies about five acres of 
ground and with its buildings and machinery is of 
great value, being one of the leading institutions 
of Illinois and furnishing the beverage not only to 
city of Joliet, but the towns surrounding. 

The subject of this notice was married January 
16, 1855, in Joliet, to Mrs. Louise Bez, and to 
them have been born six children, all living and 
named respectively: Susan E., Louis J., Maggie, 
the wife of H. F. Piepenbrink, Henry, Anna and 
George. The eldest son, Louis, was born in Joliet 
April 12, 1858, acquiring his education in the city 
schools and at an early age learned the brewing 
business at which he engaged with bis father. He 
served through an apprenticeship with this at New 
York and Chicago, and then returning to Joliet, 
took charge in 1878, of the business of which he 
has since been Superintendent. Like his honored 
father he has been prominent in local aflfairs, repre- 
senting the Third Ward in the City Council for two 
years, (1885-86). Aside from this, however, he has 
devoted himself mainly to business and displa}'S 
ability and juilgment beyond that usually evinced 
by men of his years. He belongs to the various 
civic societies of the city and is highly spoken of 
by all who know him. The father certainly has 
reason to be proud of bis son. 

Our subject, polilieall}^ is a stanch Democrat. 
He has for many )'ears been prominently connected 
with the Indei)endent Order of Odd Fellows, rep- 
resenting it in the Grand Lodge and is likewise 
identified with the Masonic fraternity. He has 
gained considerable distinction in politics, being 
nominated in the fall of 1874 by the liberal Demo- 
crats to the State Senate, against O. M. Marshall, 



1 



652 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



llie Republican, and C. Fiazier, llie Granger can- 
didate. Mr. Marshall was elected by twelve ma- 
jority over Mr. Schriug, who contested the election 
and proved the existence of one hundred and forty 
illegal votes — llie committee reporting these in his 
favor. When put to the regular vote the Repub- 
licans and Grangers stood twenty-six for Marshall 
and twenty-three for Scliring. 



I^j^ ICHAEL RAPPAL. The farming com- 
munity of Joliet Township recognizes a 
Ll\ worthy representative in the subject of 
this notice, who pursues the even tenor of 
iiis way at a well-developed farm on section 7, and 
who exercises a considerable inlluence in his com- 
munity. He is looked upon as one of its most re- 
liable men, and has held the various local oftices, 
serving as Commissioner of Highways six j'ears, 
also as School Director, and in [jolitics is a Demo- 
crat. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic 
Church, to which he and his estimable wife belong, 
attending services at Joliet. 

In noting the antecedents of our subject, we find 
that he is the son of Samuel Rappal, a native of 
what was then the French Province of Alsace, but 
which now belongs to Germany. The mother bore 
the maiden name of Barbara Anser. She was a 
native of the same village as her husband, where 
thej- were married and lived for several years after- 
ward. In 1846 they decided upon emigrating to 
America, and crossed the Atlantic in the spring of 
the year, coming directly to Will County, 111., and 
settling in Joliet. The father occupied himself as 
a faraier, and died there in the spring of 18C7. 
The mother survived her husband a number of 
years, dying at the home of her son, our subject, 
about 1885. 

To Samuel Uappal and his good wife there was 
born a family of five children, the eldest of whom 
was he whose name heads this sketch. He was a 
native of the same province as his parents, and was 
born August 25, 1833. He was a lad of thirteen 
years when the family emigrated to America, and 
he sojourned with them about four years thereafter. 
In the spring of 1850, when a youth of seventeen 



years, he started for California, joining the caravan 
which was hastening thither in search of gold. 
After an absence of about eighteen months he was 
content to return home, and thereafter followed 
the peaceful pursuits of farm life. In addition to 
this he has also been considerably interested in 
buying and sliipi)ing horses, ''iespecially during the 
war, and for some time afterward. il 

Mr. Rappal was married, in Chicago, 111., Sep- 
tember 4, 1853, to Miss Antoinette Drendel. This 
lady was also a native of the Province of Alsace, 
and was born May 7, 1833. Her parents were of 
German ancestry', and are now deceased. She came 
to America with her parents about 1846, and of 
her union with our subject there have been born 
six children, viz: Teresa, Louisa, Mary (the wife 
of .John Kiep), William, Anna and Joseijh. The 
five unmarried children remain at home with their 
parents. Mr. Rappal, about 1867, purchased his 
present farm, which comprises two hundred and 
sixty acres of choice land, upon which he has 
effected good improvements. He has been indus- 
trious, frugal and temperate, and has acquired a 
competency. 

' i^^- 

]OHN J. RINCKER is the owner and occu- 
pant of one of the fine farms in Crete 
Township. He is the representative of a 
famil.y of considerable prominence in Nas- 
sau, Germany. His father, Phillip H. Rincker, was 
born in Prussia and became a mechanic, owning a 
bell and brass foundry and manufacturing machines, 
that being the business in which his father and 
grandfather before him had been cmploj'ed. He 
married Elizabeth Tribnel, who was also born and 
reared in Nassau, and who, like her husband, came 
of a good German famil}-. Mr. Rincker was suc- 
cessful in business, leaving his foundrj' to one of 
his sons who is continuing it with credit to his 
worthy sire. The bells that peal in all the prom- 
inent churches of Germany were cast at the Rinck- 
er foundry. Mrs. Rincker died when seventy 
years old, her husband surviving a few years and 
breathing his last at the age of seventy-five. The}' 
were piominent members of the German Reformed 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



653 



(Presbyterian) Church and were not only liighly 
regarded on acc^oiint of their connection with fam- 
ilies of note and their abundant means, but on 
account of their personal character and genuine 
worth. Their family comprised ten children, seven 
sons and three daughters. Four of the children 
came to America and two of them have since died. 
Of the entire family but two sons and one daugh- 
ter are now living. 

The subject of this biographical notice was born 
in Nassau, November 21, 1819, ami received a fine 
education in his native tongue, as well as in Latin 
and French in his native city. He was the oldest 
but one, in the parental family. He learned the 
trade of a bfll caster, together with a knowledge 
of the various departments of the business carried 
on by his father. While yet a single man he de- 
termined to make a home in America, and taking 
passage at Havre de Grace on the sailing vessel Ba- 
tavia, he reached the western continent after a te- 
dious voyage of four weeks. Landing was made in 
New York, September 12, 1847, this being before 
the establishment of Castle Garden in that city. 

Mr. Iviiicker had many of the experiences known 
to the early emigrant when starting out in this 
country among entire strangers, and was often im- 
posed ui)on l)efore he arrived at Buffalo. He had 
a ticket to Chicago, but was obliged to stop and 
earn money to buy his bread, having become pen- 
niless. He finally' met a man who proved a friend 
in need and gave him a supply of eatables and sent 
him on his way rejoicing. Probably no prouder 
man ever lived than was Mr. Kincker at that time. 
He soon reached the new city of Chicago, which he 
thought the muddiest place on earth. 

H. W. Rincker, a brother of our subject, h.id 
come to this country some time before, and upon 
reaching this State and his brother's home, he of 
whom we write joined him in the establishment of 
a bell casting foundry, the two continuing in part- 
nership four years. During this time they cast the 
bell weighing eight thousand pounds, which, from 
its position in the courthouse, tolled forth the cal- 
amity which in 1871, befell the city that has now 
risen, Plueni.x like, from her ashes into a more 
glorious life. The failing health of IMr. Rincker 
decided him to leave the noise of the shop and the 



city streets, and severing his connection with his 
brother he came to Will County, in the fall of 1851, 
and became a farmer here. lie purchased one 
hundred and thirty-five acres of land in Crete 
Township, the most of which was unbroken, and 
the greater part of it covered with timber. This 
he cleared and im|irove(l, sulisequently adding to 
its extent until his estate now comprises two hun- 
dred and ninety-five acies, the most of which is 
in an excellent state of improvement. His efforts 
have made of the farm what it is to-day, a most 
comfortable home, and the source of a sufficient 
income to supply^ the wants of the family and make 
l)rovisiou for declining j'ears. 

One of the most important steps in the life of 
Mr. Rincker, was his marriage, which took place 
at the home of the bride in Cook County. His 
chosen companion was Miss Helena Pusheck, who 
w.as born in Sleceal, Prussia, November 2, 1824, 
and had lived in Illinois from her fifteenth year. 
Her parents, Cliristian and Hannah R. (Hupsch) 
Pusheck, had emigrated to the United States and 
settled on a farm twelve miles west of Chicago. 
There the father died when sixty years of age, his 
wife surviving him fourteen j-ears and being 
seventy-five years old at the time of her death. 
Both were well-known to a large number of the cit- 
izens of Cook County, and ranked among the best 
of the Germans who had sought homes in Amer- 
ica. They were members of the Lutheran Church, 
and carefully reared their daughters in the prin- 
ciples of right living as well as in habits of use- 
fulness in domestic life. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Rincker eleven children have 
been born, all being yet alive except Ottelia, one 
of a pair of twins, who died when two years old. 
Charles married Miss Lena Rinnc on whose father's 
farm, they are now living; Frank, who is unmarried, 
lives on a farm in Minnesota; August, who married 
Matilda Letz, operates a farm in Watonwan Coun^^', 
Minn.; William, is his father's assistant at home: 
Emma is the wife of Andrew Rademachcr, a farmer 
in Crate Township; Anna married Leno Kuessner, 
a wood engraver whose home is in Chicago; Mary- 
is the wife of William Reithel, who occupies a 
farm in Calhoun County, Iowa; Matilda is the wife 
of Heurj' Meier, of Watonwan County, Minn.; 



654 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Helena, is now in Chicagro; Johanna, is witli her 
parents al home. The ciilire family are members 
of the LutluM'aii Cluircli. Mr. Hincker is a sturdy 
Repuhlican. After having been in this country twelve 
years he made a trip to the home of his boyhood, 
spending about two months with his old friends, 
but very glad to get back to America again at the 
expiration of that time. The various members of 
the family are manifesiing the traits of chara(!ter, 
kindliness of mariner, and business tact and energ}' 
that make them worthy to bear the name which has 
descended to tliem. 



ilOBERT J. BOYLAN, the owner of a good 
home on section 15, Jackson Township, is a 
^\V\ pioneer of the county and as such deserves 
notice in this volume. He was born in Sussex 
County, N. J., January 23, 180G, and lived there 
until he attained his majority, learning surveying 
and civil engineering after finishing the ordinary- 
branches. He went to Onondaga County, N. Y., 
where he lived about seven years, during that 
period taking for his wife Miss Angeline Brown. 
That lady was born in Onondaga Connty, March 
11, 1811, and died in Jackson's Grove, this county, 
February 6, 1841. To her had been born three 
children — James, who died in California; Mary,who 
was bitten by a rattlesnake and died June 15, 183G, 
and Mary Jane, now widow of C. M. Kellogg. 

In November, 1834, Mr. Boylan came to what is 
now Will County, locating in Jackson's Grove 
where he has followed farming in connection with 
surveying. He at one time owned over two hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land but now owns but one 
hundred and four. Upon this he has made all the 
improvements it bears. He has held the office of 
County Surveyor eight j'ears, has been School 
Treasurer twenty -six consecutive years, was Road 
Commissioner and Treasurer of the Board sixteen 
consecutive years, and Township Assessor eight 
years. He has taken quite an active part in politi- 
cal affairs and is the only surviving member of tlie 
convention that was called in 183G to organize the 
Democratic part}- of Will County. He is also the 



only survivor of the petitioners for the setting off 
of this county, whicii was done at Vandalia,January 
C, 1836. In former years he acteil with the Dem- 
ocratic part}', but is now a Prohibitionist. He and 
his estimable wife belong to the Baptist Church, in 
which he has been a member for fifty years and she 
for nearly as long. 

The present Mrs. Boylan became the wife of our 
subject in Wesley, this county, June 10, 1841. She 
bore the maiden name of M.Trgaret M. Freer and 
was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., June 18, 
1819. By this marriage there are six living chil- 
dren naniel}': Lavinia, wife of A. D. C. Bugbee; 
Clara, widow of William Aldrich ; Albert W. ; Alice, 
wife of W. A. Palmer; Nellie, wife of Albert E. 
Nofl, and Robert J., Jr. The deceased are Villetta, 
wife of George Stuphler, who died June 12, 1888, 
and Eugene who died at the age of six years. 









^[jDDISON COLLINS, although born in 
^LJl Rochester, N. Y.. grew to nianiiood in this 
/// l* count}', living in Homer Township- until 
■**'' the summer of 1881. He then removed to 

New Lenox Village and, abandoning the occupa- 
tion of farming in which he had previously been 
engaged, has been living a retired life. He owns 
an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres 
in the township in which he formerly resided. His 
natal day was October 25, 1832, and he is the sec- 
ond child of the Hon. Addison and Sabrina (Ball) 
Collins. His father was born in Lenox, Mass., 
March 29, 1790, and his mother, December 18, 
1806. They first settled in Rochester, N. Y., thence 
going to Berkshire, Tioga Count}', where they re- 
mained until the fall of 1833. Thoy then emigrated 
to Illinois, locating in the "Yankee settlement" of 
this county, where thoy spent the remainder of 
their lives. 

Addison (Collins, Sr., studied and practiced law 
in Rochester, N. Y., but after coming West devoted 
his attention to farming. He was elected on the 
Democratic ticket to the State Legislature and 
served one term. He also acted as Supervisor and 
Justice of the Peace, .and was the first County Sur- 





^r^. 



.^ 



<^ 



^<ZJ^7.-'--y2yt^L^ 




> 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



65D 



veyor of Will County. He passed away March 27. 
1864, his widow surviving until August 29, 1875. 
The subject of our sketch was married in Clii- 
eago, January 9, 1857, to Miss Catherine P., daugh- 
ter of the late Zachariah W. and Sarah (Harding) 
Lynx. She was born in Madison County, N. Y., 
June 17, 18:39. To lierself and husband seven 
children have been born. Orline, the firstborn, 
died when twelve years old; Albert is a druggist 
ill Pueblo, Colo.; F^liza died at the age of six 
months; Tunis L. is in the express business in Chi- 
cago; Mary is the wife of John C. Broadie, of New 
Lenox Township; Ella is a stutlent in the Joliet 
High School; Cora completes the family circle. 
Mr. Collins is a stanch Republican. Mrs. Collins 
is a member of the Baptist Church. 



S^A HARLKS C. SMITH. It is a pleasure to 
|, incorporate in this volume a sketch of the 

\^ life and labors of C. C. Smith, of Channahon, 
and to present on the opposite page his portrait, 
together with that of his estimable wife. He is 
well and widely known as the possessor of a large 
lamled estate, is considered one of the best business 
men in the count}', and looked up to for his finan- 
cial ab'Iity and the many pleasing traits of charac- 
ter which ho possesses. So wide is his hospitality 
that he may be said to keep an open house, wherein 
cordial greeting and good entertainment for mind 
and bod}' are met with. In his domestic relations 
Mr. Smith is exceptionally affectionate and liberal, 
and he is well repaid by the culture and noble 
char.actcrs of his off'si)ring for the advantages 
which he has bestowed ui)on them. 

Tlie birthplace of Mr. Smitli was Jefferson 
County, East Tcnn.,and his natal day M.ay 2, 1818. 
His parents. Barton and Faithy (Moore) Smith, 
were the children of Revolutionary soldiers. The 
Smiths were of the old Tennessee and the Moores 
of tlieold Virginia stock, and both lines of English 
ancestry. Barton Sniitii was the youngest in a 
family of six boys and three girls. All his brothers 
were present at the battle of Horse Shoe Bend 
with Gen. Jackson, and he, liimself, had started to 



join the forces, and was several hundred miles 
from home when taken back \ty his friends. 

Mr. and Jlrs. Barton Smith removed from Ten- 
nessee to Fountain County, Ind., and early in 
June, 1835, settled in Joliet, 111. Mr. Smith 
bought a lot, upon which a little log house stood, 
and here in due course of time he made a good 
home. He carried on a farm, but continued to 
reside in Joliet until his death, in 1862. He was 
Police Magistrate and Deputy County Collector, 
and in various ways served the county. His wife 
survived him about thirteen years. Their family 
consisted of four children, our subject being the 
eldest and the only one now surviving. Melinda 
became the wife of William Walters, and both she 
and her husband are now deceased, leaving a fam- 
ily; Lucinda married Thomas Hunter, and they 
died leaving two children; William J. made his 
home at Geneseo, and when called hence left a 
family of six children. 

Charles C. Smith was eight years of age when 
his parents removed to Indiana, and in Fountain 
County much of his boyhood and youth were 
spent. When the family removed to Joliet the 
young man started out as a peddler, making a 
regular trip through Cook, Iroquois, Vermilion and 
Will Counties with a wagon, and visiting the differ- 
ent localities every six weeks. In those days there 
was but little money in circulation, and barter and 
exchange was the rule. Young Smith traded his 
goods tor everj^thing on which he could place a 
value— cattle, horses, hides, tallow, butter, eggs, 
coon skins and ginseng root. These he would take 
to Chicago and trade for more goods. This occu- 
pation he followed for nine jears, becoming well 
known and having his coming looked forward to 
by householders as an event of importance. 

The next business enterprise of Mr. Smith was 
to rent the tract of land upon which he now lives, 
and to collect all the stock which he owned along 
the route from Danville hither. He paid $5 per 
year for a tract of land upon which thirty- five 
acres had been broken and where a comfortable 
house had been built. Two years later, in 1850, 
he bought the one hundred and forty acres which 
he was cultivating, and to which he h.as since added 
largelj'. For many years he herded his cattle on 



660 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the open piaivie. He hns now twenty-nine hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land, all joining, but some 
lying within tiic lioundary of Wilmington Town- 
ship. I^or many years lie was connected witli the 
creamery, and he also had a Slate contract to fur- 
nish the State Prison with beef for eight years. 
During one year of tiiis lime the value of the meat 
furnished was $35,000. 

On July '2-i. 18.")0, that being the \ear in which 
he purchased his homo, I\Ir. Smith was united in 
wedlock with IMiss Corenza liurr. This estimable 
lady is a daughter of Warham and Nancy (Cum- 
mings) Burr, natives of New York and North 
Carolina icspectively. Mr. Burr was a school 
teacher during iiis earlier life, but eventually be- 
came the occu[)ant of a farm in .Jackson's Grove, 
this county, where he died September 6, 18G1, his 
wife following him to tiie tomb seven months later. 
Mrs. Burr was a daughter of AYilliam and Sarah 
(Hunt) Cummings, with whom she lived until her 
marriage, whii h took place in the Hoosier State. 
The Burrs afterward removed to Cook County, in 
1833, first settling eight miles above Wilmington, 
now Will County, afterward removing to the vil- 
lage, and thence onto the farm. They were the 
parents of ten children, four of whom lived to 
maturity. These are: Mrs. Smith, of this sketch; 
Sarah, wife of Lemuel Short, of Grundy Count}-; 
Ira, now a resident of Kansas; and Selina C, wife 
of Charles J. Longemire, of Kansas City, Mo. 
One member of the family was killed in the battle 
of Chickamauga, Tenn., during the first d.sy's 
fight, his body being left on the field. He and Mr. 
Longemire belongiMl to the same regiment — tlie 
One Ilundredlh Illinois Infantry-. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith is made up of 
ten sons and daughters, all living but one who died 
in infancy — liarton, tlie eldest, is a member of the 
law firm of liaktr, Smith & Baker, of Toledo, 
Ohio; he married Miss May Searles, and they have 
two chihlren — Clifford Charles and Mildred; Emma 
.1. is tlic wife of Herman Unland, of Hutchinson, 
Kan., and the mother of three children — Corintha 
(,'., Lloyd liarton and Bloss Chester; William T. 
is in the real-estate business in Minneapolis, Minn.; 
he is married and li.as four children — Winfrcd 
William, Eihel Maj', Ruth and an infant; the 



maiden name of his wife was Marj- H. Fowler; 
Ella May is the wife of Wallace B. Douglas, a 
lawyer of Moorehead, Minn., and the}' have two 
children — Harold M. and Leila Louise; Charles W. 
now occupies one of his father's farms; he married 
Margaret A. Miller, and has one son — Charles 
Clail>ourne; Lucy M., wife of Frank A. Miller, of 
Joliet; Cora Ada is the wife of Dr. H. F. Hicks, a 
dentist of .loliet; Eva Sarah is j'et at home; Floyd 
Herman is now attending school. All have colle- 
giate educations except the j'ounger members of 
the family, who will receive the same advantages 
in due time. 

I\Ir. Sunth is a Democrat, and was elected on tlie 
party ticket for Supervisor of the town. He has 
also hehi as man}' minor ofUces as he would take, 
but his large business has precluded his holding 
them at all times. He is prominent in tlie lodges 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
Masonic fraternity, having been connected with 
the former order for forty-seven years, and the 
latter for thirty years. He was the first member 
initiated in each of the lodges to which he belongs. 
They are Powhan Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F., and 
Channahon Lodge, No. 262, F. & A. M. He has 
helped to institute a number of other lodges. 



•^^•E 



^ 



OATHAN BENNETT. The record of Nath- 
an Bennett is one to which he can point 
with just pride as that of an excellent cit- 
izen, a faithful workman, a kind friend and an af3fec- 
tionate member of the family circle. He is of 
English birth and iiarentage, his early days having 
been spent in Midland where his eyes opened to 
the light in 1845. His parents were Samuel and 
ULirgaret (Ashley) Bennett, and the former was an 
engiufer in the employ of theC'rown, continuing an 
lionorable service until his death. 

The gentleman of whom we write was reared in 
the manner usu.al to the son of an artisan and after 
acquiring his education, learned the trade of pud- 
dling, in the government service. In 1868 he 
came to America selecting St. Louis as his first 
abiding place. There he was engaged in the Brem- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



GGl 



en Mills for some months, aftpr which he came to 
JolieL, III., and entered the employ of the Joliet 
Steel Works. In 1873, he began assisting in the 
manufacture of steel, at which he has continued 
until the i)resent time, a period of twenty-one 
years— a record that could only be made by sobri- 
ety and faithfulness. In addition to this Mr. Ben- 
nett is engaged in connection with the firm of 
Dcraart Bennett in an extensive trade in fine car- 
riages, their place of business beirg No. 210 North 
Ottawa Street. 

The dwelling that Mr. Bennett owns and occupies 
on Mississijipi Avenue is presided over by a lady 
who became his wife in 1867. vShe was known in 
her maidenhood as Miss Mary Ann Guy, and is a 
woman of wortli of mind and lieart. The happy 
union has been blessed by the birth of six children, 
named respectively, Sarah Ann, Albert Edward, 
p;dith, Mabel, INIarion, and Robert Arson. Mr. 
Bennett is devotedly attached to his home as well 
lie may be. 

The Amalgamated Society has repeatedly made 
!\Ir. I'.ennett its President and he has been the 
Treasurer of the Society of St. George since its or- 
ganization, having been a cliarter member. He 
also belongs to the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 
,30. He is numbered among the members of the 
Ottawa Street Methodist Episcopal Church. 



^*5.a IMON HAUSSER. As a contractor in 
^^^ stone work, Mr. Ilausser is well known 
"(jjL^a) throughout Will County, in which he has 
— oi^erated extensively in his line, and has 
proved himself a man prompt to meet his obliga- 
tions, and one who can always be trusted. He ful- 
lilled a contract of stone work on the Alton Round- 
house, the County Jail, St. John's Catholic Church, 
the St. Joseph's Hospital and Convent, and for 
many of the prominent residences of Joliet and 
vicinity. His long experience and close attention 
to business, together with his industry and a sens- 
ible economy, have placed him financially in a po- 
sition of independence. 

The early home of our subjecl was in the king- 



dom of Bavaria, where he was born April 13, 
1819. He is the son of George and Eva (Nied- 
hanimer) Hausser, the former of whom was a stone 
mason, as was also his father before him. George 
Hausser spent his entire life in his native land, 
dying in 1846. The mother came to America in 
May, 1851, and died at the home of her son 
Simon, in Joliet, September 15, 1854. The paren- 
tal family consisted of ten children, seven of whom 
emigrated to America, and only four of the seven 
arc now living — one in New York, one in New Jer- 
sey, and two in Joliet. 

Mr. Hausser learneil the trade of a mason in his 
native country, Bavaria, remaining there until 1847. 
Then, a man of twent3'-eight years, he resolved 
upon emigrating to America, ayd embarked upon 
the long voj'age in company with a younger 
brother. They landed in New York Cit}-, where 
Simon sojourned about two years, working at Port 
Jarvis, N. Y., going from there to Lyons, N. Y"., 
and thence to Batavia, 111. We next find him in 
Aurora, this State, whence he emigrated to Joliet 
in 1849, arriving August 15. 

In Joliet Mr. Ilausser worked at his trade for a 
time, and then, desirous of seeing more of the 
country, went down to New Orleans. He only so- 
journed, however, for a brief time in the Crescent 
City, deciding that there were few more desirable 
locations than the city of Joliet, to which he ac- 
cordingly returned, and has since made it his 
home. 

In Joliet also Mr. Hausser found a wife and help- 
mate, being married, November 22, 1853, to Miss 
Francisca Horn. Mrs. Hausser was born October 
23, 1832, in Neukirchen, Bavaria, and came to 
Joliet with friends in 1853. Of this union there 
have been born twelve children, ten of whom are 
living. Mary, Mrs. Hagen, is a widow and resides 
in Joliet; Teresa, Mrs. Steiner, and George are 
living in Joliet; Anna remains with her parents; 
Charles is an ordained priest of the Catholic 
Church, and officiates as assistant priest of Colum- 
bia Church, in Ottawa, III. ; Joseph, who has also 
received priestly orders, is an assistant priest, sta- 
tioned over the parish of the Holy Trinity Church, 
Chicago; Caroline and Alphonso remain under the 
parental roof; Simon and Heury are pursuing their 



662 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



studies in St. Francis College, at St. Francis, Wis. 
Mr. and Mrs. Haiisscr liave also an adoiited son, 
Alexander, an orphan, who has made his home with 
them for aljout four years. It is a matter of great 
satisfaction to IVIr. Ilausser that two of his sons 
are priests in the Catholic Church, in the doctrines 
of whicii he. himself was trained from boyhood, 
and also that two other sons are lilvGl3- to choose the 
same pious calling for tlieir vocation in life. Mr. 
Hausser lias been connected with tiie church since 
liis 1>03 hood, and belongs to the 'I'hiid order of St. 
Francis. In politics he is mainly independent, aiming 
to support the men whom he considers best quali- 
fied for ofticc. As a business man and a citizen, 
he lias made for himself a good record, and enjoys 
in a marked degree the esteem of those around 
him. lie is mostly retired from active business, 
and occupies a comfortable home, situated on a rise 
of ground on Broadway Street, overlooking a 
large portion of the city. 

'VI/ AMES B. AUSTIN. This gentleman bears 
the reputation of being one of the most 
public-spirited citizens of Homer Township, 
and he is closely identified with its agricult- 
ural interests, successfully tilling one hundred and 
fifty acres of land on section 1 1. and in addition to 
tills makes a specialty of fine Norman horses. For 
the past nine years he has offlciated as Highway 
Commissioner and Si hool Director, and may always 
be found on the side of the enterprises calculated 
for the .'idvancement of the community, socially, 
morally and financially. In politics he is a sound 
Republican, thoroughly in accord with the princi- 
ples of his [larty, which he has always labored 
earnestly to advance. He is more than ordinarily 
intelligent and weli-informcd, keeping up with the 
tojjics of the da}', and in hi.s social life has always 
distinguished himself as one of the most hospitable 
men of his neighborhood. 

The subject of this notice was the eldest in a 
family of six children, and was born in Ontario 
County, N. Y., July 4,182.'?. He lived with his 
parents until a boy of eight or nine years, then 



went to live with his uncle, Ira Austin, with whom 
he remained until reaching his majority. When he 
was sixteen years old he came with his fincle to 
this county, and after becoming of age took up 
one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 11, 
where he built up the comfortable home which he 
now owns and occupies. He was married in Du 
Page Township November 19, 1851, to Bliss Laura 
Saunders. The young people settled in their own 
home, where were born to them four children and 
where the mother died July 2, 18G5. Their first- 
born child, a son, William, died when about one 
year old; Albert remains at home with his father; 
Estella became the wife of William Orahood and 
died in Homer Townshii>, December 1, 1879; Ly- 
man is a resident of Dakota. 

Mr. Austin contracted a second marriage, in 
Homer Township, October 22, 1867, with Miss 
Betsey McGregor. This lady was born in Scotland, 
November 17, 1845, and when five years old came 
with her parents to America. The latter were 
Henry and Jeanette (Malcom) McGregor, both of 
whom were also born in the Lan.i of the Thistle, 
but are now residents of Cook County, this State. 
To Mr. Austin and his present wife there have been 
born nine children, viz: Jenny, who died wh%n ten 
years old; Buell P.; Ira W.,who died at the age of 
three years; Charles H., who died when four years 
old; James H., John McG., Homer C, Hattie J. 
and George W. The latter died when about four 
3'cars old. Mrs. Austin is a member in good stand- 
ing of the Blethodist Episcopal Church. 

In .\ugust, 1862, Mr. Austin entered the Union 
army, enlisted in company F, One Ilundreth Illinois 
Infantry, and served two and one-half years, until 
February 1, 1865. His duties were mostly in the 
(Quartermaster's department, and he consequently 
took part in no battles. He belongs to Lock port 
Post, No. 401, G. A. R., at Loekport. 

Lyman Austin, the father of our subject, was, 
like himself, a native of Ontario County, N. Y.,and 
married Miss Sarah Ilecock, who w.as also a native 
of that county. The}' lived there for a time after 
their marriage, then removed to Medina County, 
Ohio, and from there to Cass County, Mich. After 
a sojourn of some years in the Wolverine State 
they joined their sou in Homer Township, this 




"fe^ ^. <?^.4U.^^LAiy<k^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIUGRAPHlCxVL ALBUM. 



665 



county, and here spent their last clays. 'J'hey were 
honest and upright |)eople and without making any 
great stir in the world [)erformed life's duties in a 
creditable inatnicr and are kindly remembered by 
all who knew them. 



-i^^' 



— ^3-fc-J 



^^EORGE S. IIINCKEL. Among the rising 
(II ,- — young members of the legal profession in 
^^^(j Joliet, may be proiierly mentioned the sub- 
ject of this notice, whose portrait a|)pears on the 
opposite page, and who is yet in the early prime of 
life. He has before him bright prospects for wealth 
and honor, and in future years will undoubtedly 
stand high among the attorneys of Illinois, as he 
now holds a conspicuous rank among those of 
Joliet. 

The native place of Mr. Ilinckel was the city of Al- 
bany, N. Y., and he was born July 6, 1860. His im- 
mediate ancestors are Charles and Julia (Schwartz) 
Hinckel, the former a native of Germany and the 
latter of New York State. The father traced his 
lineage to a German famil3' of distinction, and in 
his youth received a militarj' education and train- 
ing, afterward serving in high official cajjacities in 
the German and American armies. Early in life he 
crossed the Atlantic, having determined upon mak- 
ing a home in the United St.ates, and located in Al- 
bany, N. Y.. where he remained until 1874. That 
year became to Illinois, and settling in AVill County, 
soon became a prominent man in politics, affiliating 
with the Republican party. Soon after locating in 
Joliet, he was appointed, about 1876, Deputy 
Sheriff of Will County, and was subsequently 
elected Police Magistrate. 

The subject of this notice was the onl^' child of 
his parents and pursued his early studies in the 
private schools and academies of his native State. 
In 1874 he came to Chicago, where his studies were 
ended and his business career begun. In 1883 he 
located in Joliet, and, while serving as Deputy 
Clerk of the Circuit Court, entered upon the study 
of the law, under the instruction of the eminent 
lawyer, George S. House, Esq. In the meantime 
he held the above mentioned office nearly five 



years. He was admitted to practice by the Supreme 
Court in December, 1887, but did not commence 
the regular duties of his [irofession until the 1st of 
November, 1889. He is a sound Republican, po- 
litically, and is also a prominent member of the 
military order of Sons of V'eterans, and of the chief 
social organization, the I'nion Club. 

Mr. Hinckel conlracieit his present matrimonial 
ties July 1.5, 1889, at the bride's home in Brooklyn, 
N. Y., with Miss Nellie J. Dobiecki. Mrs. Hinckel 
was born October 2. 1865, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and 
both she and her husband are connected by tics of 
relationship with some of the l)est known and most 
highly respected families of the East. They live 
in comfort in a neat home in the eastern part of the 
city, and number their friends among its cultured 
people. 



■^OHNRANFT. There is scarcely a line of 
business that is not represented in Joliet, 
where commercial and manufacturing en- 
terprises seem equallj' prominent. The busi- 
ness in which the subject of this sketch is engaged 
is that of the manufacture of all kinds of soda 
water, ginger ale, and similar beverages, charging 
fountains, etc. His experience has been somewhat 
varied, but his career has proved that he is one of 
those men who can gain support where others 
would fail, because they could work at but one oc- 
cupation. Mr. Ranft came from far across the sea, 
his birthplace having been Waldeck, Germany, 
where his eyes first opened to the light January 
16, 1843. His parents were John and Elizabeth 
(.Schneider) Ranft, and his father's occupation was 
that of a farmer. 

In his native Land, he of whom we write, was 
emplojed as a domestic servant until 1866. when 
he determined to seek a different field in the land 
across the sea. Leaving behind him the other 
members of the family, none of whom have come 
to America, he took passage and ere long landed 
in New York. He found eraploj'mont as a farm 
hand in New Jersey, receiving $15 per mouth for 
his services, and remaining in the East somewhat 
over a year. He then came to Chicago and thence 



666 



PORTRAIT AND KIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



to, Joliet, near which place he engaged in farming 
two years. He liien entered tiic eninloy of the 
Schring Brewing Cuniimny. ser\iiig thoni five and 
oiie-liiilf yciirs. Tlie next enter[)risc in which, lie 
engaged was to open a saloon on Bluff and Jeffer- 
son Streets, which he carried on five years. In 
I.SH.5 lie opened a i)op factory and since that time 
has husied liinisclf with the manufacture of bever- 
ages as before staled. 

On September 11, 1873, Mr. Ranft was united in 
marriage with Miss Katheiine Metzger, who judi- 
ciously managed his household affairs for several 
years. She was removed by the hand of death 
November 10, 18M2, leaving one daughter, Anna. 
The present wife of Mr. Ranft bore the maiden 
name of Augusta Reiniers, and is a daughter of 
Henry and] Anna (Jiggers) Reimers. She was 
nniled to our subject October 2;), 1883. and has 
hurne him three daughters — Bertha, Mary and 
Linda. 

Mr. Ranft generally votes the Democratic ticket. 
He is of a social nature, particularly so among his 
fellow countr^'-meu and finds many friends. He be- 
longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
to the Sharp-shooters, and to the Joliet Saenger- 
bund. 



m 



5^A HRISTOril IIINZ. Washington Townshi|) 
-..s become the home and the field of the 
^^^ successful labors of manj' German-born citi- 
zens, whose thrift and nprigiitness are recognized by 
those around them and afford an excellent example 
to the rising generation. One of these worthy 
German- American citizens is Christoph Ilinz, whose 
home is on section 19. The farm comprises one 
hundred and sixty acres of well-tilled land which 
bears the improvements usually made by a man of 
enterprise and has been reclaimed by him from its 
wild and primitive condition. His first purchase 
was ot eighty acres to which he subsequently 
added an adjoining tract of the same extent. 

Mr. Hinz is of excellent German ancestry, his 
immediate progenitors being John and Mary (Biel- 
feldt) Hinz, both of whom were born in Mecklen- 
burg. There the mother died in the forty-fourth 



year of her age, leaving five sons and two daugli- 
ters. In 1855 father and children crossed the briny 
deep, leaving Hamburg September 15, and landing 
in New York City seven weeks later, their passage 
having been made on tiie sailing ship "Rudolph." 
The family came directly West and settled in Cook 
Count}', 111., but sume years later the father and 
his son Charles removed to Kansas City, Mo., where 
the father breathed his last in 1882, at the age of 
seventy-nine years. He was a worthy citizen and 
a consistent member of the Lutheran Ciiurch. 

The subject of this biographical notice was born 
May 18, 1820, and was well reared in habits of in- 
dustry and firmness of moral i)rinciple, but without 
educational advantages. After the famil}- came to 
America he continued to reside in Cook Count}' for 
eiglit years, and in 18()5 removed from Dunkard's 
Station to AVashinglon Township, this county. Hen; 
he has been engaged in general farming, and has 
become known as a good farmer, a reliable citizen 
and a man of kindliness in domestic and social 
relations. 

The first mairiage of Mr. Hinz took place in the 
land of his nativity, to IMiss Elizabeth Shell. To 
them were born two sons, Henry and John, before 
they accompanied the other members of the Hinz 
family to the United States. They had been in 
Chicago but eleven days when the wife died, at the 
early age of thirty-eight years. Her son Henry 
married Dora Ostermeyer and is engaged in trade 
at Beecher, this county; John married Mary Starter 
and is farming in Washington Townshijj. 

The second marri.age of Mr. Hinz took place in 
Cook County, his bride being Miss Magdalena 
Bade, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, 
April 12, 1832. Her parents were Jacob and So- 
phia (Hein) Bade. Her father was a laborer who 
died at the age of fifty- two j-ears. The widowed 
mother with her six children crossed the Atlantic 
in 1857 and made her home in Northern Illinois. 
In her last days she came to live with her daughter, 
Mrs. Bade, dying at her home in 1887, at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-four 3'cars and three months. 
She and her husband had belonged to the Lutheran 
Church. 

Tlie present union of Mr. Hinz has resulted in 
the birth of three children: Sophia, Bertha and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



667 



Herman. Sophia married William Meyer, and died 
leaving five children; Bertha became the wife of 
Charks Henget, a mechanic, whose home is in Ai- 
lington Heights, Cook County; Herman remains 
witli his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Hinz belong to the 
LuilRTan Church, an<l their children are also iden- 
tilic<l with that religious body. The elective fran- 
chise is exercised by Mr, Hinz in behalf of the 
candidates of the Republican i)arty. Mr. Hinz is 
a fine specimen of i)hysical manhood of the Ger- 
man type, and he possesses sterling qualities of 
character, being particularly noted for his honesty, 
and straightforward manner and dealing, 

^=5JE0RGE H. P.RANNON. M, I),, now located 
((( (-J at Manhattan, enjoys a large practice in the 
^^^ town and surrounding country. Both he 
an<l his brother Londus are (luilc young, possessed 
of abundant energy and thorougiily skilled in their 
profession, having.been graduated from well-known 
and reputable institutions. They are pleasantly 
located on Main Street. 

Dr. G. H. Brannon is the youngest in a family of 
live children born to John and Sarah (IMarker) 
Brannon, of Decatur County, Ind. The father was 
born in New Jersey but later lived in Ohio, where 
he followed farming for some time, AVhen about 
thirty years old he removed to the Hoosier State, 
choosing a location near (irecnsburg, where he is 
now living retired on a fine farm, lie served 
throughout the Mexican War as a private. Mrs. 
Brannon was born in Butler County, < )hio. The 
worthy couple are now seventy -seven and seventy - 
four years of age, respectively, Mrs, Brannon 
belongs to the Presbyterian Clairch. Thi; children 
are Laura, Isophene (now :\Irs, Fescus) and Weller, 
all on the home farm, and the two brothers who 
live in Manhattan, 

The subject of this sketch was born near (^^reoiis- 
burg, Ind„ November 25, 1.^03, and was reared on 
a farm, enjoying such educational advantages dur- 
ing his boyhood as could be obtained in the district 
schools. When sixteen years old he entered the 
college at Richmond, pursuing his studies in that 



excellent institution about four years and leaving 
one term prior to the completion of the course of 
study. When seventeen years old he had begun 
teaching, spending his vacations in |)cdagogical la- 
bors until he left the joHege, when he devoted him- 
self entirely to the work for two years. Duimg 
one year of this time he held the Priucipalship of 
the Harris City Schools, which occupied a commo- 
dious building 86x«7 feet. 

Mr. Brannon had been studying medicine to some 
extent for several years, and in 1885 he took up the 
work more thoroughly under Dr. Clark, of Waynes- 
burg. After reading under that excellent pre- 
ceptor two years, he entered the Hospital College 
of Medicine at Louisville, Ky„ from which he was 
graduated in June, 1889. He came at once to 
Manhattan, where his brother was already located, 
and entered into partnership with him. In the few 
'months whicii have elapsed since he began his la- 
bors, he has .acquired an excellent reputation for 
general intelligence, professional skill and well- 
bred manners. He is not content to rest upon his 
oars, but is constantly adding to his store of pro- 
fessional knowledge by using the medium of medi- 
cal journals and .all the professional literature of 
the day. He belongs to the Alumni Association of 
his Alma Mater, and to Alert Lodge, No. 395, F. <fe 
A. M., in Indiana. His political adherence is given 
to the Democratic party. 

Londus Brannon, brother 'of our subject, was 
born in Decatur County, Ind., November 25, 1857. 
His early life was spent similarly to that of his 
brotlier, and in youth he also began the study of 
medicine. He was graduated from the Ohio Med- 
ical College at Cincinnati in 1882, and devoted the 
first year of his practice to the citizens of Greens- 
burg, Ind,, and vicinity. In 1883 he located in 
Manhattan, where, before his brother's .arrival, he 
had secured a large practice. He had not only ac- 
complished this, but he had earned the reputation 
of being a skillful practitioner, and had become 
very well liked by the community. He is consid- 
ered one of the most enterprising citizens of the 
village, and one to whom added years will bring 
more extended knowledge and even greater success, 
Dr, Londus Brannon was married in October, 
1887, to Miss Eliza Jones, the marriage ceremony 



668 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




taking place at tlie'horne of lier liarents in Peotone. 
Tlie bride was Ixnii in Wilton Township, this 
county, and is the daughter of Robert and Elinor 
(Atkinson) Jo'ies, natives of Yorkshire, England. 
Mr. Jones was for some years a prominent farmer 
in Wilton Township, but is now living rctiretl at 
Peotone. Mrs. Brannon possesses the intelligence 
ami culture which makes her a worthy companion 
of one of her husband's ability, and adds to the 
popularity of their home. 

ESTER G. COLEGROVK lias been identi- 
fied with the agricultural development of 
^ Will County since the earl}' da^'S of its set- 
tleinen1,and is a fine representative of the sturdy, 
intelligent, enterprising pioneers who came to this 
State half a centurj' or more ago, and have since 
improved valuable and highly productive farms 
from the wild prairies. For many years he has 
made his home in Plainfield Tov.'nship, and is cUisely 
associated with its material pros[)erity .nnd its social 
and religious welfare^ 

He was born in the town of Fairfax, Franklin 
County, Vt., April 23, 1»1!S. Ilis father, Clark T. 
Colegrove, w.is, it is thought, born in Connecticut, 
and his grandfather was Nathan Colegrove, who was 
one of the early pioneers of Franklin Count}', mak- 
ing the removal to that part of Vermont with a 
team. He bought a tract of timber land, and from 
the primev.al forest hewed out a farm on which he 
lived till death closed his mortal career. The father 
of our suliject was bred to agricultural pursuits, 
l)ut he never owned a farm of his own, being em- 
ployed by others. He resided in Vermont until 
1846, when he came to Illinois, and for some years 
lived in the town of Wheatland. He subsequently 
removed to Blue Island in Cook County, where 
both he and his wife died of cholera in the same 
week. The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject -was Nellie Ingersoll, and she was of New- 
England birth. 

Lester Colegrove was reared on a farm in his na- 
tive town, receiving the advantages of .in educa- 
tion in the local schools, and at the age of sixteen 



commenced to work out by the month. He was 
thus employed until 1838. He was ambitious to 
improve his condition and make something more 
of himself than he could in the sleepy little New 
iMigland town where he resided, so lie determined i- 
to stai't westward, and in the 3'ear mentioned we '^ 
find him on his way to Illinois with but $5 in his kt 
l)Ocket, but in his strong muscles, his determined « 
will and high couinge, he had better ca[55tal. He 
procured a ride to .Berlinton and there took passage 
on a steamer for Whitehall, wlience he went on 
the Chamiilain and Erie Canals to Buffalo, working 
to pay the expenses of the trip. At Buffalo he 
embarked on a steamer, having agreed to work for 
his passage to Chicago. From the latter city he 
started for Lockport on foot, and as the canal was 
then in process of construction, he labored on that 
for one month and was then taken sick. He was 
ill for two weeks and then came to Plainfield, and 
in 1839 worked a farm on shares. The country 
round about was still in a wild and unsettled con- 
dition, there being no railroads or canals here, 
and Chicago, thirty-six miles away, was the nearest 
market. At that time deer, wolves and other kinds 
of game abounded. In 1841, Mr. Colegrove 
bought a tract of wild prairie land in Pekin Town- 
ship, and at once witli characteristic energy, entered 
upon its improvement. He built a small frame 
house, riving the shingles by hand, and in tlie years 
that followed erected more substantial buildings and 
placetl the land under good tillage. He resided on 
that farm until 1875 and then rented it, having 
purchased the farm on which he now resides. He 
has added to the dwelling-house and made it into 
a commodious and tastefullj' fitted-up abode, and 
he has otherwise beautified the place, planted shade 
and ornamental trees, besides making other valua- 
ble improvements. He still owns the farm which 
he bought in 1841, and has added to his first pur- 
chase, until it now comprises two hundred and 
twenty-one acres of highly cultivated land. 

In the month of January, 1842, Mr. Colegrove 
was united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Inger- 
soll, a native of Vermont. Her father, Chester 
Ingersoll, was a native of Massachusetts and was 
one of the first settlers of Will County. He bought 
the land from the Government in the village of 



.-if 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



671 



Plainfielfl which is iilatted on his farm. He built 
for Esqiiiie Walker, tiie first sawmill that was ever 
erected here, hewing all the timber himself. Mr. 
Iiigcrsoll resided iiere until 184 7 and then went to 
California where his death occurred in 181',). The 
maiden name of his wife was I'olly llurdick, and 
she spent her last j'ears in Plainfield. Mr. and Mrs. 
Colegrove have four children living, namely: Ma- 
rada, wife of G. W. Flagg, of whom see sketch; 
FlavUla, wife of Joseph lUifFum, of Calhoun 
County, Iowa; Ida, wife of Wheeler Green, of 
Plainfield; Dell, wife of Calvin Hice, of Chicago. 
Coming to this county more than half a century 
ago to identify himself with its pioneers, our sub- 
ject has been of invaluable aid in developing its 
resources, and, as we have seen, has placed himself 
among its well-to-do citizens, as his natural en- 
dowments have enabled him to manage his affairs 
at a good advantage. He and his wife are well 
known for their kindness of heart and thoughlful- 
ness towards others and they occup}' a warm place 
in the hearts of the people about them. Both are 
sincerely religious and are constant attendants of 
the Baptist Church of which they are consistent 
members. 

S^\ AJ. ROBERT MANN WOODS, editor and 
publisher of the RepuhJic and Sun, has for 
man}' years been a prominent figure among 
^' the various interests of Will County, and 

especially of the city of Joliet. He is a gentleman 
(if fine abilities, possessing great energy and enter- 
prise, and is in the habit of making a success of 
whatever he undertakes. He was born April 17, 
1810, in Greenville, Mercer County, Pa., and is the 
s<in of 'William J. and Sai-ali (Mann) Woods. The 
parents were natives respectively of Western New 
York and Maryland. 

This branch of the Woods family is of Irish ex- 
traction, and as far back as the records go, were in 
religion Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The father of 
our subject was a cabinet-maker by tr.ade, and po- 
litically a life-long Abolitionist, being the only 
man in Pike County, this State, who voted for 




James G. Birney for President. For a number of 
years he published a F"ree Soil paper in Galesburg, 
III., having come to the State in 1842. In ISSi), 
in company with others, he formed the AVestern 
Industrial and Scientific Institution, which estab- 
lished a still flourishing college at College Springs, 
Iowa. He is still living, a hale and hearty old man, 
making his home in Sheridan County, Kan., where 
three of his sons also reside. He was married the 
third time. at the age of eighty-two years and is now 
eighty-five years old. He preserves much of his old 
time energy and activity, and at the present writing, 
April, 1890, is engaged in setting out an orchard 
and maintains that he expects to gather fruit from 
it for several seasons to come. 

To William J. Woods by his first wife, the 
mother of our subject, was born a family of ten 
children, of whom Robert M. was the fifth in or- 
der of birth. Marilla S., the first child, Mrs. Young, 
is living in Cameron, Mo.; the second child, 
Newton, is farming in Sheridan County, Kan.; Ad- 
dison is a resident of Sheridan County, Kan.; Nar- 
cissa, Mrs. Cox, resides in Quincy, III. ; John is 
engaged in the real-estate business at Joliet; Sarah 
J., Mrs. Maj. A. R. Ander.^on, died in Sidney, Iowa. 
Her husband was for several terms a member of 
Congress; Isaac, a gallant soldier of the Fourth 
Missouri Cavalry, died in Washington, Ind., in 
1889; William P. is a grocer at Villisca, Iowa; 
and Willistou 15. is a farmer in Sheridan County, 
Kan. 

The subject of this notice was taken to Pike 
County, this State, in 1842, when a child, and 
lived there until 4848. Then going to Galesburg, 
he attended Knox College, and lived there for a 
period of ten years. In 1858 he crossed the Mis- 
sissippi, and until 18G1 taught school in Iowa 
and IMissouri. At the outbreak of the Civil War 
he was appointed by Gov. Yates to a position in 
the (Juartermaster's and Governor's offices, which, 
occupied his time until June, 18G4. He was then 
appointed Adjutant of Yates' Sharp-shooters, which 
formed the Sixt^'-fourth Illinois Regiment. He 
served in this through the Atlanta campaign and 
was then detailed as a mustering officer. Subse- 
quently he served on the staff of Maj. Gen. Giles 
A. Smith, [larticipating in the march to the sea and 



G72 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALRUM. 



Uie campaign through the Carolinas; when he was 
comiiiibsioned Cnplaiu of Company A, Sixtj'-fourtti 
Illinois Iiiftuitiy, and was twice brevetted for gal- 
lant and nieritoriuiis service as Captain and Major. 
At the close of the war he went with his regiment 
to Washington, and wa^ present at the Grand Re- 
view. He then proceeded with his regiment to 
Louisville, Ky., where he was mustered out, and as 
a mustering officer signed the discliarge papers of 
over ten thousand soldiers. 

After leaving the army Maj. Woods was sum- 
moned to Springfield by Adj. Gen. I. N. Haynie, 
and there he wrote the histories of all the Illinois reg- 
iments for the Adjutant-General's report, these 
making niue volumes. In the spring of 186G, he 
wrote the constitution and by-laws, charter, etc.. 
for the Grand Army of the Republic, which was 
originated by Dr. B. F. Stephenson, and of which 
Maj. AVoods was the first Adjutant-General. Soon 
afterward he organized the various departments 
throughout the Northwest. The original charter 
of Decatur Tost, No. 1, has his name upon it. 

In 1868 Maj. Woods rep.aired to Chicago, 111., 
where he was variously engaged, and for four and 
one-half years officiated as chief clerk during the 
construction of the United States Custom House 
and posl-olllce, in that city. In 1877 he was ap- 
pointed Insurance Examiner of Illinois, and dur- 
ino' his incumbency of this office it became his 
duty to proceed against and close up, in the courts 
of the State, the Republic Life, the Protection Life, 
and Chicago Life Insurance Companies. This era- 
ployed his time until 187'J, and then turning his 
attention to the newspaper world, he purchased 
the Joliet llepublican of James Goodspeed. He 
conducted this successfully until 1883, then pui- 
chased the Joliet Sun, which he merged with the 
Republican. In 1888, reaching out still farther, 
he purchased the Daily and Weekly Press, and 
consolidated the three papers under the name of 
iiepublic and Sun. lie is an able journalist, mak- 
ing an interesting local pai)er, which has become 
one of the indispensable institutions of Will 
County. Its political complexion reflects his own 
convictions and sympathies, which have been in 
harmony with the principles of the Re[)ulican 
party since he became a voter. He has an ad- 



mirably equipped office, including a job depart- 
ment and book bindery, fitted out with all the 
machinery and other appliances necessary to do 
first- class work. The paper has a healthy subscrip- 
tion list, and the job department is ffcnerously 
jw-tronized by the people of Joliet and Will 
County. 

Maj. Woods was married, October 5, 1807, in 
Chicago, 111., to Miss Ma;^ Florence Miner. Mrs. 
Woods was born April 8, 1851, at Harding, III., 
and is the daughter of Samuel E. and Asenath 
(Darrow) Miner, who were natives of Massachu- 
setts, and are now residents of PhaMiix, Arizona. 
Two children, a daughter and a son, have been 
born of this union, Alice M. and Miner R., who 
still remain with their parents. The family resi- 
dence and its surroundings, forms one of the at- 
tractive homes of Joliet, and is located in the 
soutlieastern part of the cit}'. 

Elsewhere in this volume the reader will notice 
a lithographic [)ortrait of Maj. Woods. I 



--4- 



#-# 



•iwiOllN N. GEUTHER. The old saying that 
! truth is stranger than fiction, is one with 
which we are all faniiliar,and yet which often 
is unheeded while we goon blindly supposing 
that strange incidents only belong to the works 
of fiction. The life of the enterprising citizen 
whose history it is our purpose to sketch, has been 
marked with experiences somewhat out of the 
usual order. He is the oldest of three children, 
whose ancestry is noted in the sketch of John 
George Geuther, found elsewhere in this Aluum. 
He was born in Saxe Coburg (Jotha, Germany, 
January 4, is-i."). .and reared in the village of Weid- 
hausen. 

The educational privileges of young Geuther 
were somewhat limited, as the schools were princi- 
pally held during the winter months, but he im- 
proved such opportunities as were afforded him. 
He early took u}) farm labors on his father's land 
and he also [jartially learned the trade of a baker 
from his Grandfather Geuther. When he was 
eighteen years old his father wished him to come 



PORTRAIT AND BIOCiRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



G73 



to America to see wliat opportunities this coiintr3' 
afforded, and he therefore left Bremerhaveii in 
184^, landing in New York Citj', after an ocean 
voyage of thirty-five days. Jn addition to his 
otlier attainments lie had learned basket-making 
from his father, and at that trade he worked five 
months in the metroi)olis. 

The summer having passed, young (ieuther 
turned his footsteps southward, and reaching 
Cliarleston, S. C, completed the trade of a baker 
and worked some five jears as a journeyman. He 
then opened a bakerj" in the same city, having his 
residence on Sullivan's Island, near Ft. Moultrie. 
His sentiments were all in favor of the Union, and 
after the breaking out of the Civil War he was 
ordered I13' Southern officers to quit tlie island. In 
1SC2 he went into the city, and a few monihs later 
to Mt. Pleasant, where he remained virtually in hid- 
ing, as he could not get North. As he was notable 
to continue his occupation lie was obliged to live 
on what he had saved, and his capital gradually 
(liniinishcil. 

After the war Mr.Geuther opened abakery in Mt. 
I'leasant, and through a providential circumstance 
became acquainted with the whereabouts of his 
parents, between whom and himself there had been 
\u) communication for years. During this time the 
[•arental family had emigrated to America and were 
living in Will County-, 111. A man who had lived at 
Frankfort, went onto a plantation near ISIt. Pleas- 
ant and bought bread from our subject. A receii)t 
being given him, he noted the name upon it and 
said that he knew tlie father and brothers of the 
signer, and that they would be glad to hear from 
or see him. A correspondence was at once ojiened, 
:ind, as soon as possible, our subject closed up his 
business and came North to visit his family, whom 
he had not seen for twenty-six years. 

After spending a few yionths with his friends 
Mr. Geuther returned to South Carolina, sohl his 
possessions there and moved to Mokena, III., A|)ril 
1, 1870. Ho located on one bundled and sixty 
acres on section 31, Green Garden Township, which 
liad been purchased by his father before the war. 
The improvements upon it were poor but they 
have been replaced or added to until the estate is 
now in an excellent condition. Agricnilnie, of 



which he obtained a slight knowledge in his boy- 
hood, has been well learned by him since he took 
up his residence in the North, and he is succeeding 
well in his enter|)rise. 

Mr.Geuther has built a commodious and sub- 
stantial residence, barn, corn crib and other farm 
building.'"., has further improved his place with 
drain tile and good fences, many rods of well-kept 
hedge serving to outline his fields. The land is 
watered by Forked Creek and every acre is tillable. 
Oats and corn are the princiiial grain crops, in the 
cultivation of which three teams are emplojed. He 
keeps thirteen cows and raises draft horses of the 
Clydesdale breed. Mr. Geuther has also invested 
in South Dakota land, having three hundred and 
twenty acres in Douglas County, which compiises 
two improved farms which are operated by his 
children. Credit is due him for his success, partic- 
ularly- as he was obliged to begin at the bottom of 
the ladder after the war, as the money which he 
had was Confederate script and consequently 
valueless. 

The first marriage of Mr. Geuther took place in 

Charleston, S. C, in 1857. His bride was Miss 

Bertha Kaffe, who was born near Bremen, Germany, 

and who died in Charleston in 18G6. She left three 

children — Bertha, who is married to Christ Beeler, 

and lives in Douglas County, S. Dak.; William, 

who is in the employ of a railroad in Sioux City, 

Iowa; and Christ, who operates a farm in South 

Dakota. _ 

"fr 
The second marriage of Mr. (ieuther took place 

at Mt. Pleasant, S. C, in 1869, and has been blest 
by the birth of eight children — George, Lizzie, 
Lawrence, Caroline, Amelia, Augusta, Helena and 
Edith, all of whom are at home. The mother of 
this interesting family bore the maiden name of 
Augusta Bose, and was born in Stibnitch, Prussia, 
October 31, 1839. Her father, Johaii Bose, was born 
in Voline, and was an overseer of fishermen; her 
mother, formerl}' Miss Anna Bairns, was also a 
native of Prussia. Mrs. (Jeuther was reared to the 
age of thirteen years in her native place and con- 
tinued to live in the (Tprman Emiiire five years 
longer. She then sailed for America in the 
"Ghost," which made the voyage from Bremen to 
Charleston, S. C., in six weeks. This was in 1858, 



674 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPAlCAL ALBUM. 



ancl the yoimii I'uly worked in Cliarloston until tlie 
war, vvIk'11 siie went to Walllialldw, tlirct' iuindroil 
mill's norlli. Tlicrc slie reniaiiit'd until tlie close 
of llio war, when she returned to Charleston. She 
is an exeellenl housekeeper, a devoted mother and 
a good neighbor. 

]\Ir. Geuther is a very intelligent man and his 
long residence in this country has given him an 
excellent knowledge of the English language. His 
personal characteristics are such that he is well 
liked by members of the communit}', and his busi- 
ness energy has given him prominence. He be- 
longs to the Lutheran Church in which he holds the 
oftice of Trustee, and he is serving eHiciently as 
School Director of his district. Li politics, he is a 
Democrat. He has served on both grand and petit 
juries. 

'if OHN SCHROEDER Jc SON. Among the 
lluurishing business houses of JSIanhattan 
that which is conducted under the above 
style is by no means least. On the contrary, 
the Messrs. Schroeder are among the largest dealers 
in the town, carrying alarjje stock of groceries and 
general merchandise, which includes dry-goods, 
clothing, boots and shoes. The !irm also deals in 
flour and salt, and handles a large amount of pro- 
duce. Their stock is well selected, thoroughly 
adapted to the needs and wishes of those who pat- 
ronize the establishment, and the sales being con- 
ducted according to the strictest honor and by men 
whose courtesy is unfailing and whose willingness 
to oblige is apparent to all, the reputation of the 
firm is constantly growing. 

The senior member of this firm is a son of Prof. 
John Schroeder, who was born in Kerr-Hessian and 
was graduated from a (Jerman seminary after a 
six-years' course of study. He taught in different 
towns in Hesse and died at the age of fortj-six 
years. His wife was Philipine Schucht, a Hessian 
lady of worth, daughter of Martin Schucht, a 
wealthy farmer and miller, and an influential citi- 
zen wlio held various public ollices in Kcrr-Hcsse. 
Prof. Schroeder and his wife reared three children 
to manhood and womanhood. They are Charles, a 



farmer of Wiltcn Townshii), this county; John and 
Maria C.,now Mrs. C. Justes, of Rosewood, Chicago, 
(ioing back another generation in the ancestral line 
we find Prof. Auton Schroeder, also an able teacher, 
who was born in Handa Kerr-Hesse. 

John Schroeder was born in Geriiuuiy and reared 
under favorable home influences. His father died 
when he was nine years (^Id. but he remained with 
his mother until he had entered his teens, when he 
began the labors of life as a clerk in a general store 
in llesse-Cassel. After sojourning there three 
j'ears he went to Gottingen, where he clerked until 
he was twcnt}' years old. During this period he 
took private lessons in French, book-keeping and 
music. When twenty years old he entered the 
German army, serving two 3'ears and two months 
in the First German Rifle Battalion, Third Com- 
panj\ The life of a soldier was most distasteful to 
him and as soon as his term was completed he made 
preparations to join his brother and sister in Amer- 
ica, they being at that time at Blue Island, Cook 
County, 111. 

October 15, 1856, the good ship, "Union," Capt. 
Claussen, spread her sails and left the harbor of 
Bremen for a voj'age across the Atlantic. Among 
the passengers was Mr. Schroeder, who landed in 
New York, January 3, 1857, whence he came at 
once to Chicago b}' rail. His brother was engaged 
in wagon-making at Blue Island and he took up 
the same trade, w'orking with him, and also in Chi- 
cago and Michigan City, Ind. Li the fall of 18G0 
he came to Will County and located at Wilton 
Center, where he engaged in the manufacture of 
carriages and wagons. He built a residence and 
shop, and worked up an excellent business, at which 
he continued to labor until 1882. lie then aban- 
doned wagon-making to operate a farm of eighty 
acres adjoining the village, of which he had been 
the purchaser. 

Id the spring of 1887, Mr. Schroeder leraoved to 
Manhattan, forming the present partnership with 
his son and buying the general raercliandise stock 
of Knapp & McGovney. He continued to handle 
agricultural implements, in which he had begun to 
deal at Wilton Center, until January', 1890, when 
that branch of the trade was abandoned. The 
means which Mr. Schroeder has invested iu his 



JPORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



G7o 



business is not his only possesssiou, but lie owns 
town lots and a residence, which js vahiable and 
attractive. Mis business energy and tact are not 
excelled in the city and all who know him agree in 
the verdict which pronounces his success but a 
merited reward. 

The marriage of Mr. Schroeder was celebrated 
in Thornton, 111., February 7, 1859, the lad^- of his 
choice being Miss Annie .Tustes. She was born in 
Jlunden, Prussia, and her father, Joseph Justes, was 
also a native of that place. He emigrated witli 
his family about 1858, making bis home in Blue 
Island, Cook County, where he continued to work 
at his trade of a shoemaker until his death. Mrs. 
Schroeder possesses a fine character, is a notable 
housewife, and has been devoted to tiie interests of 
her husband and the children, whom she has reared 
to habits of usefulness. 

The faniil}' of John Schroeder includes eight 
sons and (laughters, of whom Marj-, Dora and Katie 
still linger by the liome fireside. Clernence, the 
first-born, is senior member of the firm, and his life 
will be more fully detailed below; the second child 
is Emma, now Mrs. Rose, of AVilton Townshi]); the 
third is Louis, who is married and farming his 
father's acres; the fourth is Annie, now Mrs. Mackey 
who lives in Manhattan; the fifth is Mrs. Sophia 
Gerdes. of AVallingford. 

His fellow-citizens have not allowed Mr. Schroe- 
der to exert his abilities entirelj- in personal affairs 
but have called upon him to act as Collector and 
School Director. In both of these offices he served 
while residing at Wilton, and he also helped to or- 
ganize the society- and build the house of worship 
for the Lutherans in that place. He is a charter 
member of the church there and is justlj' consid- 
ered one of the [lillars therein, having ever been an 
active worker. In politics he is a stanch Repub- 
lican. 

Clemence Schroeder, junior partner in the firm 
of J. Schroeder i^' Son, was born at Wilton Center, 
August 1, 1800. He is a young man of rare busi- 
ness qualifications and a degree of enterprise which 
indicates that if his life is spared he will become 
one of the most influential business men of North- 
ern Illinois. His traits of character and disposition 
are such as to win and keep friends, and everyone 



has a good word for him. He was reared in his 
native place and there afforded excellent school 
advantages, also having the privilege of six months' 
attendance at a German school in Glassville, Ind. 

Returning to his home after this course of study, 
young Schroeder, who had not long before entered 
his teens, began to assist his father by painting 
carriages and wagons. The air of the paint room, 
which had to be tightly closed during much of the 
work which he performed, proved injurious to his 
health, and he left the shop and went upon the 
farm. There he engaged in agricultural labors, 
finding his health much benefited by his out of- 
door life, which he continued until 1884. He then 
came to Manhattan, where for a year he was em- 
ployed as a clerk by Elliott ct Bryant. He next 
accepted a similar position with Knapp & McGov- 
ney, in whose cmplo}' he remained until the first of 
March, 1887. His employers were then bought 
out by himself and father and the new firm insti- 
tuted, which is prosperous and popular. 

The virtues and acquirements of Miss Sophia 
Krapp, a native of Mokena, won the affection of 
Mr. Schroeder and, his wooing having proved suc- 
cessful, she became his wife April 20, 1887. The 
young couple have one child, a bright little boy 
named Alvin. Mrs. Schroeder is a daughter of 
Martin Krapp. a German stock dealer, who has 
been for a number of ^^ears engaged in stock-deal- 
ing and the meat business in Jlokena. 

Clemence Schroeder is one of those through 
whose efforts the town of Manhattan was incorpo- 
ated. He is now serving his second term as a mem- 
ber of' the Board of Trustees and he held the 
position of assistant Postmaster a little over j'ear. 
He follows his father's example and teaching in 
being a stanch Republican, and he also belongs to 
the German Lutheran Cliureh at Wilton. 



* 



yj^^AT. J. ROWELL, senior member of the firm 
I jjj of Rowell Bros., is, with his partner, tran- 
ll^Mi sacting a thriving business as a dealer in 
gravel, cobble stones and sand, operating two pits 
of thirti' feet depth, convenient to the railroad 



C7() 



POHTRAIT AND BIOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tracks, and liaviiig all the necessary facilities in 
connection therewilli. He also deals consiilerably 
in real estate. lie is niinilu'ied among the lisinjf 
j'oung business men of .I()lict, i>oi)iil:ir in society 
and having before him a fair outlook fur the 
future. 

A native of liic town of Clark.son, N. Y., Mr. 
Uowell was born June 2G, 1858, and was brought 
by his [lareiils to liiis county when a child of two 
years. They lived on a farm until he was fourteen 
years old and then removed to the present residence 
of the family on Richards Street. Young Rowell, 
during his boyhood attended the academy in Joliet 
and subsequently was a student in the I'uiversity 
of ^Minnesota one year. Later lie was in Ciiicago 
I'niversily four years, from which he was grad- 
uated with liigli honors in 187H. 

Returning now to Joliet, Mr. Rowell became in- 
terested in newspaper work, and for one year was 
cily editor of the Hr'pvbUcmid Sun. Upon sever- 
ing his connection with this paper be repaired to 
Washington, D. ('., to assume the duties of a gov- 
ernment office. He resigned this in 1885, and 
returning again to eToliet, became interested in real 
estate and insurance to which lie confined his atten- 
tion until 1889. That year he extended his busi- 
ness as already' stated. 

The parents of our subject were Hopkins and 
Mary E. (Blood) Rowell, likewise natives of Mon- 
roe County, N. Y. and the father born in Clarkson 
in 1800. Tlicre was born to them a family of live 
children, all of whom are living; the father is now 
deceased and the mother still living in .lolicl. 



/AMES McNAMEE, managing editor of the 
Press and Secretary of the Joliet Press 
Publishing Company, although only a resi- 
dent of the city for three years past, has 
become favorably known to the greater portion of 
its [iiuple and is looked ujiou as a thorough busi- 
ness man, fully com[)ctenl for the position wliich 
he has assumed. He was born in County Tyrone, 
Lcland. October 13. 1848, and there and in Eng- 
land spent the first thirty-two years of his life. At 



an early age he became interested in jiewspaper 
work, and going over to England, was for fifteen 
years engaged as a journalist, meeting with more 
than ordinary success. 

Finally, in August, 1881, Mr. McNamee deter- 
mined upon emigrating to America, and after 
crossing the Atlantic, located in Xew Y'ork City, 
wiicrc he was in liie emplo3- of different news- 
papers until going to l*hiladci|)liia, Pa. He so- 
journed liicre until coming to the West. Upon 
reaching this county, lie located at once in Joliet, 
and was cni|iloyed as editor of the Pri-sn |)rior to 
the reorganization of the company, and when this 
was effected, having by his good habits and steady 
attention to business secured the confidence of 
those with whom he was associated, he was chosen 
for his present position. He has proven a proper 
man for the place and has exerted no small inllu- 
cnce in bringing the J'ress to its present efficiency' 
and i)romincnce. He was reared in the Catholic 
faith of his forefathers and belongs to St. Mary's 
Church. His parents were John and Mary Mc- 
Namee, natives likewise of County Tyrone, L'e- 
land, and who are now deceased. 

While a resident of the city of MiddlcslMjrougli, 
England, Mr. McNamee was wedded, July 27, 
1876, to Miss Flora O'Neill. Of this union there 
have been born six children, all of wl.om are liv- 
ing, and named respectively: John, Peter. James. 
Philip, Mary and Joseph. The little family- occu- 
pies a neat home in the Seventh Ward and enjoys 
the frieudshii) and acquaintance of its cultivated 
people. 

Tlie Joliet Press Publishing Company was incor- 
porated October 6. 1889, with a capital stock of 
%«2n,000. of which *5.000 was paid up. There has 
since been added 110,000 to the |)ai(l-u|i stock. 
The officers are: Dr. William Dougall, President 
and Treasurer; James McNamee, Secretary and 
Managing Editor. The Board of Directors con- 
sists of live members, viz: Dr. William Dougall, 
James McNamee. D. M. Stiles, Capt. James Miller 
and M. J. Kane. The office is thoroughly equipped 
for both newspaper and job printing, having, since 
the consolidation, increased its facilities by the put- 
ting in of new machinerv and presses of the most 
ap|)roveil make. The outlook is Mattering, and as 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



677 



the establishment is in the lianrls of some of the 
most capable business men of the city, there is 
little question that the enterprise will >ie an entire 
success. 



r/OIIN FRIDLEY. In passing through Flor- 
ence Township, a visitor is struck by the 
prosperous appearance of many of the rural 
hoines, and the eyes are especially attracted 
to some of the residences that dot the landscape. 
Among those thus conspicuous is that of Mr. Frid- 
ley, a commodious building of pleasing design, 
which is accompanied b^' fine barns and other 
structures needful to a flourishing agriculturist. 
The fertile acres that surround the dwelling show 
that the owner is a master hand, for, although the 
land is now rented, nothing is allowed to gain a 
look of neglect or in any wise indicate a loss of its 
former progressive attitude. 

Mr. Fridlcy is a native of the far-famed Iniid of 
Switzerland, where his eyes opened to the light 
March 26, 1838. He is the only child of John and 
Elizabeth Fridlcy, the former of whom spent his 
life in that clime and the latter still lives there. 
When nineteen years old, young Fridley came to 
America, settling in Florence Township, this county, 
on a tract, where he remained from 1857 until 
187C, when he became the occupant of the estate 
he now owns. This comprises two hundred and 
forty acres on sections 10 and 11. All the build- 
ings on the place have been made by him, and to 
his energj' is due every improvement that makes of 
I he estate so valuable a piece of properly. 

Inheriting a devotion to country that is char- 
acteristic of the German stock, whence he derives 
his origin, Mr. P^ridley devoted some of the liest 
years of his life to the protection of the flag of the 
Union. In 1862 he joined the army as a private 
in Company G, One Hundreth Illinois Infantry, 
and he served until the close f)f the rebellion. His 
canipaigning was done in Kentucky, Tennessee 
and Georgia, and during it he fought in several of 
the most noted contests of the war, among them 
being Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Kidge, 



Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca, and the various battles 
of the Atlanta campaign. At Kenesaw he was 
wounded and disabled for a time. He was mus- 
tered out of the service at Nashville, and going to 
Chicago, there received his discharge July 1, 1865. 
He is numbered in the ranks of the Republican 
party, but takes no part in politics other than to 
east his vote when occasion requires. 

An important step in the life of our subject 
took place on Christmas Day, 1866, on which date 
he was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary A. Dal- 
lenbach, of his own township. This estimable ladv 
was the widow of Christian Dallenbach, by whom 
she had two children — John W. and Frank. She 
was born in Wurtemburg, German}-, and still lives, 
enjoying with her companion the fruits of indus- 
try and the esteem of many friends. She is a mem- 
ber of the Evangelical Church. To her and her 
present husband a son was born, E. Franklin, from 
whom they were compelled to part when he was 
eleven years old. 



ILLIAM IIELDT. This gentleman owns 
and occupies a valuable estate of two hun- 
dred and forty aci'cs on section 35, Wash- 
ington Township, and is numbered among the en- 
terprising and progressive agriculturists of the 
county. He has improved most of tiie land which 
comprises his estate, and put up all the buildings 
upon it, which include every necessary and conven- 
ient arrangemert for the carrying on of the work 
of the farm. He was born in Mecklenburg, Ger- 
man}', Marcli 4, 1825, and grew to manhood in his 
native country, acquiring a good education and the 
practical knowledge which has been of use in his 
mature years. He is the son of natives of Meck- 
lenburg who came with other members of their 
family to America and died here. A fuller his- 
tory of the family will be found in the biography 
of E. Heldt. 

The gentleman of whom we write was married 
in his native land to Miss Hannah Stedt, who was 
born and reared in the same province as himself 
and whose parental history is included in the 



¥ 



C78 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



sketch of Williiim Stedt, elsewbere in this Albl.m. 
Soon after his marriage Mr. Heidt and his wife 
started for America, taiiing jiassage at Hamburg 
and hmding in the metropolis, whence the^' went 
at once to Ciiicago, later making a settlement in 
York Township, DuPage County. There Mr. 
Ileldt began to work as a laborer on the railroad, 
subsequently becomir.g the operator of rented land. 
In the latter manner he was engaged until 1864, 
when lie came to Will County and purchased his 
first land. In his efforts to obtain a good home 
he was ably seconded by his good wife and they 
toiled hard together until her death, which occurred 
June 30, 1888. She had reached the age of /Jfty- 
two and one-half years. 

Tlie family of Mr. Heldt consists of eleven sons 
and (laughters. Minnie died at the age of twenty 
years, Emma at the age of three, and Fred at the 
age of two. Henry married Steinie Granges, and 
occupies a farm in Washington Township; Will- 
iam who lives on a farm near .loliet, married Vinie 
Keicbemeister; Marj' is the wife of Louis Fieaii, a 
farmer in Washington Townsbi|i; Charles remains 
with his father and helps to work the farm; Her- 
man, .lohn, F.rama and Anical are also at home. 

Mr. HeldL is an earnest advocate of the princi- 
ples of the Ivepul)lican i)arty. He is connected 
with the Lutheran Church, with which his wife 
was also identified. He is held in good repute as 
an honorablo and industrious man, a rrlial)le cit- 
izen, and a kindly i]arent. 



m 



■j/OSEPH HARPER. The farming and agri- 
cultural interests of New Lenox Township 
recognize a worthy representative in Mr. 
Harper, who owns and occupies a well-de- 
veloped farm on section I 2, where he has first-class 
buildings anil all the other appurtenances of the 
well-regulated country estate. The hand of thrift 
and industry is ajiparent at all points, and presents 
a pleasant picture of the results of energy and per- 
severance. 

The Harper family is of English origin, and 
Thomas Harper, the father of our subject, was 



born in Westmoreland County, England, where 
be was reared to man's estate and was marrie(J'. 
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Wil- 
son, was born in Lancashire, and the parents came 
to America in 1852. They settled in Lockport, 
Will Countj% 111., but only sojourned there two 
months, removing then to Frankfort Township, 
where they lived five or six years. Their nexi. re- 
moval was to New Lenox Township, this county, 
where the father selected land on section 12, and 
built up a permanent home. There he and his es- 
timable wife spent the remainder of their lives, 
both dying in 1870. 

To the parents of our subject there was born a 
family of nine children, of whom Joseph ivas the 
sixth. His native place was Westmoreland County, 
England, and the date of his birth August .3, 1836. 
He emigrated to America with his parents and re- 
mained a member of the household until about the 
time of reaching his majority'. His home since 
coming to this countr}' has been mostly in Frank- 
fort and New Lenox Townships, and he has uni- i 
formly followed farming pursuits. His property 
embraces one hundred and ninety-four and one- 
half acres of choice land, and the ini|noveineiits 
which wo now see upon it have arisen through 
the labors and good management of the proiirielor. 

Mr. Harper was married April lo, 18G2, at the 
bride's home in Frankfort Townshi)), to Miss Isa- 
bella, daughter of Tilford and Lucy Ann (Owen) 
l)uncan. The parents of Mrs. Harper were natives 
of Kentuck3', whence they emigrated to Illinois 
about 1833, and located among the |)ioneers of 
Frankfort Township. There the father spent the 
remainder of his days engaged in farming pursuits, 
and died in November, 1860. The mother is still 
living. Their family consisted of eleven children, 
six of whom are living. Mrs. Harper, who w:is 
next to the eldest, was born in the town of Frank- 
fort May 21, 1844, acquired her education in the 
common schools and remained under the parent'il 
roof until her marriage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harper are the parents of three 
children. The eldest, a daughter, Delia J., is the 
wife of George W. Robinson, of Joliet. George 
W. and Warren T. still remain at home with 
their parents. Mr. Har|)er, politically, is a sound 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



681 



Republican, while he and his good wife are promi- 
nently connected with the Baptist Church, attend- 
ing services at Mokena. Tliey are people highly 
respected In their community, and have one of the 
pleasantest homes in the township. Their residence, 
both in exterior finish and Inner decorations, Is a 
beautiful one, and is represented by a view on 
another page. 



'©.J 



OIlN SWEEDLER. Whatever may be truth- 
fully said of the evils of emigration, and 
whatever effort the citizens of America ma}' 
make to prevent the landing upon our shores 
of the masses who liavc been Hooding our ports of 
entry, it is nevertheless beyond disinUc that to for- 
eign countries we arc indclited for many of our 
best citizens. These are the men who have come, 
not from the haunts of vice or pauper lionies, but 
who have been reared in lionorablc and frugal 
haliits, and wlui. while seeking a broader field for 
their energies, do so with the intention of assisting 
in the Ijest development of the country to which 
they come. 

In the Emigre of German}', John Sweedler was 
born November 20, 1S19. He received the excel- 
lent education which the Fatherland bestows upon 
all. After remaining in his native land until the 
spring of 1857, with his wife and young son he 
crossed the Atlantic, to make a home in America. 
The}' landed in New York, whence they went direct 
tf> Blue Islaud, Cook County, and there they so- 
journed several years. Then selecting a location 
in this county, Mr. Sweedler bought eighty acres 
of land on section 23,. Jackson Township, where he 
has since resided. He has added to his original 
purchase, his estate now amounting to one hundred 
and thirty acres, on which he has erected excellent 
buildings and made other Improvements. His la- 
bors are characterized by zeal, pruilence and thrift, 
and it need.s liut a glance at his home to assure the 
visitor that the family enjoy their worldly posses- 
sions. 

The wife who .accompanied Mr. Sweedler from 



the Fatherland was born there October 13, 1821, 
and bore the maiden name of Mary Hammond. 
She shared her husband's cares and successes until 
the fall of 1870, when after about twenty years of 
wedded life, she closed her eyes to earthly things, 
the date of her decease being September 21. She 
had borne her husbaiid two children: Edward, 
whose natal day was March 23, 1855, and Augus- 
tus, who was born November 25, 1858. The oldest 
son is now living in Manhattan Township, having 
on February 15, 1883, married Miss Amelia Kling- 
ler; they have two children, John Edward, born 
May D, 1883; and Lloyd Elias, November 21, 1884. 

A second matrimoni.al alliance was contracted by 
Mr. Sweedler. March 31, 1872. His companion 
was Fredericka Deutschmann, a native of Germany, 
who was born M.ay 18. 1839. She was about eight- 
een years old when she came to America, and in 
this townshi|) her marriage to our subject took 
place. This union has been blessed by tlie birth of 
four children. Alvin was born August 7, 1873, 
and died April 15, 1877; Clarence E. was born 
April 29, 1876; George, March 1, 1878; Willis 
R., M.ay 11, 1881. Mrs. Sweedler is a consistent 
member of the German Baptist Church and en- 
deavors to r\de her household in such a manner as 
to fit her offspring for useful and honorable careers. 
The brotherly kindness, which is so prominently 
kept before the minds of the members of the reli- 
gious body to which she belongs, wins for her the 
good will of all her neighbors. Mr. Sweedler is a 
stanch Republican. Although not identified with 
any religious body, his life has been an upright one 
and he receives from his fellow-citizens a due meas- 
ure of respect and approbation. 

On another page the reader will observe a view 
of Mr. Sweedler's pleasant and commodious resi- 
dence, with the rural surroundings. 

EORGE S. HOUSE. This gentleman is one 
of the leading members of the bar of 
Northern Illinois, and undoubtedly stands 
the head of the profession in Joliet. He Is 
jiersistent, studious, and devoted to his calling, 




682 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



displaying in tlip conihict of cases given to his 
cliarge, a knowicilgc of legal pieeeflents, |)i'ineii)les 
of law and equit\', and a knowledge of Initnan 
nature such as few men possess. Not only is lie 
reeognized as a legal light of the first magnitude, 
but his soeial (pialities and general intelligenee 
make for hiui a |)lace in the best circles of society. 

The llousi' family formerly belonged in the Em- 
pire State, Oneida (Jounty being the birth pl.ace of 
Rodney House, the father of our subject. In the 
same county Judith Stillman was born and became 
his wife. Mr. House was a wagon-maker. In 
1833 he came to Illinois, settling in Cook County 
in that portion afterward called Grundy County ; 
two years later he became a resident of that section 
now known as Will County. To him and his 
estimable wife two children were born — Rodnej', 
Jr., and George S. 

On March 1, 1835, in what was then Grundy 
County, George S. House opened his eyes to the 
light of day. He attended the district schools, and 
after securing a fundamental education, entered 
the acadein3- at Rome, N. Y., where he prosecuted 
his studies three years. He then became a student 
in Hamilton College, N. Y., from which he was 
graduated in the class of 1856. Having chosen the 
law as his life work, he began its study and after a 
complete course at Columbia Law .School, N. Y., 
was graduated therefrom in 1859. Returning to 
Illinois he located in Joliet and began a practice 
which has redounded to his credit, and has been 
the means of securing just decisions in many cases. 
With the exception of two jears spent in Chicago 
and four years in army life, Joliet has been the 
home of Mr. House since he first opened his office 
here. 

Under Gen. Donaldson, of llie Quartermaster's 
Department, Mr. House acted during the ^var, 
being Auditor and Cashier in the general disburs 
ing office at N.ashville, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky. 
He has been corporation lawyer for the Chicago, 
Wilmington (k Vermillion Coal Company, and for 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. His po- 
litical affiliation is with the Republican party. 

The home of ]\Ir. House is presided over bj' a 
lady of culture and refinement, who is held in the 
highest esteem in the circle of society- in which she 



moves, and l)y many in humbler walks of life who 
knovv her kindness of heai't and generous regard for n 
those in need. She bore the maiden name of I 
Virginia A. Osgood, and became the wife of our 
subject .luue 27, 1860. She is a daughter of Uri i 
Osgood of this city. To Mr. and Mrs. House six s 
childien have lieen born, named respectively; : 
George Clinton, Harry O., Virginia Chamber- - 
lai:i, Gould, Robert and Hazel. The eldest son is f 
now at work for the Chicago & Wilmington Coal I 
Company. The youngest son, Robert, is highly 
commended for the courage and coolness which he j 
displayed in saving the life of a school companion i 
who was on the point of drowning. Virginia C. 
was married, April 10, 1890, in Joliet, to Frank E. 
Chamberlain. The younger members of the fam- 
ily do honor to the parental care which has been 
bestowed upon them, being well informed, courteous 
and of good habits. 



^g-Jt^Li^,^,-^ 



ILLIAM IRELAND is foreman of the 
WA/// pattern department of the Fox plant which 




^^ is under the control of the Illinois Steel 
Works Company, by whom he has been employed 
for the past nine years. For a score of years he 
has been engaged in the same business, in which he" 
is a master workman, a fact that is thoroughly ap- 
preciated by his employers. He was liorn in Kirk- 
wall on the Orkney Islands, north of Scotland, July 
26, 1842, and was engaged in Glasgovv and London 
in pattern-making. Having determined to seek a 
home in the United States, he crossed the Atlantic 
in April, 1872, and obtaining a position in the 
Cleveland Rolling j\lills at Cleveland, Ohio, resided 
in that city for nearly' a decade. He then removed 
to Joliet, III,, which has since been his home. 

Mr. Ireland married Miss Emily Roylance, of 
Chelford, Cheshire, England, who has proved her- 
self a devoted companion to her husband, and 
mother to the children who have been itorn to them. 
The pleasant dwelling at No. 820 Irving Street, 
which was built by Mr. Ireland, bears an appear- 
ance of order and refinement which none but a 
thorough housekeeper cuuld imiiart, and thorough 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



683 



rliospiUility is dispensed under its roof. The family 
of Mr. and Mrs. Ireland comprises five living chil- 
dren, nnraod respectively, Edna, Emily, John, Mar- 
I giuet and James. 

ij In the Peoples' Loan & Homestead Association, 
I of which he has been a memher since he came to 
' Joliet, Mr. Ireland holds the office of Director. He 
belongs to the social orders of Masonry, the Knights 
of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the St. An- 
drew's Society, and has lield nearly all the chairs in 
I the different orders. He also belongs to the Athc- 
. naevira and is a singing teacher there. He votes 
I with the Republican party and during the last 
', Presidential election belonged to the Protective 
(Tariff Glee Club. His religious belief coincides 
\ with tliat expressed by the creed of the Presbyter- 
l ian Church with which he is identified. He is thor- 
[ oughly respected by his fellow-men as an unpre- 
tending and useful member of society, a relial)le 
I workman and a Christian gentleman. 

I 

t -^ ^5-^ ^ 



THOMAS BENNETT is engaged in the livery 
business in Joliet, having an establishment 
well furnished with good steeds and equi- 
pages of various de5criptious,and so conducted as to 
deserve and receive a fair share of public palron- 
i<r(. He has quite an extended experience in this 
occupation in which he embarked in 1872. In 
earlier years he ^pent much time on the Pacific 
coast, having at the early age of nineteen years 
taken his place in the great army of gold seekers 
who. upon the discovery of the precious metal in 
California, rushed thither. As a forty-niner he saw 
many phases of life which he would not have wit- 
nessed had he remained in the East, and passed 
through many scenes the relation of wliich would 
afford abundant food for thought. 

The parents of our subject were Henry B. and 
Sarah (Frank) Bennett, of the Empire Stale, who 
came to Illinois in 18-l.j. Their first home was in 
the vicinity of Aurora, but in 1881, they took up 
their abode in Joliet. The occupation of the fa- 
Iher was that of a tiller of the soil. He passed 
away in 1886, ripe in years; his wife ii:ul iireceded 



him to the silent land, breathing her last in 1884. 
They were the parents of two children, he of whom 
we write and Sarah, now^Mrs. Morse, of California. 

Tliomas Bennett was horn June 26, 1830, in 
Montgomery County, N. Y., and his early years 
being passed upon the farm, he received such train- 
ing as w;is customary to farmer's sons and the edu- 
cation for which the common schools afforded 
facilities. He was in his teens when he first became 
acquainted with the Prairie State to which he ac- 
companied his parents, but which he left in a few 
years to seek the Eldorado to which the thoughts of 
so many were turning. He spent fourteen years on 
the Pacific coast, engaged in mining and the stock 
business, after which he returned to this State and 
became a farmer. Not many years had^^elapsed, 
however, before he abandoned agricultural life to 
embark in the business which he is still successfully 
carrying on. 

An important event in the life of Mr. Bennett 
transpired in December, 1868, it being no less than 
his marriage to Miss Carrie P., daughter of Laban 
Clark. One son has come to bless the union. He 
received the name of'^Allcn .and upon him have 
been bestowed all the advantages which parental 
love and theOmeans possessed by the father could 
compass. He is still living under the parental roof, 
ilr. Bennett is a believer in and a suiiporterof the 
principles of the Republican party. He stands well 
among his fellow-men and his estimable wife is also 
highly regarded throughout the community. 




IIARLES LARAWAY. The parents of the 
above-named gentleman were James and 
Elizabeth (Pocock) Larawa}-. The former 
was born in Albany County, N. Y'., and the latter 
in London, England. Their first home after mar- 
riage was in Oneida Count}', N. Y., whence, in 1852, 
the mother came to Illinois, the father following 
in 1853, and their home from that time being with 
their son, our subject. The father died January 22, 
18.56, and tlie mother in March, 1859. They bad 
ten cliihlrcn. of whom Charles was the fifth. He 
was born .)une 29, 1825, in Oneida County, N. Y., 



684 



rOU'l'RAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



remaiiiiinj tlicre until 1852, when he ciime to Will 
County. Ileie he bouyiil eighty acres on section .35, 
Joliet Townshi|),wherc he has since made his home. 
He has erected excellent buildings and added to his 
original estate until it comprises two hundred and 
nine acres. lie has always followed farming, and is 
successful in its pursuit. 

In Herkimer County, N. Y., Mr. Larawaj- was 
united in marriage with Miss Nanc3' E. Cheetlos. 
She w.as born in the county in which she was mar- 
ried, and died at her home in this State, October 
8, 1874. She belonged to the Methodist l<4)isco[ial 
Cliurcii. To herself and husband nine children 
were born, seven of whom are yet living: Albert 
is a farmer in Iowa; Charles is in business in Joliet; 
George W. lives at home; Russell is a clerk in Joliet; 
Marion, John and Artiiur W. are still with their 
fallier. In Monroe County, N. Y., June IT, 1875, 
Mr. Larawaj- w.as again married, liis bride being 
Miss Julia A. Sweetinan.wbo was born in Deerfield, 
Oneida County, November 17, IS.TO. Both are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch. Mr. 
Laraway has been School Director and is a mendicr 
of the Democratic party. 



^^JEORGE Y. SMITH h.as pursued the oceupa 
III (— ^ tion of farmer and stock-raiser very success- 
^^^^ fnlly, and is now living in retirement in his 
pleasant home on section 1, Plainfield Townslii|). 
He w.as born in Miles, Centre County, I*a., August 
8, 1813. His father, .lohn Smitii, was a native of 
the same State, born in Berks County, a son of 
Peter Smith, who was a native of Germany. From 
the best of information at hand it is gathered 
that the latter came to America with his parents in 
Colonial times. He married in Penns3-lvania, tak- 
ing as his wife Anna Mary Ilarier, a native of that 
State. He was a mechanic, .and followed the trade 
of a shoemaker and cooper, and spent the remain 
ing years of his life after coming to this country in 
Centre County. 

The father of our subject was reared and married 
in his native State. He was bred to the life of a 
farmer, and carried on that occupation in Centre 



County until 1824, when he removed to that part 
of Stark County now included in Summit County, 
Ohio, his wife and four children accompanying 
him, thfe removal being made with a team, and 
taking their household goods along with them. Mr. 
Smith located on a tract of timber land belonging 
to his father-indaw, and became identified with the 
pioneers of the State. The log house into which 
he and his family moved had but one door and one 
window-, and there was no chimney. At that time 
deer and bears were plenty and were occasionally 
seen quite near the settlements. There were no 
railroads for years, and the nearest market was at 
a lake port. Mr. Smitli cleared quite a tract of land 
and resided there until 1848, ami then removed to 
Greensburg, where his death occurred the following 
year. The maiden name of his wife w.as Mary 
Yerrick, .and she is supposed to have been born in 
Pennsylvania. Her fatlier, Anton Yerrick, is 
tliought to have been born in that State, and was 
of German antecedents. He was a farmer in Cen- 
tre County and there died at a ripe old age. The 
mother of our subject died in 1850. She had nine 
other children besides himself, namely: Peter, 
Polly, Susan, Elizabeth, Sallie, John, William, Si- 
mon and L3dia. 

The son of whom we write was in his eleventh 
3ear when his parents removed to Ohio, and he 
remembers well the incidents of i)ioneer life there. 
He received his education in the pioneer school 
taught in a log cabin on the subscription plan, tic 
lived with his parents until his twentieth j'ear, and 
then commenced to learr. the trade of a wagon- 
maker at Tniontown, serving nearly two years, 
and then went to Greensburg and estaljlished him- 
self in the business, continuing there until 1851. 
In that year he came to Will County accompanied 
by his wife and six children, making the entire 
journey with a team. They settled on land on sec- 
tion 1, Plainfield Township, which he h.ad pur- 
chased here in the spring of that year. There was 
a house on the place at that time, and he lived in 
that two 3'ears and then removed to his present 
commodious residence. 

Mr. Smith was m.arried, in October, 183(i, to 
M.agdaliua Ream, a native of Summit County, Ohio, 
and a daughter of George and Catherine Ream. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArillCAI- AL15UM. 



685 



They have had eight children: Sarah, wife of 
Isaac Henry ; .lohn, William, Conrad, George, Adam 
and Amos. JNIary married George P^erner end is 
now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith joined the 
Evangelical Association many years ago, being 
among its most active members and are classed 
among our most desirable citizens. 




'V4 ALCOLM N. M. Sl'EWAUT was born 
"^ July 24, 183 1, in Amsterdam, Montgomery 
County, N. Y., to Peter and Elizabeth 
(Bu(tkmaster) Stewart, natives of Scotland 
and New York respectively. He emigrated to 
America wlien young, and was married in the 
county in which his son was born. Peter Stewart 
followed the trade of a stonemason, and built 
the first locks on the Erie Canal and several of the 
first buildings of the Brooklyn Navy Yards. He 
came to Wilmington in 18:35, and in the fall of 
that year returned to New York to bring his family 
here. They went by lake to Detroit, Mich., and 
by team to Chicago, this State, and landed in Wil- 
mington about September 1. 183G. Here he 
bought land, p.iying $2,000 for one hundred and 
sixty acres, which is still owned by the subject of 
this sketch and two brothers. Hero he also lived 
until his death, in 18G8, having passed his four- 
score years, the mother dying some years previously. 
While working at his trade he superintended all 
the stone work in the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
and -was a man of iirominence and good circum- 
stances. Politically, he was first a AYhig and later 
an Abolitionist, and was President of the Under- 
ground Railroad, and quite an inlluential and ac- 
tive politician, afterward becoming a Republican. 
He wiis quite instrumental in getting the right of 
way for the Chicago &. Alton Railroad, and jour- 
neyed to W.ashington on its .account. ReUgiously, 
the father of our subject was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and built the church .at Wil- 
mington of his own means, principally. Before 
his death he had taken all the degrees of Masonry. 
The p.arents of our subject had ten children born 
to them, namely: John W., Edward W., Mary, 



George T., Malcolm N. M., Catherine, James N., 
Minerva, and a |)air of twins who died in infancy. 
Our subject was reared in Wilmington, and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools. In 
18G1 he joined the army t\s a private with the Chi- 
cago Dragoons, but in September, 18G1, owing to 
the fact that this companj- neither belonged to the 
State of Illinois nor the United Stsites, they were 
ordered back to Chicago, where Mr. Stewart then 
joined the One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, Com- 
pany A. Soon afterward he was promoted to First 
Lieutenant of his company, and, while in liie 
Atl.'Uita campaign, was commissioned Captain of 
the company and served in that capjicitj' for some 
time. He was then promoted to be Major of the 
United St.ates Volunteers, in which he served until 
tlic close of the war, first in the Twenty-first and 
last in the Fourth Army Corps. 

The subject of this notice participated in the 
following hard-fought battles of the Civil War: 
Perryville (Ky.), Stone River, TuUahoma, Chicka- 
mauga, siege of Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, siege 
of Knoxville, Buzzard's Roost, Rcs.aca, Calhoun, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta. Franklin and N.ashville. 
At the close of the war he was honorably dis- 
charged and returned home, where he has remained 
ever since, commencing the occup.ation of farming. 
He has been connected with the First National 
Bank of Wilmii.gton, having been a stockholder 
since its organization, and now holds the position 
of Teller of the B.ank. He still has considerable 
farming interests in Will Cou)ity, and gives much 
attention to the breeding of blooded horses. He 
started in life with a small capital, and has made all 
he has by his own efforts. 

An interesting event took place in the life of 
our subject May ;50, 1871, when he became the 
husband of Miss Anna Mclntyre, of Wilmington, 
a daughter of the Hon. Archibald J. and Jane 
(Whitten) Mclntyre, natives of New Y'ork and 
Canada, and of Scotch extraction. They became the 
iiarcnts of two children — Jean and Margaret, both 
living, their ages being sixteen and twelve years 
respectively. 

Malcolm Stewart has always taken an active inter- 
est in political afTairs, hut is not an aspirant for office. 
His views coincide with those of the Republican 



686 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



platform, lie is not a iiicinbcr of any religious 
(U'riomination, but supports Hie rrcsbyterian 
C'lnirch. Socially, he is a memlier of the Grand 
Army of ilie Republic, being enrolled, in Uowen 
I'osl, No. 17, at Wilmington, wliicli is one of the 
oldest posts in the State. lie has served as Com- 
mander of the same, and has filled all Hie chairs. 



♦^^ 



■^AMESG. ELWOOD. This gentleman has 
been pidmiiicnlly identilicd with building, 
real estate, and many other public enter- 
prises of Joliet. He is an able (inancicr, 
has a meritorious record as a soldier, and has served 
with honor in public capacities. He is the eldest 
son and only siir.viving child of the late Nelson D. 
Elwood, and was born in Lockport, May 6, 1839. 
Joliet became his home in 1843, and here he ob- 
tained his fundamental education. He spent three 
years at the military school in New Haven, Conn., 
and the years 1857-58-59 in Geneva, Switzerland, 
and Berlin, Prussia, closing his schooling at the 
Frederick William University, in the last named 
city. 

In .luly, 1862, Mr. Elwood formed a company 
and entered the Union service as Captain of Com- 
pany B, One Hundredth Illinois Infantry. During 
the battle of Stone River, .January 2, I8G3, he vvas 
aiipointed Assistant Adjutant-General of the brig- 
ade, and in that capacity he continued to serve 
until the close of army life. His gallantry was un- 
mistakable and the zeal with which he opiiosed the 
efforts of treacherous hands to tear some of the 
stars from our nation's banner was such as to add 
to the enthusiasm of his comrades and those vvhoni 
be led to battle. 

At the conclusion of the war Mr. Elwood spent 
two years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and three in Chicago, 
and in 1870 returned to Joliet with his famil}'. He 
served two j'ears as a member of the City Council, 
his term beginning in 1872, 'uid in 1877, he was 
elected Maj'or, holding the chief place in the mu- 
nicipal government two years. He was the first 
.Mayor under the present city charter. He h.is 
been active in Masonic affairs, and in 1881 served 



as Grand Commander of Knights Tcm|)lar of Illi- 
nois, having filled various positions from Junior 
Warden of .loliet Commandeiy, No. 4. to that of 
Grand Coiniiuinder. He is now I'resident of the 
Joliet Masonic Association, which is erecting a ^GO,- 
000 edifice for the use of the order. 

Mr. lOlwood has been connected with the Joliet 
Gas Company since 1861, was Secretary for twenty 
years and is at present Managing Director. In con- 
nection with ex-Mayor Paige he built the Telephone 
Exchange here, and for four j'ears he managed the 
water works now owned by the cit}'. He is Secre- 
tary and. Superintendent of O.akwood Cemetery. 
He and his family move in the first circles of Joliet, 
their. inlelligcuce and culture being duly appreci- 
ated by their acquaintances. 



■^-'^-P- 




JS MOS HARRLSON. Amid all the fine es- 
LjI tales of Green Garden Township, that 
which comprises one hundred and eighty 
acres on sections 21*, 30 and 31, is notice- 
able for its careful cultivation, orderly ajipearance 
and excellent improvements. The land is watered 
bj' Forked Creek and is all tillable, well adapted 
■for the raising of grain and also as a grazing 
ground for stock. It is seven miles from Manhat- 
tan, and its inmates can therefore enjoy much of 
what is most attractive in town life. The dwelling 
is an attractive and comfortable structure, and all 
the outbuildings are in keeping with the appearance 
of the residence. Pleasure and jirofit are fouiiil in 
the care of a fine orchard, and it and one anil a half 
miles of well-kept hedge add to the beauty of the 
estate. 

The gentleman of whom we write is a son of 
John Harrison, a Lincolnshire farmer, and Eliza- 
beth (Smith) Harrison, who was born in the same 
shire. The former liveil to the extreme age of 
ninety-two years, but the mother died when fifty 
yeiirs old. They were members of the Episcopal 
Church, upright in character and industrious in 

j habits. Of the ten children who were born to them 
but two arc now living. Henr^', the elder of these, 

I is in the wood liusiiiess in England. The maternal 



PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPHK'AL ALBUM. 



G87 



grandfather of our subject was John Smith, a 
shepherd who, while tending liis sheep one morn- 
inn- dropped dead. 

Amos Harrison was born in A|)pleliy. Lincohi- 
shiie, Enghand, April 25, 1833, and was reared in 
Uic village, enjoying the advantages of good com- 
mon schools during his early years. When button 
years old he began to earn his own living by boo- 
ing and other employments suited to his boyish 
.skill, drifting into heavier labors and finally hiring 
out upon a farm. He intended to learn the mason's 
trade, but upon going to the place where ho ex- 
pected to begin his work, he found the building 
already quite high and determined not to try his 
hand there. Among other work which lie did was 
that of cutting timber in the woods. 

Having concluded that the United States afforded 
a broader field for his energies and that here the 
prospect of advancing his material prosperity 
would be much better tiian in his native land, 
George Harrison turned his face westward in 1858. 
On the ■28th of May he left Liverpool on the sailer 
"Knii)irc State," which encounteied severe storms 
ill her passage. For six days and nights the bil- 
lows heaved wildly and the ship seemed doomed to 
destruction, but it finally outrode the waves and 
anchored in New York Harbor eight weeks after 
leaving the English port. This was at the time of 
the first attempt to lay the Atlantic cable, ami the 
same gale which threatened the "Empire State" was 
disastrous to the ''Merrimac." 

Making his way up the Hudson River, and by 
rail to Buffivlo, he crossed to Chatham, Canada, 
where he worked on a farm for some of his friends 
from .luly until f.all, without wages. Crops were 
very poor and prospeL'ts somewhat discouraging. 
In the fall, however, he began working for wages, 
Feraaining in the Dominion until November, 1860, 
when he took up his abode in Will County, HI. 
He spent the winter in Lockport, and in the spring, 
in partnership with George Andrews, bought forty 
acres of raih\)ad land in Green Garden Towiishi|). 
Mr. Andrews operated the farm and our subject be- 
gan working out for others,boarding with his partner 
seven years. The two bought an additional forty 
acres three years after, and another eighty in 1866. 
After their second purchase Mr. Harrison worked 



a part of the land and in 1868 he built a substan- 
tial dwelling upon it. 

The wirter after Mr. Harrison came into the 
township he and Mr. Murdie bought a corn-sheller, 
which they run for four years. During 1869 the 
partnership between Messrs. Harrison & Andrews 
was dissolved and the one hundred and sixty acres 
of land which they owned were divided between 
them. The same year our subject sold forty acres 
of his shhre for *40 per acre and purchased one 
hundred acres of his present estate. Upon it there 
were no iniproveraents, and all that it now bears 
are 'the result of his industry and earnest efforts. 
He moved his residence onto his original purchase 
here, which he has since made his home. He has 
been very successful in the cultivation of grain, to 
which he devotes one hundred acres of his land, 
and from which he reaped a large crop last season. 
Eighty acres are used as pasture and haying ground, 
whereon Holstein cattle, Poland-China swine, and 
a good grade of draft horses find food and intelli- 
gent care. 

Mr. Harrison is now serving his second term as 
Justice of the Peace, having been elected to the 
office in 1885, and re-elected in 188'J. For four- 
teen years he has been School Director and he is 
still serving acceptably in that position. He is a 
stanch Republican and has advanced the interest 
of his party as a delegate to county conventions. 
He possesses more than ordinary intelligence and 
displays as deep an interest in the welfare of those 
about him and the further develoiiraent of the 
country as he does in his personal affairs. Since 
1868 he has been identifieil with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and no more active member of 
the congregation can be found than he. He is 
Class-Leader and Steward of the church and Su- 
perintendent of the Sunday-school, as he has been 

for years. 

The wife of Mr. Harrison was a lady of intelli- 
gence, and the nature which made her sympathize 
in all his aspirations and assist in her own sphere 
in all his labors. She was known in her maiden- 
hood as Miss Ciitherine Marshall, and was born in 
Lincolnshire, England, in 1832. She came to 
America in 1868, and in Green Garden Township 
was united in marriage with our subject, June 30. 



(JH8 



ruUTKAir AND BlOCiKAI'lIlCAJ. ALIUIM. 



She was torn from lier happy home by an untimely 
(li;ilh, .l;inuary It, 188G, leavinji two children — 
Henry M. and Annie Lina, holh of whom arc stil' 
wilh llieir father on the home farm. Mrs. Harri- 
son was a (laughter of Thomas Maishall, a gardener 
in the mother country. 



V 



-g)^r.~ 



AVID UYBURN, though not among the 
earliest settlers of Will County, oectnpies 
an honoral)le position anu)ng its pioneers, 
and as an active, intelligent, thi ifty, pracli- 
eal farmer has promoted its agricidtural interests, 
and is classed with its most successful and well-to 
do farmers and stock-raisers. He is the proprietor 
of a valual)le farm of two hundred and fort\' acres 
(finely located in I'lainlield Township) whose rich 
harvests have brought him wealth so that he is en- 
abled to spend the declining years of a bus}', use- 
ful life at his ease in a home that is replete with 
comfort. 

Our subject is a Scotchman by birth, boin in 
Stewarton, Ayreshire, September 2G, 1821. His 
father, John Kyburn, was born iu the same shire, 
and spent his entire life in his native land. His 
fatlief of the eamc name as himself, was a life-long 
resident of Ayreshire, and for many years engaged 
in business as a manufacturer of .Scotch caps. The 
father of our subject was reared in his native .Scot- 
land, and for some years was successfully engaged 
as a carrier, having several teams and doing ex- 
pressage between Stewarton and Glasgow and Kil- 
marnock. He was still engaged in the business 
when his active life was suddenly closed by death 
in 1827. He died on the road under circumstances 
that led to the belief that be had been robbed and 
murdered. The maiden name of his wife was Agnes 
Stewart, and she was a native of Stewarton. Her 
father, John Stewart, was a farmer, and spent his 
entire life in Scotland. She came to America and 
passed her last years with her children, dying at the 
home of our subject in 1887, at the advanced age 
of ninety-one years. The following is recorded of 
the four children born to her: Thomas came to 
Illinois in 1841, and passed the remainder of his life 



in La Salle County; (jur subject was the next in or- 
der of birth; Klizabelh married James Collins, and 
resides in Joliet; Charles went to California, andi 
from there to Australia, where he was when last( 
heard from. 

David Rybuni of thia brief biography passed his- 
bojiiood and the opening years of his manhood 1 
among his native hills, and as soon as large enough i 
commenced W(jrk on a farm. He was ambitious, 
however, to do more for himself than he could in 
the pl.ace of his birth, and lured by the bright 
prospects held forth in this country foi an active, 
enterprising, cai)able ^oung man to make his way 
to a competence at least, he determined to see what 
life had for hira in America, and in 1816 he set 
sail from Glasgow on the ship Agnes, and landed 
at New York forl3-tvvo dajs later. He then pro- 
ceeded up the Hudson River to Albany, from there 
by rail to Buffalo, thence 1)3' steamer to Chicago, 
where he hired a team to take him to Aurora, then 
a small village. After a few weeks sojourn there 
he came to Will County and bought a tract of wild 
prairie l.aud in I'lainfield Township, on section 6, 
|)aying #5 an acre for it. After completing the 
purchase he went to Lisbon, in Grundy County, 
and while there assisted in the harvest. At that 
time the most of the grain was gathered with a 
cradle, a cradler getting four dollars a daj'. The 
following 3'ear Mr. Ryburn entered actively' upon 
the improvement of his land. Then ifarming was 
carried on under difticulties, as fine farming ma- 
chinery was not in general use, and there being no 
railway's it was difficult to get the produce marketed, 
as Chicago was the nearest market till the canal 
was constructed, Our subject resided on that place 
until 1856, and then sold it at a good advance, and 
bought his present farm. This he has under ad- 
mirable tillage, has it ampl^' supplied with the best 
modern machinery, and has a substantial set of 
buildings, everything about the place indicating 
superior management on the part of the ovi-ner, and 
showing that he has met with more than ordinary 
success in his attem|)ts to found a home on a foreign 
soil. 

In the accumulation of this handsome property 
Mr. Ryburn has been ably assisted by a devoted 
and helpful wife, to whom he was united in mar- 



I 



» 





<^ 







PORTRAir AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



691 



liacte in 1851. Her maiden name was Marn:aret 
Cucliraii, anilshe is also a native of Scotland. Five 
c'liilihvn liave blessed their marriage to Uieui, as 
follows: John S., a successful physician; Alexander 
C. and rhoinas, practical and intelligent younu' 
farmers at home; Agnes, the wife of Willis Brain- 
aid, of Fairbmg, Neb.; Margaret died at the age of 
fifteen. 

Mr. Kyburn is well and favorably known in Will 
County with whose interest his own have been as- 
sociated for upwards of forty years, and his char- 
acter for probity, straightforwardness in all his 
transactions, and for unswerving rectitude is gen- 
erally recognized, and has gained him a name that 
is honored by all who come in contact witli iiim 
either in a business or in a social way. His inher- 
ent Scottish traits of foresight, sagacity and excel- 
lent business habits have been potent factors, not 
only in gathering together a competence, but have 
made him useful as a citizen in his adoi)ted country. 
lie and his wife were reared in the Scotch Presby- 
terian Church, and have ever since consistently 
clung to the faitTi of their fathers. Mr. Ryburn is 
identified with the A. F. & A. M. as a member of 
Plainfield Lodge, No. 536. 




,1LLIAM GOUGAR. The Cougar family 
W// '^ widely and favorably known through- 
ly^ out New Lenox Township as having borne 
n(T unimportant part in the develoi)ment of its ag- 
ricultural resources. The subject of this notice is 
one of the worthiest representatives of the family 
and was born in Pickaway County, Ohiot August 
24, 1818. His father, William Gougar, was a na- 
tive of Berks County, Pa., and was married in early 
manhood to Miss Catherine Abel, who is likewise a 
native of the Keystone State. 

The parents of our subject left Pennsylvania 
in 1818, and settled in Pickaway County, Ohio, 
where they resided eight years. They then emi- 
grated to Vermillion County, Tiid.. and sojourned 
there until June, 1831. That year witnessed 
their arrival in this county, which was then in- 



cluded in Cook County, and they settled on section 
18, in what is now New Lenox Township. The fa- 
ther followed farming all his life, and departed 
hence March 31, 18G1. The mother had passed 
away January G, 1854, also dying at the old home- 
stead. 

To William Gougar and his wife Catherine 
there was born a family of eleven children, nine 
sons and two daughters. William, Jr., was the 
lifth child and was twelve years old when his pa- 
rents came to Illinois. He learned the art of 
farming in all its details, obtained a practical edu- 
cfition in the common school and remained a mem- 
ber of the parental household until a man of 
thirty-two years. About this time the California 
gold excitement was attracting large numbers to 
the Pacific Coast and Mr. Gougar decided to join 
the caravan, left home April ), 1850, and set out 
overland to the Golden State. lie arrived at his 
destination early in July and engaged in mining, 
also the raising of vegetables for three years and 
three months. 

At the expiration of this time, becoming satis- 
lied with his Western experience, Mr. Gougar re- 
turned home via the Isthmus and remained with 
his father until his marriage. This important event 
occurred December 28, 1859, the bride being Miss 
Clarissa, daughter of Baldwin and Hester M. 
(Bickle) Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was born in New 
York State, forty miles from Rochester, while his 
wife was a native of Pennsylvania. After marriage 
they settled in Danville, 111., where they lived two 
years, then removed to a farm five miles west of 
Kankakee, where the mother died in 1852. Mr. 
Hawkins survived his wife for a period of twelve 
years, his death occurring at the same place in 
April, 1864. 

To the parents of Mrs. Gougar there was born 
a family of six children, four of whom lived to 
mature years. Mrs. Gougar was the fourth child 
and was born in Kankakee County, February 19, 
1839. She lived there until her marriage, acquir- 
ing a common-school education and becoming fa- 
miliar with all useful household duties. After 
her marriage with our suliject they settled on a 
farm on section 20, New Lenox Township, where 
they have since lived. Mr. Gougar is a land- 



61)2 



PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPITJCAL ALBUM. 



owner to the extent uf live hundred and sixty acres, 
comprising one of the finest bodies of land in New 
Lenox Townsliip. He lias effected fine improve- 
ments, including aset of convenient modern build- 
ings, while he keei)S himself posted in regard to all 
matters connected with agriculture and avails him- 
self of the most improved machinery in the culti- 
vation of the soil. 

Our subject and his estimable wife are the pa- 
rents of four children — loel W., who is farming in 
New Lenox Township; Hester M., who died in in- 
fancy; Helen and Frank at home. The Democratic 
party finds a warm supporter in Mr. Gougar. He 
has held the various minor offices of his township 
and with his wife is a member in good standi'.ig of 
the Episcopal Church, together with their daugh- 
ter Helen and son Frank. Mr. Gougar in Decem- 
ber, 1888, revisited California and the scenes of 
his early operations in the mining district, return- 
ing the 1st of April, 188U. 

We invite the attention of the reader to a litlio- 
grai)hic portrait of Mr. Gougar, which appears on 
another page of the Alulm. 



'S^^ ATRICK BRISCOE has for many years been 

J) closely connected with the farming and 

^ stock raising interests of Will and Grundy 

I \ Counties. He came to Illinois nearly forty 
years ago, and has not only been a witness of the 
marvelous development of this part of the country 
since that time,but he has had a hand in promoting it. 
He has by hard labor, directed by wise judgment 
and practical skill, improved a farm that is in all 
particuhirs, the choicest in the neighborhood. 

Nicholas Briscoe, the father of our subject came 
to America from the land of his birth in 1850, 
.and settled in Grundy County, ill, and in ISoo 
he moved with his family to Minnesota, and took 
up a claim sixty miles above Minneaixilis, which 
was at that time a small village, and in 1857 re- 
turned with his family to (Jrundy County. His 
death occurred in that county, August 3, 1 882, 
at the advanced age of eighty -seven years. His 
wife died at the age of seventy-four, the year fol- 



lowing, and both are now sleeping their hist sleep 
in Grund}' County. There were twelve chihlrcn 
born to them, of whom three daughters and two 
sons are now living. One brother died in Atchi- 
son, Kan., where his family of five children live. 
The30ungest sister of our subject was married soon 
after the family moved to Minnesota, to William 
Harrison, and now lives in Little Falls. Ellen 
married Thomas Daly,and lives in Missouri; Mariah 
married James Meade, of Cirund3- County; Peter 
is a farmer of Au Sable Townsliip, where he has 
two hundred acres of land, and is at present Super- 
visor. 

Patrick lirisc^e was born in 1835, -md after at- 
taining manhood he bought a farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres in Grundy County, which he sold 
afterwards and bought another in the same locality. 
In 1871* he came to Channahon Township, and 
here he purchased a fine farm, just outside the vil- 
lage, beautifully located on the DuPage River near 
its mouth. It is well fitted up with good buildings, 
the land is under excellent tillage and it has a fine 
orchard of apple and other fruit trees, and the 
place is also adorned with beautiful shade trees, 
and there are some fine springs on the place. One 
hundred and fift^'-five acres of it lie in a bodj' and 
he has one hundred and sixty acres in Grundy 
County, and he operates it all with the assistance 
of his boys. He has always paid especial attention 
to stock raising and does a profitable business in 
that line. 

Mr. Briscoe and Miss Julia Dempsey were united 
in marriage in 18G8,aiid in the pleasant home that 
they have built u[), nine children have been born 
to them, of whom, six boys and two girls are now 
living, namely. Nicholas P., aged, twent^'-one, John 
iiineleenfMary A.., seventeen, Michael J., fifteen, 
Ellen eleven, William J., seven, Richard A., four, 
and Edward T., the baby. Julia died at the age 
of three years. Mr. Briscoe is a sincere believer 
in the advantages of a solid education and is giving 
his children good opportuiiites for schooling. Mrs. 
Briscoe w.as born in Itoston, Mass., in 1850, a 
daughter of Michael Dempsey, and came with iier 
parents to Kendall Count3', this State when she was 
eight years of age. 

Mr. Briscoe is possessed of far-seeing sagacity and 



PORTRAIT AND niOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



093 



energy so combined to those useful qualities of 
pi'iulencc, tliiifl and steadiness, tliat lie could not 
fail to do what he has done to make life a success. 
lie takes an active interest in the affairs of iiis 
ado[)ted county and in 1888 was elected Justice of 
the Peace of the town of Chaiinahou, and is slill 
serving, discharging the duties of his otiice with 
ability and credit. In politics he si<les with tLie 
Democratic part^-, though he often exercises the 
privilege of voting as he chooses without regard 
to party afHliations. Religiously, he and his fam- 
ily arc devoted members of the Catholic Church 
of Miuooka. 



. <o ■! > 



.^♦f^ 



LFRED AVARNER. Of honorable ances- 
try, Squire Warner has throughout his long 
life conducted himself so as to bring no 
discredit upon the name he bears, but, on the con- 
trary, add to its lustre. He occupies a high position 
in Wesley Township, with whose agriculturists he 
has long been numbered. His farm comprises one 
hundred and twenty acres of improved land on 
section 21, a frame residence and all necessary 
farm buildings, and a due supply of orchard and 
shade trees, making it attractive, and adding to its 
value. 

William Warner, the grandfather of our subject, 
was a Revolutionary soldier, and after the war be- 
came possessed of much property. He had a large 
amount of Continental money, which became ut- 
terly worthless. He, therefore, being unable to [>ay 
his debts, was informed upon by Tories and im- 
pi'isoned for debt. His eldest son, Asaliel, was born 
in Columbia Count}', N. Y., and being bi\t a lad 
at the time of the Revolution, was not able to do 
soldier's duties, but accompanied the army, em- 
ploying himself in running bullets for those who 
could take part in the scenes of strife. During the 
War of 1812 he was able to excrl his strength 
against the enemies of his country, and rose to the 
rank of Major. 

After his father was imprisoned, it fell to Asa- 
liel Warner to sujiport the family, and he earned 
money by hiring out by the month. He married 



Sarah Ketchum, a native of the same county as 
himself, and going into Livingston County, the 
young couple Ijiiilt up a home there. They became 
the parents of nine children, of whom the subject 
of this sketch is the only survivor. The father 
was a member of the State Legislature of New 
York, representing Livingston County. His record 
in war and peace is one to which his son can refer 
with just pride. He died in the Empire State in 
1846, and the mother in 1833. 

In Livingston County, N. Y., May 19, 1814, the 
eyes of our subject opened to the light of day. He 
was reared upon a farm but given most excellent 
educational advantages, first obtaining an academic 
education at Chittenango Polytechnic Academy, 
under Prof. Yates, and later attending college at 
Lima. He remained at home until twenty years of 
age, when his father divided the property among 
his children and our subject took possession of his 
patrimony, and therewith began his personal ca- 
reer. 

Young Warner remained in the Empire State 
live or six years, then made a trip to Ohio, where 
he married, returning with his bride to his native 
State. After a sojourn of about three years they 
became residents of Medina County, Ohio, where 
they remained five 3'ears, Mr. Warner being em- 
ployed in mercantile pursuits during that period. 
In 1848 he came to Illinois, and having purchased 
land warrants in Chicago, he located four hun- 
dred and eighty acres in Kankakee County. The 
next year he brought his family hither and settled 
on a farm now owned by the sons of Asahel 
Warner. 

After remaining there two years, our subject re- 
moved to his present farm, which was at that time 
raw land. The residence first occupied by the 
family was destroyed by fire in 1856. Mr. Warner 
had gone on a trip and his wife was alone at the 
time. She bought a store building at Rockville, 
five miles east, had runners put under it and it 
was hauled to the Warner farm the same day. 
In 1853 Mr. Warner went to Australia, via New 
York and Cape of Good Hope, remaining there 
twenty three years. He returned via the Sand- 
wich Islands and San Francisco, again took posses- 
sion of the farm, and has since remained with his 






694 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGKAriUCAL ALBUM. 



family. During his al)sence Mis. Wariior bad 
c'liarge of the fann aiul rosidod there iiiilil 18G4. 
Siie then moved to Wilmington, sojourned lliere 
two years, and then went to Roeliford, whieli siie 
mfide her home until the return of her husband. 
Their affairs were in competent iiands, Mrs. War- 
ner having business capacity and judgment. 

Mrs. Warner bore the maiden name of Rachel 
L. Curtis. She was born May 24, 1819, in Marccl- 
lus, N. v., was finely educated and prior to her 
marriage was a sciiool teacher. I'rof. John Mc- 
Gregor, of Scotland, President of the Sliaron Acad- 
eraj'. at Medina, Ghio, was the instructor under 
wliom she completed her studies. President Gar- 
field was at one time under the instruction of the 
same noted educator. Mrs. Warner possesses liter- 
ary talent of a high order, and the articles from 
her pen frequent!}' find place in the newspapers and 
magazines. She became the wife of our subject 
February 14, 18:i9. They are the parents of four 
children— Norman C. Clara Elizabeth, Richard 
Allen and Harvey Alfred. The two latter were 
twins, and are deceased. 

The son, Norman C, was born November 26, 
1839. He finisheii his studies at Aurora, 111. In 
Sei)tember, 18G1, be was enrolled in Company E, 
Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry — Yates Phalanx — 
and served until I8G5. At the battle of Deep 
Bottom, Va., August 16, 1864, be was seve'-ely 
wounded in Ibe right lower limb by a minie ball. 
Ainputation at the knee took place on the field and 
he fell into the enemy's hands and was carried to 
the hospital and returned to the Union lines again. 
He was then sent to Hampton Hospital, F'ortress 
Monroe, where bis mother joined bim, remaining 
two montlis and giving him her loving care. In 
ISGO he secured a clerkship in the War Depart- 
ment at Washington, spent the evenings in study, 
and entered Columbia Law School, from which he 
was graduated in due time. After being admitted 
to the bar, he settled in Rockford, 111., where lie 
still resides, occupying a prominent place among 
the legal fraternity and well known for his services 
as City Attorney. The daughter. Clara Elizabeth, is 
the wife of Everett E. Hudson, banker and insur- 
ance agent in Yankton, Dak. 

The parents of Mrs. Warner were Col. Norman 



and Elizabeth (Lainpson) Curtis, natives of Con- 
necticut and X'ermont respectively. The father 
was a farmer, a soldier in the War of 1812 and a 
Colonel in the Ohio State Militia. Mr. and Mrs. 
Curtis sijent the first few years of their wedded life 
in the Emi)ire State, and then removed to Medina 
County, Ohio, where the wife died in 18i)4. CoL 
Curtis came to Illlinois in 1855, and died here in 
1884, at the advanced age of ninety-two ^eais. His 
family consisted of seven children, Mrs. Warner 
being the second; three of them are now living. 

The labors of Squire Warner, aided b}- the good 
management of his wife, liave resulted in securing 
to them a goodly share of substance, which they 
employ in procuring reasonable enjoyments and 
aiding in good works. In Medina County, Ohio, 
Mr Warner was Assessor, and in his Illinois home 
he has long served as Justice of the Peace. He 
has always been interested in politics, votes the 
Democratic ticket and lias been a delegate to 
county conventions. A reliable citizen, an intel- 
ligent and well-bred man, he is duly esteemed, 
while the womanly nature, fine talents and thor- 
ough breeding of his wife give her a position 
fully equal to bis own in the opinion and regard 
of those about them. 

Harvey Warner, a brother of our subject, came 
to Will County in 1849, settling on the farm now 
owned by the Linton family. Another brother, 
Asahel H., came here in 1G51. Both are now 
deceased. 

- OCX? . 



m 



"oSo" 



OHN T. DIXON, who now holds the official 
position of Supervisor of Florence Town- 
ship, has been identified with the agricultu- 
tuial interests of this county since 1869. He 
was born in Wilmington Township, June 2.3, 1858, 
and spent the first six years of his life there. He 
tlicn accomimnied his parents to Grundy Count}', 
in that part of the Prairie State sojourning a few 
years. Farming was chosen b}- him for a life 
work, and well has he demonstrated his fitness for 
this line of employment. In Emmet County, Iowa, 
he owns one hundred .■uid fifty-six acres of fine land 
that he rents to a tenant, while liimself occ'upying 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



095 



and operating rented land in this county. The 
one himilred and twenty acres on which he carries 
on his enterprise is carefully managed and well 
repays the efforts of the operator. It is located 
on section 15. 

The immediate progenitors of Mr. Dixon were 
Joim and Elizal)eth (Singleton) Dixon, natives of 
England, who came to America and to this State 
early in the '5its. Their family comprised nine 
sons and daugliters, of whom onr subject was the 
second in order of birth. lie has served as Clerk 
of Florence Township three 3ears, and the estima- 
tion in which he is held by his fellow-citizens is 
shown by the fact that in the spring of 1890 they 
elected him to the ottiee of Supervisor. He is a 
Republican of the deepest dye. His character is 
an honorable one, and his reputation admirable. 

On February 15, 1K«8, Mr. Dixon led to the 
hymeneal altar Miss Grace Morey, an estimable and 
educated young ladj' who makes of their abiding 
place a home indeed. She was born in Florence 
Township, and is a daughter of Smith R. and 
Louise (Smith) Morey, natives of Penns3'lvania and 
Illinois respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have 
one son, a charming infant, named Ralph M. 



(| ftlLLIAM BEUTIEN. If genius is a capac- 

\/iJ/l '*'-^ ^*" '*''^"^' vvork, as it has been defined 
W^ by a noted literateur, then this gentleman 
deserves to be called a genius. lie has been a hard 
worker all his life, and this combined with close 
economy, lias given him possession of a fine farm, 
in which he may well lake pride. It comprises 
two hundred and sixty acres on sections 11 and 13, 
all in a body, and all under improvement and 
wisely managed. There are two residences upon 
the estate, that now occupied by Mr. Beutien and 
his family having been built in 1868 at a cost of 
$1,600. It is C0Z3' and attractive, stands in fitting 
surroundings and is the center of a happ3- home 
life. The modern barn was put up in 1879, at a 
cost of $817. 

Our subject is the youngest of eight children 
born to Fred and Caroline (Race) Beutien. The 



father was a soldier in the Prussian Army, and 
both were natives of that kingdom. Mr. Beutien 
died in 1853, and in I860 the mother came to Amer- 
ica, dying at a goodly age, in 1884. F'our of her 
children are now living. 

William Beutien was born in Prussia, February 
22, 1830. During his boyhood and j'outh he ob- 
tained a common school education, and at the age 
of seventeen years took his father's place at the 
head of the household. In 1837 he emigrated to 
America, landing at the metropolis, whence he 
came direct to Chicago, III., there securing a situa- 
tion as a farm hand in the county'. For two years 
he remained at one place, then spent two months 
on another farm, next becoming a laborer on a 
railroad in Southern Illinois. Nine months later 
he resumed farm work on an estate in DuPage 
Count}', where he remained three j-ears and eight 
months. 

We next find Mr. Beutien in Will County i)ur- 
chasing a farm with the savings which close econ- 
omy had secured, and while working his estate, 
putting in more or less time on the Illinois Central 
Ilailro.ad. At the two employments he occupied 
himself three years, then selling the farm, which he 
had changed materially from the condition in 
which he took possession of it, he bought that on 
which he still lives. He carries on mixed farming, 
and raises standard bred stock, hiring help .as he 
needs on the estate. 

The wife of iMr. Beutien was known in her mai- 
denhood as Miss Augusta Richter, and became 
Mrs. Beutien August 19, 1803. She is a daughter 
of Charles and F'redricka (Deugge) Richter, of 
Prussia, her father having been a carpenter. He 
died in his native land in 1862. Mrs. Beutien was 
born in that kingdom March 25, 1842, and received 
a common-school education. To her and her 
husband twelve children have been born, eight 
being now alive. These are: Amelia, wife of 
Henry Monk, of Peotone Township; they have 
four childien; Augusta, wife of John Knapp, and 
mother of one child, their home also being in 
this township; Mina, Bertha, Victor, Alvina,f;dda, 
and Julius, all at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beulien belong to the F>,'angeli- 
cal Lutheran Church, in which he has been a 



696 



PORTRAIT AN* BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Trustee. For eighteen years he has been School 
Director in District No. 1, and no member of the 
commuoitj- taiies gre.iter interest in the cause of 
ediiCMtlon than he. He saw to it that his oflfspring 
secured all that the public schools could give thcra. 
He is now Pathmaster, and w.as Road Commis- 
sioner three years. For eighteen years he has been 
a Director of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 
of Green Garden. He votes the Republican ticket, 
and is quite interested in the political questions of 
the da^'. We may mention that when Mr. Beutien 
arrived in America he was ^7 in debt, and that, 
the sum which seems so small to liim now, was 
at that lime quite a weight upon his mind. 



-^ 



SAMUEL RUSH HAVEN, :\I. D. The de 
mise of this distinguished member of the 
medical profession, scientist and traveler, 
took place at the home of his brother, the 
IIon.Dwight Haven, in New Lenox, and was learned 
with regret bj- the many personal friends he had 
made, as well as b}- hosts to whom his reputation 
had made him familiar. He was born in Sheridan, 
Chautauqua County, N. Y.. January 29, 1827, and 
came to what is now the renowned city of Chicago, 
in the fall of 1834, with his parents in an emigrant 
wagon, little dreaming that in years to come he 
would become a prominent resident of the citj' 
wliich was to be built up there. 

The parents of our subject settled on a farm in 
New Lenox, "Will Countj', and there young Haven 
acquired his elementar}' education. His taste lead- 
ing him to desire to become a physician, he entered 
Rush Medical College, in Chicago, working for his 
board while pursuing his studies there and matricu- 
lating in 1817. In 18.10, still owing debts con- 
tracted while attending school, he caught the gold 
fever and went to California, where he dug the 
precious metal, and also practiced his profession. 
Both occupations proved profitable to him, and he 
was enabled to pay the indebtecUiess, before alluded 
to, and establish himself well upon his return to the 
States. 

After sojourning on the Pacific Slope until 1853, 



Dr. Haven returned to Chicago, and formed a 
partnership with Dr. J. W. Freer. AVheu the war 
broke out he volunteered on the first expedition, 
under Brig. Gen. Swift, to Cairo, April 21, 18G1. 
sulisequenth' becoming a Brigade Surgeon, with tlie 
Army of the Potomac. He gained distinction in 
the field, first under Gen. Grant and later under 
Gen. Ileintzleman, being promoted to the position 
of Division Surgeon with the rank of Major, and 
finallj- becoming Corps Surgeon, with the rank of 
Colonel, under Gen. Hancock. He was through 
all the battles of the Peninsular campaign under 
Gen. McClellau and the other commanders of the 
Eastern Armj-. At the close of the war he was 
offered a Colonelcj' in the regular armj' by Presi- 
dent Lincoln, but refused. 

After the war Dr. Haven retired from active 
practice and became a ver}' successful real-estate 
dealer, displaying business acumen of a high order, 
and retrieving his fortunes, when the great fire in 
Chicago had left him almost penniless. b\- a quick 
appreciation of the needs of the lime and a daunt- 
less pushing forward. The abundant means that 
he possessed enabled him to gratify his taste for 
travel and research, and he acquired a reinitation 
as a scientist and student, fullj' equal to that he had 
obtained in the pursuit of his professional labors. 
His journeyii;gs had included almost every part of 
the known world, and bis investigations were par- 
ticularly earnest in the line of medical science. 

Dr. Haven was a great lover of books, his read- 
ing giving him such a profound knowledge of 
general literature that he was regarded ])y his ac- 
quaintances as a veritable encyclopedia of interest- 
ing information. His conversational powers were 
far above the aver.age, making him an entertaining 
companion. He was one of the band of earlj' Ab- 
olitionists and Free-Soilers who helped to shape 
the politics of Northern Illinois. Although brought 
up in the strict faith of the Congregational Church, 
his religious views became largely modified and 
broadened in later years. 

For some time past Dr. Haven had been spend- 
ing his winters in Florida, and .at the time of his 
death had a handsome ninter home in process of 
construction at Clearwater Harbor, on the coast of 
that State. His wife, who survives him, was Miss 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



697 



Jane Stowell, daugiiter of E. C. Stowell, deceased, 
formerly a well-known real-estate dealer of Chicago. 
The marriage rites of Dr. Haven and Miss Stowell 
were celebrated in 1854. 




THOMAS TRAINER is a. rich farmer of Cus- 
ter Township, where he has been reared 
from youth up, and his standing in the 
community where he is so well known is^the high- 
est. His father, William Trainer, was a'native of 
Wightonsliire, Scotland, and born in 1798. His 
mother, whose maiden name was Margaret; Moore, 
was horn on the Isle of Man, in 1808, and was 
there married at the age of twenty-five, the father 
of our subject then being thirty-five years old. 
They'remained on the Isle until 1853, and then 
started for America, but while on the passage the 
family weresadly bereaved bj' the death" of the 
devoted motiier who was buried at sea. The 
father and'remaining members of the family, land- 
ing at New York, came direct to Illinois, and he 
bought a farm on section 14, Wilmington Town- 
ship, of Lyman Francis. His daughter Margaret, 
who was only fourteen 3'ears of age, kept house 
for him; siie is now deceased. The family lived 
on that place for eight jears, when the father sold 
the property and the ensuing two years lived in 
Grand Prairie, near Dwight. At the expiration 
of that time he came to this' township, and pur- 
chased tiie liomestead on section 13. which is now 
occupied by our subject. This remained his home 
till deatli closed his mortal pilgrimage, in 1882. 
He was the father of seven children, three of whom 
arc now living. 

Thomas Trainer was the fifth child of the fam- 
ily, and was born on the Isle of Man, in the month 
of .July, 1811. He was twelve years of age when 
lie left the [tlaco of iiis nativity and came with his 
father to America. He gleaned a good education 
in the common schools, and on his father's farm a 
substantial knowledge of agriculture In all its 
liranches, and has alw,a3-s been occupied in farming 
[lursuits and since coming here with his father has 
been a resident of the homestead that the latter 



then purchased. He and his wife have a comfort- 
able home on the Kankakee River, and he is oper- 
ating one hundred and eighty-one and three-fourth 
acres of land, .-ill l3ing in a body and all wetl im- 
proved. He carries on mixed farming, raising a 
diversity of cro|)s, and having his pastures well 
stocked with standard grades of cattle. 

March 5, 1874, Mr. Trainer and Miss Elizabeth 
McDonald were united in marriage. Her parents 
were John and Mary McDonald. Her father lived 
to be seventy-seven years of age and her mother is 
now fifty-nine years old. 

Mr. Trainer is a whole souled, genial man and 
has many warm friends in the place where so much 
of his life has been passed. He is generous in 
supporting all schemes that will in any way im- 
prove the township, and has always been a liberal 
supporter of churches though not a member of 
any. He has been a Director of schools in this 
district. No. 4, and has also served as a Pathmas- 
ter, and, altogether, is one of our most useful and 
trusted citizens. In his political views he is a 
stanch Republican and has worked hard in the in- 
terests of his partj'. 



<if?OHN STEPHEN. The habits of thrift and 
industry, to which the subject of this notice 
was trained from boyhood, have followed 
(^JJ him through his latter years, as is indicated 
by his surroundings. We find him supplied with 
all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, 
and the owner of one of the finest farms in Joliet 
Township, comprising two hundred and fifty acres 
of land on section 18, upon which have been ef- 
fected good improvements. 

The early home of Mr. Stephen was on the other 
side of the Atlantic, in the Province of Alsace, 
then of France, but now belonging to Germany, 
and where he first opened his ej-es to the ligiit, 
July 18, 1839. His father, John Stephen, and his 
mother, whose maiden name was Adelia Haude, 
were likewise natives of that province, where they 
were reared and married. They lived there until 
1846, then deciding upon emigrating to America, 



008 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



iinil repairing to Havre, boarded a sailing vessel 
wiiich in due time landed them safely on Ameri- 
can shores. They proceeded directly to Cuyahoga 
County, Ohio, but lived in tiiat .State onl\' six 
months, coming thence to Illinois and settling in 
.loliet Township, this county. The fatlier engaged 
in farming, and they sojourned there a number of 
years, then removed to the city of Joliet, whei'e 
the last seven years of their life were spent. 
The five children born to them consisted of four 
sons and one daughter. Of tliese .lolm was (lie 
third ciiild. 

Mr, .Stephen was a boy of seven years when his 
parents emigrated to America, and he still has a 
dim recollection of his old iiume in France, and of 
the scenes and incidents attending the voyage to 
America, lie lived witii his parents thereafter 
until twenty-three years old, when he w.is married 
and settled in the town of Troy, living tiiere two 
years. Thence he returned to the old homestead, 
which is now his proi)erty. lie was married in 
Joliet, October 13, 186.3, to Miss Rachel, daughter 
of Ignalz and Mary (Walter) Schall. The parents 
of Mrs. .Stephen were also natives of Alsace, and 
emigrated to America about 1847, settling near 
Rome, N. Y. Later thej' came to tliis county and 
lived in the town of Troy for several years. Later 
they too, like the parents of Mr. Stephen, removed 
to Joliet where the mother died, and Mr. Schall is 
still living there. The^- were the parents of ten 
children, of whom Mrs. Stephen was the youngest. 
She is a native of the same province as her hus- 
band, and was born June 28, 1815. She was thus 
less than two years old upon coming to America 
with her parents, and recollects nothing of the 
land of her birth. She, as well as her husband, is 
thoroughly Americanized and in full .sympathy- 
with American institutions. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen are the proud parents of 
nine living children. Tiiey are all at home with 
their parents and bear the names respectively of, 
Clara O., Mary R., John E., Frances M., Joseph- 
ine A., Adeline A., Amelia E., Lenora S. and Ra}-- 
mond A. Mr. Stephen upon becoming a voting 
citizen identified himself with the Democratic 
party. lie has served a? a School Director in his 
district four years, and as Highway Commissioner 



six years. Both he and his' wife are prominently 
connected with the Catholic Church. In addi- 
tion to general farming he makes a specialt)' of 
stock-raising, and realizes therefrom handsome 
returns. 




■3^'- 



l ICIIAEL DOYLE. It affords great pleas- 
ure to the biographical writer to record 

H^ the success of a man who, beginning life 
with no means, has accumulated a compe- 
tency, and while doing so has reared his family in 
useful habits and good princii)les and acted the 
part of a worthy citizen. One of this class is 
ISIichacl Do3le, whose pleasant home is located on 
section 3.5, Jackson Township, and who is num- 
bered among the general farmers of this well de- 
veloped countj'. He is a native of the Emerald 
Isle, born in Mohill, County Leitrim, November 
1, 1832, and was .about eighteen years old when he 
came to America. Landing in New York lie went 
to New Haven, Conn., in or near wliich city he 
lived five years. During this time he was em- 
l)lo3-ed at different occupations in whicli he could 
gain a support, or which promised to better his 
condition. 

At the expiration of the period mentioned, Mr. 
Doyle came to Illinois and entered the employ of 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, his loca- 
tion being at Wilmington, this count}', for a time, 
after wiiich he was eng.aged seven j'ears in sawing 
wood for the same -ompany. During this time he 
had hoarded his resources, and was then able to 
purchase eightj' acres of land, upon which he has 
since resided. He has made various improve- 
ments, and has added to his landed estate, from 
time to time until his possessions now amount to 
seven hundred acres, the most of which is in 
.lackson Township. A complete line of farm 
Ijuildings may be seen upon the estate, their ex- 
cellence attracting the attention of every passer- 
by, as they are much better than the average 
among farmers. 

Ill New Haven, Conn., Mr. Doyle was united 



•n 



A 





^ 



CHy 



C^ 



^-Yt^(A/^^ 




<^. 







PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ro3 



ill marriage with INIIss Catlierine Marin, a native 
of County Monaghan, Ireland. She bore a part 
in Ills cares, economies and successes until 1874,* 
when slie was removed from eartii, breathing lier 
last at her home in tiiis township. She was the 
mother of six children, of whom the fourth, John, 
died in April, 1888, at the age of twenty-seven 
years. .lames and Frank are now living in Flor- 
ence Townshi|i; Michael, in Jackson Township; 
Peter lives in this townshij); and Thomas still re- 
mains at home. 

The second marri.age of Mr. Doyle took place in 
Wilmington, July G, 1875, his bride being Miss Ellen 
Kavanaugli. This estimable woman was born in 
this county. Februar}' 19, 18.53. She has borne her 
linsband four children — Josci)h, Mary, Nellie and 
Onnie, who are being carefully trained in habits 
of courtesy and usefulness by their good mother, 
and having their minds develofjed as their years 
will permit. 

Mr. Doyle has been Highway Commissioner and 
School Director for several years. His political 
afliliation is witii the Democr.acy. He and his 
wife and family are enrolled in the Catholic 
Church. Mr. Doyle is not lacking in the natural 
inU'lligence and accurate perceptions which are 
proverbial with the Irish race, and his abilities 
have been developed and his mind stored with 
information, so th.al he is now more tiian ordinarily 
intelligent. 



^^ 



l^^- 



-JIEORGE SPERRY. The traveler in going 
past the Sperry homestead invariably turns 
%^J^ for a second glance, as there is an air of 
comfort and plenty about it that is exceedingly 
pleasant to the eye. He at once singles it out as 
the result of more than ordinary enterprise and in- 
dustry — a home whose proprietor possesses all the 
attributes of a good citizen, one who has first 
looked after the comfort of his family, and who 
next, as a member of the community, presents an 
example to those around him which is well worthy 
of imitation. Mr. Sperry is well-to-do, financially, 
owning besides his farm, valuable city |)roperty in 



Joliet. He is widelj' and favorably' known through- 
out the township, and is numbered among its 
leading men. 

I The fifth in a family of seven children, our sub- 
jei-t is the son of James and Fanny (Pixley) 
Sperry, and was born in the town of Henrietta, 

! Monroe County, N. Y., April 27, 1837. His early 
life w.as spent at his father's farm, and his first 
studies were prosecuted in the common schools. 
Later he attended Monroe Academy in East Hen- 

i rietta. He remained a member of his father's 
household until reaching his majority, and soon 
afterward was married and settled in Lewiston, 
N. Y., where for many years he w.as employed as a 
collector. Tiic young wife lived only about one 
year after her marri.age, and after her death Mr. 
Sperrj' went to Rochester, and in company with 

E. D. Hallock was engaged for .about two years in 
the sale of agricultural implements. 

In 1856 IMr. Sperry came to this county, and 
during the first winter was engaged as a school 
teacher in Homer Township. After his second 
marriage he settled on the farm which he now 
owns and occupies, and in connection with its cul- 
tivation has also followed the profession of a 
teacher. After the outbreak of the Civil War, in 
July, 18G2, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Com- 
pany C, One Hundredth Illinois Infantrj-, aiid for 
nearlj' two years served as a privs^te. He was 
then commissioned First Lieutenant of Compan}^ 

F, Twenty-second New York Cavalry, and served 
in that capacity for four months, being then'pro- 
moted to a Captaincj'. He remained with the 
same regiment, and on the 21st of July was bre- 
vetted as Major. In charging a battery near 
Fisher's Hill he was run over by his own squadron, 
and received injuries which incapacitated him for 
duty for one month. On account of this he now 
enjoys a pension from the Government. He was 
l)resent in some of the great battles of the war, 
namely: Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, 
Rocky Face, Resaca, Winchester, Cedar Run and 
Waynesboro. The close of tiie war found him 
Acting Hi'igadc (iuartermaster, resi)onsible for a 
million dollars and witii certificates of non-indebt- 
edness from every department of the service. 

Mr. Sperry w.as first married in Lewiston, N.Y., 



704 



PORTRAIT AND^BIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



to Miss Mary D., daughter of the Hon. Bates 

Cook, who was formerly State Comptroller of New 
York under Gov. DeWilt Clinton. Jlrs. ALiry I). 
Sperry died without children in 1854. The second 
wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 
the spring of 1857, was formerly Mrs. Emily C. 
(Hopping) Peck. This lady was born in 1831, in 
New York, and is a daughter of Henry and Lucy 
(Paddock) Hopping, who are now deceased. Henry 
Hopping died in 1854 in California, whither he 
had gone wilii a brother, the Hon. Curtis Hopi)ing, 
who subsequently became one of the leading citi- 
zens of Sacramento, and there died recent!}', a 
wealthy man. Another brother, Enos, was edu- 
cated at West Point and became a Brigadier-Gen- 
eral. He was with Gen. Scott in his Mexican 
campaign, where he died. His remains were 
brought to iiis former home in Syracuse, N. V., 
and buried with honor by his gratefid country- 
men. 

The wife of our subjocl was first married to 
Oliver V. Peck, who died in Homer Township, 
leaving one child, a daughter, Henrietta. The 
latter married K. E. Rowlc}-, and died in Manhattan 
Township in 1882. Mrs. .Sperr}' is pioud of wear- 
ing the white ribbon as a member of the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union. She would feel hon- 
ored to be well known as a defender of prohibi- 
tion ami equal suffrage. Mr. Sperr}' is a strong 
supporter of tlie Republican party, having taken 
an active i)art in political aftairs, and in his tem- 
perance views he is a radical Proliibitionist. 

James Spt^rry and his estimable wife, tlie parents 
of our subject, were natives of (Jreat Barriuglon, 
Mass., and settled in Henrietta, Monroe County, 
N. Y., after their marriage, living in that place 
man>' years. Tiience the}' removed to the city of 
Rochester, where they spent their last days. Mr. 
Sperry was a man of decided views, and during 
slavery tinn's was a i)rominent Abolitionist. The 
parental famil}' consisted of four sons and three 
daughters, live of whom .are living, as follows: 
Henry H. Sperry, former Supcrintendeut of the 
Document Room, House of Representatives, Wash- 
ington, I). C;., and Custom House officer in New 
Y'ork City from 18G8 to 1871, is now living retired 
from business in Rochester, N. Y.; Dr. M. M. 



Sperry also lives in Rochester and is a prominent 
man in his profession; Edward lives at BatlK- 
Creek, Mich.; our subject, and Sarah A., who 
lives in Baltimore, Md., complete the family list. 
A portrait of the gentleman whose life is thus 
brieilj' recorded, and also that of his wife are pre- 
sented on another page of this volume. 



£^ EMPRONIUS S. CHAMBERLAIN, under-. 
^^^ taker and senior member of the firm of S. ' 
|l\£_I)) S. Chamberlain & Sons, of Joliet and 
Lockport, was born in Henrietta, Monroe 
County, N. Y'., August 19, 1817. He is (he son of 
Luther C. ChambcrlMin who kept the old f.ash- 
ioneil tavern in Hint rural village known as the 
Henrietta House. It was located in the midst of 
some of the finest farming lands of the famous 
Genesee Valle}', as was also the old time INIonroe 
Academy, which the boy entered at an early age 
and in which he received his rudimentary instruc- 
tion. At tlie age of fifteen years he was taken by 
his father from that thriving neighljorhood (o the 
State of Illinois, the start being m.a<le in .lauuary, 
183.'!, and this being before the days of railroading 
the bo}' rode the entire distance on an Indian pony. 

Reaching Chicago, then only an Indian station 
and trading post, they tarried a few days and then 
continued their journey southward thirty miles, to 
one mile and a half east of Lockport, where they lo- 
cated in Lockport .'ind Homer Townships. The father 
made a claim on Government land and improved a 
farm on which he lived four years, thence removiug 
to Peoria County in 1837. The young man en- 
tered .lubilee College, Peoria, from which in due 
course of lime he was graduated with academic ac- 
quirements. He returned to Lockport in 1844 and 
began as an architect and builder, taking contracts 
for the erection of warehouses and other edifices. 
To him was committed the erection of the large 
warehouse of Messrs. Norton & Co., of Lockport, 
whose business has grown to enormous proportions, 
their flouring mills being well known as among 
the most extensive in tlie countr}'. 

Pour years after his arrival, Mr. Chamberlain 



PORTRAIT AND BIOCRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



70o 



put up a store for himself anrl embarked in bis 
present business. During the fatal cholera season 
of 1854, which lasted for about thirty days, he 
worked men night and daj- making eotlins, which 
was done wholly by hand at that time. The call 
was absolute, and only by putting in every hour of 
the twenty-four could the di^and lie suiiplied. 
In that |)erilous period, Mr. CMinmberlain wt-nt 
personally to nearly every house where death oc- 
curred, sometimes as many as eight a day in a vil- 
lage of twenty- five hundred inhabitants. The 
Collins were made of walnut or whitewood, with 
walnut flat tops, and lined and trimmed inside with 
book-niuslin headings. 

In 1873, Mr. Chamberlain started an cstablish- 
nt in .loliet, first occupying a frame building 
Bf his own erection on Chicago Sti'oet, but subse- 
quently moving into the fine store. No. II 9, (War- 
ner IJluck) opposite his forraei site. These prem- 
ises are expressly fitted for the business and have 
a (tejilli <if ninet}' feet, with a front of plate gl.ass. 
it-he eoinniodious office is entered directly from 
"the street, beiiTg- separated from the store room by 
a pirlition of walnut and ash panels with a glass 
till). The olfice, without any attempt at displa}', 
:4»as !Mi air o^efinement and good taste. In the 
inner room is an elegant cabinet often samples 
of vsiork, t^tUer 'if which can be brought to view in 
n_ moment by lowering a hinged panel. Beyond 
Ills rpora -isjone opening on the allej', which is de- 
vciied to receiving, trimming etc. Tlie establish- 
ment is connected li)' telephone with the other 
establishment at Lockport, a distance of five miles, 
with the dwelling at No. 617 Clinton Street, and 
with the Joliet Telephone Exchange. 

Mr.Chamberlaiu is a man of advanced ideas and 
has exhibited throughout his long business career 
a remarkable degree of energy and tact. Although 
his location is near Chicago, he always carries a 
large stock of goods; he is a judicious buyer and 
as his trade is mostly among the more prosperous 
people of Joliet and vicinity, his stock is largely 
composed of the finer grades of cloth and metallic 
trimmings. It is doubtful if there is a funeral di- 
rector in the country who takes more pride in his 
stable (ir mure pains to keep his valuable horses in 
good liiui. lie owns two siians which rank .iiiiong 



the best in Northern Illinois. One is a pair of 
dark bays with heavy manes and tails; the other, 
a pair of Morgan Blaekhawks, recently brought by 
him from Lexington, Ky. 

Being a lover of the ecjuine race, Mr. Chamber- 
lain becomes peculiarly attached' to the steeds that 
have done him service. As an illustration of this, 
ho has in pasture a team that luul worked for a 
little over ten j-ears and are yet in good condition. 
lie refuses to sell them, saying, -'They will be 
cared for by me through the rest of their lives." 
Four of the hearses used by our subject were 
built for him by Messrs. Crane, Breed & Co. of 
Cincinnati, two purchased by Merts & Ridle of 
Ravenna, Ohio; one white hearse built by Cun- 
ningham, of Rochester, N. Y. Mr. Chamberlain 
never takes part in politics but has frequently had 
public office tendered him. He invariably declines, 
having always felt that his most important duty 
was to attend strictly to his legitimate business. 

To do justice to our subject we ought to de- 
vote some time to his high (lersonal character, but 
must content ourselves with a remark from the 
Joliet SiDi: — ''No man is better known or regarded 
with higher esteem in this vicinity than S. S. 
Chamberlain, a gentleman of sterling integrity. 
We have known him for forty years and know 
whereof we speak." 

With Miss Elizabeth S. CJray, of Homer, this 
county, Mr. Chamberlain was united in marriage 
January 19, 1842. The bride was a daughter of 
Alfred and a sister of Capt. George M. Gray, of 
the Pullman Palace Car Line. She was born in 
the Empire State but came to Illinois at an early 
day. For nearly half a centuiy she shared in 
her husband's joys and sorrows, ever devoted to 
his comfort and the welfare of the children whom 
she had borne. She entered into rest April 9, 
1889, mourned by many friends whose sympathy 
is with the family in their sore bereavement. She 
was a member of the Congregational Church. The 
union was blessed by the birth of two sons only. 
George N. is one of the firm and resides in Joliet; 
Charles G. is in charge of the Lockport branch 
of the business. 

The father of our subject was born in Columbia 
County, N. Y., in 1789, and look [lart in the War 



706 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of 1812. After its conclusion lie married Miss 
Tliankful Talinage of Litchfield. Conn., and settled 
in Monroe Count}', N. Y. For a time he engaged in 
farming, subsequently emliarking as a hotel keeper, 
a business that he followed fifteen years. He was 
a prominent man in his location, especially in edu- 
ciitional affairs, being a Trustee and Director in 
the Monroe Academ}- and helping to build up the 
early schools of AVestern New York. He was 
Postmaster of Henrietta for many years. Upon 
coming to Illinois as mentioned above, he bought 
estensivel}-, and built the first frame house in his 
section of country, neither in .Joliet, nor Lock- 
port, an}- other than log houses being then 
standing. After leaving Lockport he .*pent seven 
years in Peoria, thence going to Milton, AV.-iync 
County, Ind., where he engaged in the grain 
and warehouse business. There he remained un- 
til his death in 1878; the mother had breathed 
her last in 1852. Luther C. C'haml)erlain was a 
member of the Episcopal Church. He w.is the 
father of three children — Lewis L., of this 
county; S. S. ; and Kllen M., wife of Norton Davis 
of Monroe County, N. Y., who died Fel)ruary 9, 
1890. 



— :<^^2 — - 

^^^EORGE DIXON, a representative f.irmer 
|[ g=i and stock-raiser of DuPage Township, is 
'^^ll pleasantly located on section .32. His fine 
estate comprises two hundred and forty acres, a 
part of which is well-developed land upon which a 
full line of suostantial buildings have been erected 
and such other improvements made as are usually^ 
the work of a man of enterprise and good judgment. 
Mr. Dixon is a self-made man who labored long 
and arduously to gain a good home and is now en- 
joying a merited reward for his efforts. 

The natal day of our subject was Christmas Day, 
18.32, and his birthplace Lincolnshire, England. 
His parents were Robert -and Susan Dixon who 
lived upon a farm and reared their son amid its 
toils and limited advantages. His education was 
but meagre, as the opportunities he had were not 
equal to those of .\m< rican youth of the same class 
even at that dale, but observation and native in- 



telligence have largely overcome the deficiency and ' 
he is to-day a well-informed man. 

In 18.51 young Dixon emigrated to America, 
leaving Liverpool on the sailer '-ruder writer." 
which reached New York after an ocean voyage oti 
seven weeks and three daj-s. The j-oung man came 
direct to the Prairif State, found emplo}'ment as ai 
farm laborer in Cook County and worked by the 
month fourteen years. He then boiight a tract of 
land in Newaygo Count}-, ^Mich., and was identified 
with the farming interests of that section several 1 
years. He finally jjurchased the land he now occu- 
])ies. renting it out tliree years and then removing 
hither. 

On September 14, 1869, the marriage rites were 
celebrated between Mr. Dixon and Miss Mary .1. 
Burgess, who was born in England, October 12. 
1840. She is a daughter of Heaton and .lane 
(Clark) Burgess, who emigrated to America in 
1867, and made their home in Will County, HI 
for a number of years. They removed to Cook 
County, where the father died in 1884 and the 
mother still lives. They had nine children, of 
whom the living are, Mrs. Dixon ; .John and Samuel 
who resi<le in this county; William, George H.. 
Charles R. and Thomas E., who live in Cook 
County; and Betsey, wife of Harry Pollard, of 
Pike County. 

Mr. Dixon is a Democrat, but usually votes for 
the man rather than the strict party principle. He 
is a reliable citizen, an enterprising farmer, a kind 
neighbor, and receives his just share in the respect 
of those who know him, while the wife of his bosom 
has her friends among them to whom her virtues 
have endeared her. 



-^ 




i^, HARLES B. HAYWARD. No more genial, 
companionable or intelligent gentleman is to 
be found in the city of Joliet than the above- 
named, who is at the head of the C. B. Hayward 
Printing Company. He thoroughly understands 
the printers trade, in which he has had practical 
experience, and for quite a number of years was an 
editor, gaining high rank in journalistic circles for 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAJ. ALBUM. 



707 



his energy, versatility and unchanging devotion to 
juineiple. During the late war lie passed through 
trying scenes but no amount of persecution or 
danger could turn him from his devotion to what 
he thought right. Those who wielded the pen in 
defense of the liiion exerted an inlluence which 
cannot lie measured, and to them honor belongs as 
well as to those wlio served their countrj' on the 
tented field. 

In the Iloosier State in the first half of the nine- 
tccnlli I'entury. lived Thomas Hayward and two 
brutiiers, who managed a tannery at Fairfield. 
Tiiomas married Miss May A. Hill, among the 
members of their family being a son, C. B., who 
oiiened his eyes to the light July 1. 1843. He had 
one brother and two .sigters, all living. About 1855 
the parents removed to Columbus, Ind., whence 
four years later they moved to Indianapolis and 
lived there until 1859, and then removed to Carth- 
age. Mo. During the war Mr. Ha3-ward removed 
to Ft. Scott. Kan., at its close becoming a resident 
of Springfleld, Mo., where he died in 1869. 

At the age of ten years, he of whom we write 
went to Indianapolis to learu the trade of a printer, 
remaining tliere about five years, and then accom- 
panying his parents to Carthage, Mo., where he 
opened a news and job oflice. His Union senti- 
ments aroused the Southerners, who compelled him 
to take refuge, along with others, in Kansas. He 
then went to Ft. Scott and established the Ft. Scott 
Monitor, securing a military escort to bring his 
family hither from his former home. While at Ft. 
Scott he was appointed United States Deputy Rev- 
enue Collector. At the close of the war he re- 
moved to Springfield, Mo., where he engaged in 
the printing business. 

The next place of abode of Mr. Hajward was 
Marseilles. HI., to which place he cjime in 1870, tak- 
ing up the occupation of traveling agent for the 
paper mill at that point. The following year he 
came to Joliet and took charge of the job printing 
department of the Bopu/ilican. In 1872 he started 
the Joliet Sun, which he i)ublisho<l ten years, selling 
it at the expiiation of that (jeriod to the lifjitt/jlican. 
In 1883, he went to Santa Fe, N. M., where he was 
connected with the New Me.\ican Printing Com- 
pany. Being appointed Postmaster by President 



Arthur in 1884, at Santa Fe. he held that position 
until 1886, when he returned to Joliet. On New 
Years Day following he organized the company 
which he still manages, although on April 1, 1890, 
the firm name was changed to the C. B. Hayward 
Company. 

April 7, 1872, Mr. H!i3'ward married Miss May 
E.Munroe, at the home of the bride's father, George 
ilunroe. Joliet, April 7, 1872. Jlr. and Mrs. H.ay- 
ward are the happy |)arents of four living children: 
Josie, Thomas, Charles M., and Ruth, and mourn 
the death of a sou, George, who was taken from 
them September 14, 1881. Mr. Hayward is recog- 
nized as among the leading Republicans of this 
county and this part of Illinois. 



1?^^HINEAS K. ROWLEY, late a resident of 
jl' Homer Township, departed this life at his 
I f^ homestead on section 19, February 22, 
) i 1889. He was a native of New Y'ork, and 
the son of Jirah Rowley, whose wife bore the 
maiden name of Elizabeth Brace, and both were 
natives of New York State. When about eighteen 
years old young Rowley came to this county, 
within whose limits he made his home the re- 
mainder of his life, whi(;li terminated when he was 
in the seventy-second year of his age, his birth 
taking place November 5, 1816. His native place 
was Victor, N. Y. 

Mr. Rowley was married at .Sugar Grove, Kane 
Couutj-, 111., November 1, 1843. to Miss Jane A., 
daughter of Isaac and Abigail (Tew) Sauford. 
The parents of Mrs. Rowlej' were n.atives of Massa- 
chusetts, whence they emigr.ated to Marshalltown, 
Iowa, and died, the mother in 1S76. and Mr. San- 
ford in 1875. Mrs. Rowley w.h3 born in Savoy, 
Berkshire County, M.ass., August 23, 1824. After 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rowlej- settled at the 
present homeste.ad, which Mrs. Rowley has m.an- 
.aged with rare good judgment since her husband's 
death. The farm comprises oue hundred .and 
eight}' acres of fertile land embellished with good 
improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Rowley identified 
themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church 



70S 



POR-rUAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALUUM. 



\ 



many years ngo. in the fai'.h of wliieh Mr. Rowley 

(lit'd, and with which the widow still leniuins con- 
nected. 

Tlieie was born of tlieir union a family of seven 
childien, the eldest of whom, Adelbert C, mairiod 
Miss Sarah B. Phillii)s, and is a resident of Kane 
County; Mary E. is the wife of John Mitchell, and 
tliej' live in Chicago; George died when fourteen 
months old; Fre<l K. was first married to Henrietta 
Peck, who died, and he then wedded her cousin 
Josephine. He lives in Livingston County; Alice 
S. is the wife of Jerome Paddock, of Homer Town- 
ship; Jane S. died Januaiy 8, 1874, when an inter- 
esting young] lady of nineteen years; Frank A. 
married Miss Helen E. Savage, and occupies him- 
self at farming in Homer Township. Mrs. Row- 
ley_ has a pleasant home and an intelligent family, 
and is a lady held in high esteem in the commu- 
nity. 



\f/OHN F. DAGGETT, M. ]). The reputation 
of this gentleman as a well-read and success 
ful physician and surgeon, is not confined to 
Joliet, where he now makes his home, but 
reaches far beyond this city. For nearly half a 
ct^ntur}- he held the first place in the ranks of the 
profession in and about Lockport. lie is justly 
regarded as one of the ablest general practitioners 
in this section of the State, wiiile as a surgeon lie 
has high repute, his skill and good judgment justly 
placing him among the leaders in o[)erative and 
highly successful surger}-. Beginning his medical 
career with a iint^ theoretical knowledge, he has been 
studious, discriminating, and desirous of atiding to 
his store of learning all that modern investigation 
has to enrich the fields of therapeutical science. 

Dr. Daggett was born in Charlotte, Vt., Februar}' 
19, 181;"', and began his life's labors as a teacher at 
the early age of sixteen years. After continuing 
pedagogical work three years he entered the Med- 
ical School at Woodstock, Vt., and suliseijuentlv one 
at I'ittsfield, Ma.ss., being graduated from the former 
in 1837. One year later lie came West, and Sep- 
tember 10, 18:^8. opened an olliec in Lockport, 111., 
where he continued to reside until 188(i, when he 



took up his abode in Joliet. During this period of 

practically li;df a century (18;S8 to 188G), he was 
continuousl}- and laboriously engaged in the active 
[uactice of his profession. In the early d.ays when 
Hie n(jw thickly settled region had only a scattered 
[xipulation, and the now po[)ulous city of Joliet 
had but a few hundred people, his professional ride 
extended in a circle to Naperville, Summit. Blue 
Island and Monce, and he was often called in con- 
sultation with physicians of these towns and of 
Joliet, Wilmington, Plainlield and Lemont. 

Dr. Daggett has for many years been a memlier 
of township, count}- and State medical societies. 
He has always been prominent in the developmeni 
and uianngcnient of the local affairs of Lockport. 
has been Supervisor of the town, in the Count}- 
Board, Treasurer of the School Board, and member 
and President of the X'illage Board of Trustees. 
He was always cor.servative but liberal in the vari- 
ous otlicial positions which he occupied, performing 
his manifold duties to the satisfaction of the i)eo- 
ple he re|iresented. The citizens of the Senatorial 
District in which Dr. Daggett lives (which at that 
date, 1871, consisted of the counties of Will, Kanka- 
kee. Kendall and Grundy, bj' far the most populous 
senatorial district in the State) recognized his cul- 
ture of mind, excellent judgment and deei) interest 
in all that is elevating and |)r<)gressive, and felt 
that their interests would be advanced by him in 
the legislative halls of the State. Thej' therefore 
sent him to the Senate, and the result proved that 
they were not wrong in their estimate of his worth. 
He was a zealous, eflicient member, whose recoi-d 
in the caiiital added to the laurels he had already 
won as a member of a learned profession. Wy [nu- 
dence he has amassed a goodi}' sum and now ow-ns 
valuable real estate in both Lockport r>nd Joliet. 

In 1842 the rites of wedlock were celelirated be- 
tween Dr. Daggett and Miss Angeline Talcott, a na- 
tive of New York and a member of a prominent pio- 
neer family that came to Illinois in 1834. She was a 
sister of Edward B. Talcott. the well-known civil 
engineer who supervised the construction of the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, and who later was Su- 
perintendent of the Chicago & Galena Railroad; 
also sister of Mancel Talcott, of reputable memory 
in Chicago as a prominent business man and lib'. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPMICAL ALBUM. 



709 



cral pliilantliropist — all now rletid. After a short 
lull happy married life Mrs. Daggett closed her 
eyes in death in 184-L A second matrimonial al- 
liance was made by the doctor in 184G, the lady 
whom lie chose for his companion being Miss Cle- 
ora Parsons, of the Empire .State. This cstinialile 
woman had borne him five children, of whom but 
two are now living, Mrs. Hugo Boehme, of .loliet, 
and Mrs. Col. R. G. Mayo, of Woodbridgc, Orange 
County, Fla., and in her care and management of 
llie household economy had shown her devotion to 
home duties, while not neglecting those she owed 
to neighbors and the world, when from a pulmon- 
ary disease she gradually declined for two years, 
then, lamented by all who |)ers(:)nally knew her, she 
departed this life June 1, DSHi). 

In the evening of life Dr. Daggett enjoys the 
respect that accrues to honesty of purpose and 
uprightness of life. Well supplied with worldly 
goods, serene in the consciousness of duties done, 
he is going peacefully down the hill <if lime. He 
has always been a lirm sujjporter of religion and a 
liberal contributor to the building, support and 
nuiinlenance of churches of all denominations in 
Lockport, and is likewise a liberal and cheerful 
su|)porter of the common and high schools of the 
town. For tlic years of 1888-89 he was President 
of the "Pioneer Association" of the old settlers of 
Will County, and by his efforts did uuich in add- 
ing to the efl'ects and the interesting histor3' of the 
early residents of the county. Bui few of his 
early associates in business and professional circles 
are now living. 



■■^•v:-^"~* 



l^i^ AMUKL LOVK. .loliet Township is the 
" home of the above-named "entleman who 




lives on section 2.5, his farm including one 
hundred and sixty acres in this Township 
and twenty acres adjoining. Since settling here he 
has given his attention entirely to agriculture, in 
which he is winning the success which ever waits 
upon industrious efforts. He was liorn in County 
Cavan, In^land, in 1822, and grew to mauhood in 



his native country. Upon coming to America he 
made his home in New York for several years, be- 
coming a resident of this county in the fall of 1856. 
He was a contractor and builder and followed his 
trade in Joliet some twelve or thirteen years. He 
then married and settled uiion the farm which has 
since been his home. 

The wife of Mr. Love is a daughter of the late 
John Cooper, of New Lenox, and bears the name 
of Elizabeth B. She has borne her husband five 
children — John W. C, Samuel E., FLatlie J., Mary 
E. and Annie M. J. Mr. Love has been Highway 
Commissioner and School Director. In politics he 
is a Republican. He and his worthy wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



,y^i7BEL BLISS, Ju. One of the finest farms 
(i II '" New Lenox Township is that owned and 
\^^ occupied by the gentleman with whose 
name we introduce this sketch. As an agriculturist, 
he is thorough and skillful, and as a business man 
shrewd and enterprising, wise in his investments 
and jjossessing the energy which admits no such 
word as " fail." His dwelling is one of the finest 
in that section, and is Hanked by a good barn and 
all the necessary outbuildings erected in modern 
style of architecture and providing all the comforts 
and conveniences of modern life. The whole forms 
one of the most attractive homes in Will Count3-. 
The proprietor is a man widely .and favorably 
known, and comes of one of the best families of 
Northern Illinois. 

The subject of this notice was born at the home- 
stead where he now lives August 8, 18.');$. His 
father, Abel Bliss, Sr., was a native of Wilbraham, 
Mass., and was born February 9, 1810. The mother 
bore the maiden name of Lucinda Blake. She also 
was a native of the B.ay State and born in Spring- 
Held, October 14, 18H). The parents were married 
in Si)ringlield JNIay 6, 1840, and at once started for 
Illinois, coming to this county and settling on sec- 
tion 18, New Lenox Township. There the father 
•gave his undivided attention to agricultural pur- 



710 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



suits aixl lived to a ripe old age. being called hence 
Decemler 25, 18.S.5. He had visited Will County 
first in 1837. 

The fallier of our subject possesseil tlie unflag- 
ging industry and patience which is necessav3' to 
success, and became the owner of five hundred 
acres of land in New Lenox Townsliip. He erected 
a neat and substantial set of farm buildings and 
surrounded himself and his family with all the 
couifi)rts of life. He was an active member of the 
Methodist Clnnch in wliicli he hold the \arious 
ofHccs, and in |)oiitics was a Republican and was one 
of the first Abolitionists in tliis section. The 
mother is still living, remaining at the old home- 
stend witli her son, Abel. To herself and husband 
there was born a famil3' of seven children, of whom 
Abel was next to the youngest. 

The subject of this notice remained with his 
parents during his boyhood and 3'outli, pursuing 
his first studies in the common school and later 
attending for two j'ears the High Scliool at Eugle- 
wood. Afterward he became a student of the Illi- 
nois I'niversity at Champaign. His tastes and 
inclinalions led him to desire to become a Civil 
Kngineer, but on account of his father's accumu- 
lated years and by his wist), he abandoned the pro- 
ject, and after his scliool life was over, returned to 
I lie farm where he has since followed agricultural 
pursuits. 

After the death of his father Mr. Bliss began 
operating a [lart of the large farm. He is now the 
owner of three hundred and forty acres of land in 
New Lenox Township; besides this he owns a large 
ranch of nine hundred and sixty acres in Gage 
County, Neb. He was married in this township 
February 21, 1877, to Miss Nettie, daughter of 
Stanton and Isabella (Doig) Lynk. Mr. L3-nk is 
represented on another page of this Auju.m. Mrs. 
Bliss was the eldest of a family of six children, 
three sons and three daughters, and was born in 
New Lenox Township, September 25, 1857. Of 
her union witli our subject there has been born 
one child only, a daughter, Florence L, August 22, 
1882. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are members in good 
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which Mr. Bliss lias ofticiated as Steward and Trus- 
tee. He votes the straight Republican ticket and 



has held the otlice of Township Collector .ind School 
Trustee. He is Trustee of the Methodist Camp 
(i round Association, and Secretary of the New 
Lenox Jluluul Insurance Company. 



-«*J»^>^0,'§4-^«i«^*<^ 



EORGE L. FRANCIS. This gentleman is 
the owner and occujiant of a fine farm of 
three hundred and five acres on sections 10 
and 15, in New Lenox Township. He is tlie tenth 
in a family- of eleven children and was born on his 
father's homestead October 0, 185G. He grew to 
manhood araiil the usual surroundings of a farmer's 
son, receiving his education in the common schools 
and the high school at Englewood. His tastes led 
him to adopt farming as his life work and the town- 
ship in which he ^'as lioru has been his continuous 
home. 

On June 21, 1877, Mr. Francis was united in 
marriage with Miss Anna, daughter of Thonms 
Doig, of the same township. The family history 
of Mrs. Francis will be found in liie sketcli of her 
father, on anotlier iiage in this Album. She was 
born October 20, 1856, and like her husliand has 
been a life-long resident of New Lenox Township. 
The union has been blessed by the birth of three 
children — Frank D., Laura D. and George II. 
Laura died when sixteen months old. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Francis belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Francis is serving in the capacit3' of 
School Trustee. 



-^-*-»- 



!^, HARLES FRANCIS. This gentleman h.is 
,., _ been a life-long resident of New Lenox 
^^7 Township and engaged in .agricultural piir- 
suits from his youth. He owns about three hundred 
acres of land on which are adequate improvements. 
His natal d.ay was August 17, 1847, and on his fa- 
ther's f:uin he grew to manhood. His early edu- 
cation was obtained in the common schools of the 
township and supplemented by an attendance in 




"^ ^. >, /&^\xAet/tn,^. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOrrRAPIIlCAL ALBUM. 



713 



.Idliet. He remained under the ))arental roof until 
liis marriage, which toolc place at the bride's home, 
February 5, 1872. 

The chosen companion of !\Ir. Francis was known 
ill iier maidenhood as Mary E. Haven, and is also a 
native of New Lenox Townsliip, in wliich slie was 
born March -li, 1851. She is a dangliter of tlie 
Hon. Uwight Haven, whose biography occupies an- 
other page in tliis Ai.uum. Her education was ob- 
tained in the scliools of the townsliip, and those of 
the city of Chicago. She has borne her husband 
.seven children, all living excepting the first born, 
Hattie, who died at the age of eight years. The 
survivors are named respectively, Charles H., Alice 
M., Helen J., Walter E., Maggie L. and Fred. Mr. 
and Mrs. Francis belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and he has been Sui)erintendeiit of the New 
Lenox Sunday-school for several years. His po- 
litical adherence is given to the Republican party. 



•<i K. CARL M. BAKRCHECK. The lives of 
many men are humdrum and uneventful, 
only marked by a steady purpose and a 
(piiet performance of the daily duties, while around 
some romance loves to linger, and in their lives 
interesting or unusual events are common. The 
subject of this biographical notice, who has been 
engaged in the practice of medicine in .loliet for 
aliouta quarter of a century, is one whose life has 
been marked with a more than the usual amount of 
romance. Even his descent is unusual, his father, 
for whom he is named, having been a native 
of France, his grandfather of Poland, and his 
mother, Anna Matinas, a native of San Taudair, 
Spain. He is the eldest of sixteen children born 
lo his mother, while his father's second wife bore 
six children; he is the only one of the family in 
America, whither he came in ISoO. 

Dr. Baercheck was born in Loiaine, P" ranee, Feb- 
ruary 6, 1818, and at the age of seventeen years 
be ran away from home in company with a brother 
and four companions. He studied medicine in 
Paris and in the I'niversity atBolin,on the Rhine, 
and also in Switzerland. In 1842 he began the 



practice of his profession in Metz, Alsace. France, 
now a Province of Germany. He went to China in 
1845, on the French warship "(Jrand Napoleon," on 
which he afterward embarked for the Crimea, be- 
coming a surgeon in the Second Division, Second 
Corps, and serving throughout the Crimean War. 
He was with Cail Robert, Gen. Baellirsgeh and 
Gen. McMabon ii'. Africa, following the destinies of 
the army during the entire struggle, meeting with 
experiences such as few men participate in or wit- 
ness. When he determined to seek a home in the 
new world, he did not leave behind him theexcite- 
ing and interesting scenes, but after reaching 
America he still carried on his former manner of 
life. Landing in New York in ISj'J, he went to 
Boston, where he worked in a drug store for a 
time, but we soon find him again in the metropolis 
whence he went to Pliiiadeliiliia and enlisted in the 
Union Army. Joining the Eighteenth Pennsylva-. 
ilia Regiment, his name was attached to the muster 
roll (if Company D., which was composed of French- 
men. Thej' were with Ellsworth at Alexandria and 
fought in the first battle of Bull Run. 

His medical knowledge becoming known, Dr. 
Baercheck became Hospital Steward and after 
holding the position six months, went to Pittsburg, 
where he intended practicing his profession. He 
soon entered the Provost Marshal's office in that 
city, and again became an army surgeon, laboring 
as such three years. Among his patients now are 
many whom ho treated in the array, together with 
their friends. While performing the hazardous 
duties which devolved upon him, he received two 
wounds, the one at City Point, and the other at 
Gettysburg, at the latter place a ball passed through 
his arm. 

After the war Dr. Baercheck came to Joliet, 
where he has since practiced. He is a specialist, 
devoting his attention to chronic cases, and in the 
discharge of his extensive practice ships prescrip- 
tions and medicine to various parts of the country, 
where his reputation as a physician is well known. 
He has met with some misfortunes since coming here 
having been burned out in 1878. He is truly 
cosmopolitan in his feelings, having gleaned an ex- 
tended knowledge from his travels, which have 
embraced South America, Europe. Asia, Africa and 



714 



PORTRAIT AND IJIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Austiiilia. Ho gives his political allegiK.iicc to liie 
Republicnii parly. For tlxtsc wiio oiijoy the ac- 
fount of .idventiMTS and a liavelcr's obseivutions, 
Dr. H;iir<.'lK'L'k i)i-ovos an estreniely cntuilaining 
L'oni|)aiiioii, when once ho l>ogins to speak concern- 
ing his i)ast life, lie is well known in Joliot, whore 
he is regarded vvith respect for liis inteliigonce and 
professional attainments, his gentleman!}' nature 
and honorable character. 

In Switzerland, in l.siH, Dr. Baorcheck was 
united in marriage with Miss Helena Haines, who 
sliared his fortunes until .luly, 1874, when she was 
called hence. Six ciiihlren were Ijorn to her, three 
of whom are yet living. In 1876 the Doctor con- 
tracted a second matrimonial alliance, his com- 
panion being i\Iiss Jennie Atkins, a lady of 
English descent, who lias borne him nine children, 
only three of whom are living. 

A portrait of Dr. Baerclicck .accompanies tliis 
brief biographical review. 






i=7 irT=i 



-^m- 
^.'=»'" 




ILLI AM II. LANFEAR. Among the prom 
incnt farmers of Homer Township, may 

'^'\yj be properly mentioned the subject of this 
notice who has unquestionably been a success, not 
onlj- as a tiller of the soil, but as a member of a 
community more than ordinarily intelligent. We 
find him comfortably situated on section 29, the 
possessor of a well-regulated farm which he has 
improved with good buildings and where he has 
not only surrounded himself and his family with 
the comforts of life, but laid up something for 
future needs. Ho is numbered among the most 
highly respected men of the township iu whose 
material welfare lie has always evinced a warm in- 
terest. He has served as a Highway Commissioner 
and School Director, and given his unqualiliod suji- 
port to the Re[)ublican |)arty. The Baptist Church 
has recognized in iiim for many years one of its 
most active and useful mombcrs. 

The si.xth in a family of ten children, Mi. Lan- 
f car was liorn December 2.5, 18.'50, at Scmproiiins, 
Cayuga County, N. Y., and when a boy of five 
years oame with his parents to this county, thev 



settling in Homer Township where he was reared 
to man's estate. Ho acquired such education as 
was afforded b}' the common schools, and at im 
early age learned the various arts of farming 
choosing these for his life vocation. Shortly after 
reaching his majority he was iii.-irried February 2"), 
1852, at the bride's home in Homer Township), to 
Miss Emily M., daughter of the well-known late 
Deacon Levi Savage, mention of whom is made in 
the sketch of Amos Savage, elsewhere in this vol- 
ume. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lanfear 
settled on his present, farm .and as 3ears have passed 
they have taken their place among its best [)oople. 
Early in life they identified themselves with the 
Baiitist Church and have sought to do good as 
they have opportunity, rearing their children in 
the way they should go and proffering uniform 
kindness to their neighbors. 

The father of our subject was .\sa Lanfear, wiio 
was liorn in Mayfield, Montgomery County, N. Y.. 
in 17il3. The mother bore the maiden name of 
Olive Burgess, and was a native of the same place 
as her husband and born in 171)7. After marriage 
they continued to reside in Mayfield for a time, 
then removed to Sempronius where they lived 
until 1835. That year they emigrated to Illinois 
and the father secured a farm on section 29, Homer 
Township, where he and his good wife spent the 
remainder of their d.ays. Mr. Lanfear was called 
hence June 23, 1871. The mother survived her 
husband a number of 3'ears, her death taking place 
June 15. 1883. Nine of the ten children lioru to 
them lived to mature years and eight are now liv- 
ing, being located mostly in this county. 

Mrs. Lanfear was born July 24, 1830, in Gran- 
ville, Washington County, N. Y.. and w.as a mere 
child when her parents came to Illinois. She was 
trained by a careful mother to all useful household 
duties and w;is well fitted to become llie [lartuer of 
a good man's home. Of her union with oar sub 
joct there have been born seven children, of whom 
but three arc living. The eldest, Mary A., is the 
wife of Joseph Brown, and they live in New Le- 
nox Township; Albert II., married IMiss Minnie L. 
Fisher, and oc'oiipics himself at farming with his 
father; Nettie E.. remains at home with her parents. 
Tlic deceasi'd children are Asa W., who died wiien 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



sixteen yv.ws old ; l(l:i ]\L,w1k) died at the age of tliree 
and one iialf-years; Charles E., who died when an 
infant of eight months, and Willie H., who died 
when about two years old. The farm of Mr. Lanfear 
comprises two hnndred and thirty-four acres, tlie 
larger part of which is devoted to general farming 
and the remainder furnishes ample facilities for the 
aeco.'iimod.ition of live slock. 



^^= 



E^^ 



1,AY GORDON. A good representative of 
the younger element of citizenship in Du- 
I'age Township, is found in the person of 
Jay Gordon, who resides with his mother 
oii^sectiou 16, and owns a half interest in one 
hundred and ninety acres of land in the township. 
He is meeting with success in the agricultural work 
to which he is giving his attention, as he formerly 
did in the field of pedagogy, in which he labored 
several winters. ^ 

The ancestors of our subject are supposed to 
have been English, and his parents were born in 
the Empire State. David and Tryphena (Beebe) 
Gordon, removed to Will County, 111., in 1853, 
when he of whom wc write was but a few weeks 
<iid. They located in the western part of Dul^ge 
Township, on section 19, on land that was some- 
what improved a few acres having been plowed, 
and in an old frame house the}' took up their 
abode, residing there about two years. Then they 
removed to the farm that is now occupied bj' the 
widow and son, and where the father died July 23, 

iseo. 

The means possessed by David Gordon when he 
came to this section were limited, and he and his 
family endured some of the i)rivations incidental 
to pioneer life, but all was borne uncomplain- 
ingly by the sturdy man and wife, who fell that 
the future held comfort for them and their off- 
spring. Mr. Gordon was a citizen who could be 
I died on to bear a hand in whatever prijmised to 
advance the interests of the region, or aid those 
iibout him to greater ease and prosperity. lie 
voted ttie Republican ticket, lie was fairly suc- 
cessful in a worldly sense, leaving an estate of one 



hundred acres of unincumbered land as the result 
of his life's work. 

The widow of David Gordon and mother of 
our subject is now in her si.xty-ninth year, and 
enjoys good health for one of that age. She has 
four sons, namely: Emory, who lives in Hamilton 
C(>unty, Iowa; Jay, our subject; Frank, residing in 
Hamilton County, Iowa; and Eugene, \yho was mar- 
ried February 22, 1882, to Miss Alviua .Sears, of 
this township, and has three children, named, 
Nettie, David and George; he lives with his 
mother and brother Jay on the homestead. Mrs. 
Gordon is one of the oldest living pioneers of the 
township and is cherished b}' the older inhabitants, 
also having many friends among the younger peo- 
ple. 

Jay Gordon was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., 
May 8, 1853, but was reared in this county amid 
the scenes of pioneer life. He was educated in the 
public schools of the countj^ after which he at- 
tended the Northwestern College, at Naperville, 
DuPage County, for six months. Subsequently 
the young man engaged in teaching, acting as an 
instructor during thirteen fall and winter terms of 
school and during the summers devoting his atten- 
tion mostly to farming. He is a Republican, and 
on the party ticket was elected Clerk of DuPage 
Township, in 1884, ofBciating a 3'ear. His charac- 
ter is a manly and upright one, his manners are 
pleasing, and he has many friends who look for- 
ward to seeing him occupy a j-et more prominent 
place in the county as 3'ears roll by. 



ANIEL lURKETT is eminently a self-made 
man, and is a line type of the class who, in 
building up their own fortunes have been 
im|)ortant factors in securing the prosperitj' and 
|)romoting the growth of their State, county and 
township. This gentleman came to this county 
more than half a century ago, a poor man with 
scarcely a dollar that he could call his own, yet to- 
day he is numbered among the men of wealth in 
this i)art of the Slate. For many years he ha? 



'IG 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits 
and owns one of tlie largest and most valuable 
far'iis in this tounly. which is cxcci)tionally well 
improved and under perfect management. Besides 
this he owns several other farms. His beautiful 
home in riainfield, one of the finest residences in 
the village, is fitted up with all modern conve- 
niences, and is comfortably furnished. 

Our subject is a native of England, born in the 
County of Cumberland, December 21, 1811. His 
father iiiiil !iis grandfather both named like himself, 
were also natives of I hat county. His grandfather 
was a farmer and landowner and lived to be up- 
wards of ninety years old. The father of our sub- 
ject was reared and married in the place of his 
nativity, and there cairied on the occupation of a 
furmer and spent his entire life, his remains now 
lying in Ireby Churchyard. Tlie m.'iiden name of 
his wife was .Jane Raillo;i, and slie was also a native 
of Cunil)i'rhuid County. Her father, Joseiiii Rail- 
ton, was a tiller of the soil, and spent his entire 
life in tliat county. The mother of our subject 
(lied in tlie place of her birth. She and her hus- 
band reared seven children, as follows: .lohn,.Jose|)li, 
Mary, .lane, William, Daniel, and Ann, our subject 
being the only one of the sons who ever came to 
this country. 

He was reared and married and remained in his 
iMiglish home until IS.'io. He was of an amljitious, 
venturous turn of mind and resolved to try his 
fortunes in the United .States of America, and in 
that year set sail from Liverpool in the month of 
January, on the good shi|) "St. Lawrence," and on 
the Gth of March disembarked at New York, after 
a voyage of six weeks and four days. He was ac- 
companied to this country by his wife, and they 
stayed in New York City nearly two yeai's before 
coming to Illinois, making the journey hither by 
the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Buffalo, and 
thence by lake to Chicago, which they then found 
to be a small place. At that time our subject w.as 
very poor and was glad to find employment on the 
canal which was then in process of consti'uction. 
Mrs. Birkett proved herself to be a true helpmate, 
and shouldering a part of the burden of support 
of the family, she boarded forty of the workmen. 
Jlr, Birkett built an oven of stpne and clay for hev 



to cook by, as when they commenced housekeeping 
they had no furniture. He bored holes in a log of 
their cabin and inserted poles to make a bedstead, 
using their chest for a table and boxes for seats. Mr. 
Birkett vvorked on the canal for one season and then 
located on land in Cook County, living there until 
183ii, when he came to Will County. This was 
then very sparsely settled, the land was in tlie 
hands of the Government and for sale at $1.2.') per 
acre. Deer, wolves, and other wild animals were 
roaming at will over the wild prairies and were 
often troublesome to the new settlers. At that 
time there were no railways in the Slate and Chi- 
cago was the nearest market, to which the pioneers 
look their grain with ox teams. Mr. Birkett rented 
land two or three }'ears, and then purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres of the Government in 
what is now Wheatland Township. He built aflame 
house and broke a few acres and then sold the land 
and all his stuck. He then invested in another 
tract of wild prairie laud in the same tuwnshi|), and 
fur a year rented improved land, and during the 
time broke and fenced and built on his own prop- 
erly, and then settled there. He cunlinued to live 
on that place until 18iJ6, when he disi»osed of it at 
an advance and located on another tract of one 
hundred and sixty acres of wild land adjoining 
the farm that he had previously purchased. He 
erected suitable buildings, improved the land and 
resided on it until 1872, when he sold the farm 
and bought a place near by on which he built a 
dwelling, which he made his home until 1880. His 
next move was to Aurora, where he bought land 
and built and there dwelt for a few months, when 
he sold at a good price, and returning to Wheat- 
land was there until 1885, and in that year came to 
his present beautiful home in Plaiufield. 

Mr. Birkett and Miss Ann Ray were united in 
marriage June 2, 1831. She was a native of Cum- 
berland County, England, born May 22, 1815. Her 
grandfather, John Ray, who was of Scotch paren- 
tage, was a landowner in that county and there 
spent his entire life engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. Mrs. Birkett's father was also a farmer, and 
passed his whole life on his native soil. Mr. and 
Mrs. Birkett have reared seven children, of wliuni 
the following are recorded: Ann. married Thomas 



•PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



717 



King; Daniel R.; Louisa M. mafriecl Joiin Yavley ; 
Elizabeth Esther married Charles Varlo}- ; Olive A. 
married Nicholas Kanaff; Lavina J., wlio is the 
widow of William Irwin, lives with her parents; 
and Alary J., who married .la>' Ilyland. The wedded 
life of our subjeet and his wife has not i)assed 
willKint its attendant sorrows in the death of four 
of their children, as follows: Jane died at the age 
of two years; Henry R., when eight months old; 
Mar\- J. at the age of eight years and eight months; 
and John, aged six weeks. 

Mr. Birkett is a man of strong character, self 
reliant and self helpful, and has always managed 
his affairs in a thoroughly business-like manner, 
evincing remarkable discernment and discretion. 
With the wealth thus acquired he makes judicious 
use, being liberally and charitably disposed and 
doing his share to promote all schemes for public 
benefit. This venerable gentleman and his estima- 
ble wife are honored and respected not onl}' for 
what they are, but for what they have done to pro- 
mote the growth of the county and establish its 
material prosperity, and they are well worthy of a 
place in this Biogkavhical Album. 

\f/OHN O. PIEPENBRINK. A high place 
among the farmers, stock-raisers, and dairj^- 
men of the county must be accorded the 
gentleman above named, who has made a 
fortune by hard labor, prudent economy and busi- 
ness shrewdness. He has experienced all that is 
known to a poor man who makes a settlement in a 
new county, among the disadvantages under which 
he labored being that of having to pay thirty-six 
per cent, per annum for the money which he bor- 
rowed. He always managed to meet his i)aynients 
when due, and his ability to make money has been 
clearly demonstrated. He came to Crete Township 
in 1849, taking up his abode in a small log house, 
which had not sufficient cover on it to keep the 
snow and cliillj' blasts of winter from entering. 
From this small beginning has grown a landed es- 
tate of more than seven hundred acres, a part of 
which is now owned by the sons. A good part of 



^i^ 



the wealth of Mr. Piepenlirink was made by cheese 
.and butter making, from which hi' has now some- 
what withdrawn. He has in former times kept 
more than one hundred cows, and made all the 
milk into cheese and butter, which went to the 
city of Chicago. The liomestead, situated on sec- 
tion 11, has been occupied by our subject for the 
last twenty years, and is a weII-im|)roved farm, 
occupying a prominent place in the list of Will 
County's rural homes. 

That part of the Kingdom of Prussia which is 
known .as Hesse-Casscl, bas furnished to this count}- 
a number of her best citizens and most enterprising 
farmers. To it we are indebted for the subject of 
this sketch, whc was born in that far-awa^' land 
April 24, 182C. His father, H. II. Piepenbrink, 
was also born in Prussia, and was of pure Ger- 
man ancestry'. His occupation was that of a 
farmer. He married Miss Lottie Meier, who 
was born and reared in the same German State as 
himself. The}' s)3ent their entire lives in their 
native country, the husband dj'ing when fifty-five 
aud the wife when fort3"-five years of .age. They 
were numbered among the most worthy citizens of 
the section, both being .active members of the 
Lutheran Church and earnest in their discharge 
of every duty. Their family consisted of three 
sons and a daughter, he of whom we write being 
the second son and child. He is the only member 
of the family who came to America, and with the 
exception of his sister, the only survivor. 

J. O. Piepenbrink grew to manhood under the 
[larental roof, receiving an excellent education, 
his advantages being more favorable than those of 
many of his countrymen. His father was wealthy, 
and able to bestow upon his children all the learn- 
ing they desired, although the property at his 
death fell to his eldest son. After he became of 
age our subject received an appointment in the 
arm}', but w.as induced by his father to let the 
latter |)ay the tax for his release and return to his 
home. He married a lady of his own village. Miss 
Sophia Wille, with whom he set sail from Bremer- 
haven April 3, 1849, landing in New York City 
on the 1st of May following. They came by rail 
and water to Chicago, and thence to their new 
i litiine in this county, where they have since made 



718 



PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAl'IIICAL ALBUM. 



sucb a splendid iccoiil and wlie'ie Ihey have many 
friends, partii'ularl}- aiuonij the natives of their 
own country. 

.Mrs. Piepcnbrink is a daugliter of Conrad and 
.Sophia (Oldrag) Wilie, who were reared and mar- 
ried near llesse-Cassel, German^-, and began life 
after the style of the well-to-do Germans. They 
spent their lives in comfort on a large farm^for 
that country — dying shortly- before leaching the 
age of fifty years. They were prominent members 
of their community, and active in the work of the 
Lutheran Church. Their family- consisted of seven 
children, most of whom came to the United States 
and arc yet living. The wife of our subject is the 
fourth of the family, and was born January 2, 
1826. She was well reared and received a good 
(ierman education, and the knowledge of domestic 
affairs which lias been useful to her as a helpmate 
and mother. 

Light children make up the family circle of our 
subject and his wife, all being residents of Crete 
Township. J. Otto and Henry F. are the subjects 
of biographical sketches which appear in this vol- 
ume. J. Otto married INIiss Dora Orkenberg; 
Henry F. was married to Miss Maggie Sehring; 
Conrad married Sophia Engelking; William mar- 
ried Sophia Meier; John married Louisa Do- 
iiiier; riiillip married Louisa Dicrsen. All these 
are farmers. Ellen married Henry Sporleder, also 
a farmer; Sophia is the wife of John Diersen, a 
hardware merchant in Crete Village. Mr. Piejien- 
brink is not au oflice-seeker, but is a sound and re- 
liable Republican. He and his wife take an active 
part in the work of the Lutheran Church, to the 
.'(up|)ort of which they contribute liberally; they 
are charter inrmbers of the organization in this 
count}'. 



JEORGE MUNROE. The wholesale grocery 
interests of Joliet are worthily represented 
by the subject of this notice with the firm 
of George T. Relyea it Co., of which he is the 
senior member. 

Mr. Miinroe belongs to one of the best nationali- 
ties on the face of the globe, having been born in 



Lanarkshire, Scothuid, and first opened his eyes to 
the light April 4, 1821. His parents were Daniel 
and Jane (Richmond) Munroe, who were likewise of 
Scotch birth and ancestry, and who emigrated to 
the rnited States in 1827, settling in Brownville, 
Jefferson County, N. V. They brought with them 
three children— George, Angus and Barbara. The 
family remained residents of Jefferson County until 
18-19, then emigrated to Illinois, locating in Will 
County where the fatherdied in 1800. The mother 
had passed away at Brownville, N. Y., about 1829. 
For thirteen years after coming to this county 
Mr, Munroe engaged in farming in Florence Town- 
ship. In the meantime he was recognized as a 
valued addition to the community and filled with 
credit many of the local oflices. In 1862 he was 
elected Sheriff on the i:)emocratic ticket and that 
same year removed to Joliet. assuming the duties of 
his office in November following. Subsequentlv 
he served three years as County Treasurer, but in 
the meantime in company with his son, George IL, 
ciig.aged in the retail grocery trade, being first lo- 
cated at the corner of JetTerson and Chicago Streets. 
They remained there ten years and then removed 
to the Opera Ilouee Building where they did busi- 
ness six years. The well-known firm of (ieorire 
Muiiroo it Son has existed since 1865. 

iMr. Munroe with his .son, George IL, estalilishcd _ 
the first wholesale grocery store in Joliet, and wjtli^ 
his old book-keeper. Mr. Relyea, is the oldest repre- ^ 
sentativeof the wholesale grocery business iu this' 
city. G. Munroe & Son put up the Hotel Munroe" 
Building which they still own and they occupied 
the ground lloor for their wholes.ale trade until 
1889, when they erected an eleg.int stone building, 
65x120 feet in dimensio.is and three stories in 
height into which the new firm, G. T. Relyea it 
Co., removed .and which they now occupy. For 
the l:ist five 3ears Geoige and (Jeorge II. .Munroe 
h.ave dealt extensively in real estate, under the firm 
name of George Munroe & Son, the latter, Geort^e 
IL, being the active manager, and who has con- 
tributed largely to the building up of the business 
part of the citj-. 

ilr. Munroe occupies a fine residence, No. 1204 
Cass Street. He Ii.ts been prominent in local affairs, 
representing his Ward in the City CouncM. servino- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



'10 



as School Trustee and in varions other capacities. 
Socially, he belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and 
Cominandery, A. F. & A. M. in each of which he 
has held the different offices and he is prominently 
connected with the Metiiodist E^piscopal Church, 
serving as Trustee at the present time. He has been 
in some official caitacity in the church since com- 
ing to Jollet and gives to it a liberal support. 

Miss Sarah M. Hentze of Brownville became the 
wife of our subject December 22, 1842. Mrs. Mun- 
roe was jjorn in Brownville, N. Y., April .'iO, 1822, 
and is the daughter of Henry and Charity (Gould) 
Ilentze, who were natives of New York and spent 
their last years in California and Illinois. This 
union I'esulted in the birth of five children, four of 
wiiDm are living, viz: George H., .lane Amelia, 
tlie wife of Rev. G. li. Van Horn, now Presiding 
IClder of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church at Rock- 
ford ; Mary Elizabeth, Mrs. C. B. Hay ward; Edwin, 
traveling salesman for tlie firm of Reed & Mur- 
dock, Chicago Street. 



\/ 



^|k^* 



^^HARLES F.-BAUMANN, is an intelligent 
[■( _ and enterprising man, very popular in the 
^^^ community in the best circles of which his 
faniil3' move. He was born in Saxe-A\'ciniar, Ger- 
many, March 6, 1835, and reared in his native vil- 
lage. He is the third of five children born to 
Charles F. and Caroline W. R. (Krauca) Baumann. 
Tlie latter was a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Krauca, a 
minister of the Lutheran Cimrch and both parents 
were born in Wetsdorf. The father was a linen- 
weaver and fuller, and he also ojierated a small 
farm. 

In lb,').'5, he emigrated to America, making his 
first location in Richton Township, Cook County, 
111., where he engaged in farming. He subsequently 
rented a farm in Will County and still later bought 
eighty acres in Frankfort Township, where he re- 
sided until his death in 1874. His wife had died 
the previous j-ear. He belonged to the Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran Church. 

The parental household included Paulina, Mrs. 
Sleckish, who died in Frankfort; Mrs. Caroline 



Metz, who lives in Minnesota; our subject; August 
who was killed at Ft. Donelson, having been Cor- 
poral in the Twentieth Illinois Infantry, in which he 
had enlisted in 18G1; and William, whose home is 
in Wilmington. 

The subject of this notice was reared in Germany 
and attended the common schools until fourteen 
years. old. He then worked at his father's trade 
until the spring of 185.3, when the family cainc to 
America. They embarked at Bremen on the sailer 
'■Yorkshire" which made Quebec in fifty-three 
days. Coming at once to Illinois, the young man 
worked on his father's farm a fevy years and in the 
spring of 1857, went to Minnesota. He drove an 
ox-team at St. Peter, but not being jjleased with 
tlie country he returned in the same manner after a 
sojourn of but three months. He was still unmar- 
ried and had gone to Minnesota to accommodate a 
brother-in-law. 

When Mr. Baumann returned to Illinois he re- 
sumed farming and the following spring rented 
land in partnership with his father and brother. In 
18G2 he purchased a tract of one hundred and 
sixty acres in Frankfort Township, broke the soil 
upon it and iin|irovcd and operated it until ISGO. 
He then sold the farni,;stock and implements, and 
locating in Frankfort started a saloon in i)artner- 
sliip with his brotlier. They subsequently dissolved 
the connection and buying out the business, our 
subject has continued it alone from tliat time. He 
put up the building which he now occupies in 1 8G8, 
it being 53x38 feet and occupying two and a half 
lots. Besides this property Mr. Baumann owns 
seven acres adjoining town, and one hundred and 
sixty acres in Martin County, Minn. 

The lady who presides over the home of our sub- 
ject became his wife July 26, 18G3, the ceremony 
taking place at her home in Franklin Township. 
She bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Klebber, 
and is a native of (Jietzenlieim, Hesse. Darmstadt, 
Germany. She is a daughter of John Klebber, a 
farmer who settled in this county about 1852, and 
who is now living with our subject. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Baumann ten children have 
been born. John W. is clerk for Burrell & Co.. in 
Chicago, and Charles B. is now in Coal Cil}'. III.; 
the latter formerly clerked for Barne}' Belsliawski, 



72(1 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of Frankfort for six years. The children still at 
liome are, Annie, August, Lizzie, Frcdilic, Caro- 
line. Ida, Oscar and Artliur. 

Mr. liauniann is a Republican of the stancliest 
sort and has served his part}' as delegate to county 
conventions and in other capacities. He was Vil- 
lage Trustee for si.v _years. He l)elongs to the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, holding memlier- 
shii) in a Joliet lodge and is a member of the Evan- 
gelical Church. He is one of the most inlluentinl 
men in Frankfort and is an ellicic^nl worker for the 
upbuilding of the town. 

V EEDHAM P. COOPER. A pleasant farm of 
" about three hundred and forty acres in New 
Lenox Township is owned and operated by 
the gentleman above named, who has erected an 
excellent set of l)uildings and made other good im- 
provements upon his estate. His home 'S located 
on section 10, where the greater part of his life 
has been |)assed. He was born in Brown County, 
Ohio, M:\y 2'.t, 1<S3;}, and wasab(jut eighteen months 
old when his i)arents removed to the Prairie State, 
where he grew to manhood upon his father's farm. 
He is the fourth of seven children making up the 
parental famil3',tlie others being William, who lives 
in Kankakee County; John W., deceased; Ann, 
deceased, who was the wife of Robert J. Broadie; 
Thomas F., a farmer in New Lenox Township; 
Elizal)eth E., wife of Samuel Love, and L^'dia J., 
<leceased, who was the wife of Norman Carl. 

The father of our subject was the late .lohn 
Cooper who was born in Pennsylvania in October,' 
1«0U, and who died in tills county in 1875. The 
mother was Lydia (Perry) Cooper, born in 1807, 
in Brown County, Ohio, where her marriage took 
place and she and her husband lived until the fall 
of 1834. They then came to what is now Will 
C'ounty, and settled on section 10, New Lenox 
Township, taking up the burdens which the early 
settlers endured. Mrs. Cooper breathed her last in 
the fall of 1853. 

The gentleman of whom we vvrite was married 
June 26, 185C, to Miss Margaret Louisa Francis. 



She was born on the old B>ancis homestead in New 
Lenox Township, Januarys, 1834, and is probably 
the first white child born in Will County. She is a 
daughter of the late Abraham Francis, whose his- 
tory is incorporated in a sketch of A. Allen Francis, 
elsewhere in this Ar,i!ii>r. She was the mother of 
seven children, as follows: Ella, who died in in- 
fancy; John, who died when about two and one- 
half years old; Fraidcic, who died when twenty 
months old; Margaret L., who is the wife of Jeffer- 
son Doig of New Lenox Township; N. Perry, who 
lives at home: Allen F., who is clerking in New 
Lenox, and Jessie M. 

RFr. Cooper acts with the Republican party. He 
has served as Assessor one year and as Constable 
four years. . He and his good wife l)elong to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in which he has held 
the offices of Steward and Trustee. 

ILLIAM H. FLAOG, a .son of one of the 
very tii-st settlers of the count}', whose 
biogra|)lilcal sketch api)ears in this volume, 
was born on the farm that he now owns and oc- 
cupies in Plainfield Townshi)), one mile from the 
village on the Chicago road. May 8, 1841, being 
the date of his birth, he being the nintli child of 
Reuben anil Betsey (Kendall) Flagg. He was 
reared under pioneer influences, and since attaining 
manhood has taken his place among the most in- 
telligent and progressive of the farmers and stock- 
raisers of his native county, whose interests he 
seeks to promote materially and morally. 

Our subject received his education in the prim- 
itive pioneer schools of his early days, and as soon 
as large enough went to work on the home farm, 
always remaining with his parents until death sep- 
arated them. He gained a good practical know- 
ledge of agriculture and inherited a part of the old 
homestead, whose acreage he has since increased 
by purchasing other tracts of land, till it now con- 
tains one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, 
wliose fertility and productiveness is unsurpassed 
in this county. It is under a high slate of culti- 
vation and Is amply provided with mo<lern machin- 





i^A/ia^^ ^ J!umy 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



723 



cry for various purposes, and he has erected a fine 
set of frame buildings, and everything about the 
j)lace evinces thrift and careful management on the 
l)arl of its owner. 

Mr. Flagg and Miss Margaret Van Horn were 
united in marriage in 1867, and tliey have estab- 
lished one of the coziest and most attractive homes 
in the neighborhood, the scene of generous and 
friendly hospitality. Their pleasant home circle is 
completed by their five children — Kate O., Bessie 
L., Warren L,, Henry C, and Burr W. 

Mr. Flagg is a man of many fine characteristics, 
is tlioughtful, discriminating, self reliant, and clear 
sighted, is a good worker, and is a credit to the 
place of his nativity, where he is held in univer- 
sal respeot'whether yi social or in a business life, by 
the people who have watched his career from youth 
up, and bj' all with whom he associates. lie holds 
advanced views in regard to religion, and is a 
thorough advocate of the Univer.salist faith as 
preached by the Rev. Jacoli Mcrrifield, in the 
(Oiurch of that denomination in Plainfield. 



<Sl IMLLIAM PENN CATON. A few years 
\/-J// since there passed Jt'om life's active scenes 
\y^ a gentleman who had been conspicuously 
interested in the most important affairs of Will 
County, and whose portrait is presented on the 
op|>osite page. lie was prominent in political and 
religious circles, and was first a member of the 
Whig party. Upon the organization of the Re- 
publican party he became a strong supporter of its 
piinciples, and during the late war was a stanch 
I iiion man. 

The native place of the subject of this notice, 
late a resident of the city of Joliet, was Orange 
County, N. Y., on the Hudson River, and he was 
born March 28, 1815. His immediate progenitors 
were Robert and Hannah (Dean) Caton, who were 
Quakers in religion and worthy representatives of 
that peaceable sect. Robert Caton was born May 
22, 1761, and was three times married, Hannah 
l^ean, the inotlier of our sulijcct, being the third 
wife. The father died Ai)ril (!, IHIT), when our 



subject was only nine da3s old. The mother died 
April 16, 1836, aged fifty -eight years. 

In Oneida County j'oung Caton spent the first 
eighteen j'ears of his life. Then, setting out for 
himself, he repaired to Ann Arbor, Mich., and so- 
journed there three years, being employed as a 
clerk in a general store. In 1836 he went to Chi- 
cago, 111., and clerked there and in Milwaukee, 
Wis., until the following year. Then, returning to 
Chicago, he sojourned in that place briefly, and 
finally took up two thousand acres of Govern- 
ment land in Cook County, 111., situated about six- 
teen miles northwest of the present site of Chicago, 
where he lived until the year 1848. In the mean- 
time he was married, on Thanksgiving Day, No- 
vember 28, 1844, at the bride's home, on the north 
branch of the Chicago River, Cook County, to 
Miss Elizabeth Steele. 

Returning now to Chicago, Mr. Caton secured an 
office as inspector of canal boats, an important po- 
sition, which he held until 1856. Then, removing 
to the vicinity of Plainfield, this county, he en- 
gaged in farming until 1871. He now decided to 
retire from active labor, and removing to Joliet, 
remained a resident of this city until his death, 
March 22, 1886. During the late years of his life 
he suffered very much from ill-health. While a 
resident of Chicago he was connected with the 
Plymouth Church, in which he officiated as Dea- 
con. After coming to Joliet he joined the First 
Presbyterian Church and held the same office in 
this church for many years. lie became promi- 
nent in mercantile circles in the Garden City, and 
for a time was engaged in banking. 

The estimable wife of our subject, Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Steele) Caton was born May 30, 1819, in Eliza- 
bcthtown. Essex County, N. Y., to Jonathan and 
Theodosia (Nichols) Steele. Jonathan Steele was 
a native of Hartford, Conn., and was born in 1777. 
From his native place he removed to Elizabeth- 
town, N. Y., and in 1812 had charge of the arsenal 
at Elizabethtown, fitting out the troops for the 
campaign on Lake Champlain. His wife, Theo- 
dosia, was born in A'ermont, October 16, 1780, and 
died in Elizabethtown, N. Y., when her daughter, 
Elizabeth, was only three months old. Subsc- 
(luently the father removed to New York City, 



724 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and lived there until removinc; to Chicago, 111., in 
1837. Mrs. Caton llius looi<e<l ui)on the now great 
city wlien it was a village of a few houses, and she 
h.as wateiied its gradual growth to a great metropo- 
lis with more than ordinary interest. She sailed 
from Buffalo on one of the first lake steamers wliich 
ever plied the waters of old Lake Miehigan. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Caton there was horn a family 
of nine ehildrcn, five of whom are living: William 
Kdward, a resident of (J rand Uapids, Mieh.,is mar- 
ried anil the father of three ehildrcn; Hannah E. 
is the wife of T. A. Mason, of .loliet, and they 
liavc two eliildren; Cliarles A., a resident of Ot- 
tawa, 111., is married and the father of three ehil- 
drcn; Albert H. and wife arc living in Plainfield; 
Minnie E. remains with her mother. iVIrs. Caton, 
since the death of her husliand, has managed the 
estate in an admirable manner, and is a lady greatly 
respected in her community. 



EffiSffl 



^^xHRISTOPH SALZMANN. The develop- 
(({ mentof the agricultural resources of Wash- 

^^f/ ington Township, has been largely due 
to tlie efforts of foreign-born citizens, particularly 
to natives of the German Empire. Many of them 
have made their home here, and taking tracts of 
unbroken prairie land, devoid of buildings, have 
soon converted the virgin soil into smiling fields of 
golden grain, in the midst of which substantial 
dwellings and outbuildings have been erected. 
This has been the case on the homestead of Chris- 
toph Salzmann, who owns eigiity acres of excel- 
lent land on section 30. 

The father of our subject was Paul Salzmann, a 
native of Northern Germany, and a linen-weaver 
by trade. He died when but forty -six years old, 
leaving four sons and two daughters, most of 
whom are now deceased. His wife was Mary Er- 
baeh, also a native of Northern Germany, in which 
she spent her entire life, breathing her last when 
sixty years of age. Both husband and wife were 
life-long members of the Lutheran Church. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born 
September 12, 1H21, in Saxe-Coburg, Germany, 



and having lost -his father when but five years of 
age, was reared by his worthy mother. When he 
had reached the proper age he began to learn the 
trade of a linen-weaver, in wtiich his father had 
been so skilled a workman and in which he also at- 
tained proficiency. He was thirty-two years old 
and yet a single man when he was drawn to Amer- 
ica by what he had heard of the openings which 
this country presented for a man of energy. He 
left Bremerhaven May 20, 1853, on a sailer that 
required lifly-four days to make the voj'age to 
New York City. He came at once to Cook 
County, 111., in wliich ho made his home until 
1802, with the exception of one year spent in Iowa. 
During this time he was engaged as a farm laborer 
and had been hoarding his"~resources in order to 
buy himself a home. Coming to Will County he 
secured the tract of prairie which his well-directed 
efforts have converted into his pri^sent well-im- 
proved and well-cultivated estate. 

The lady whom Mr. Salzmann won for his wife 
and, with whom he was united in marriage in Cook 
Countj', was Miss Sophia Shoof. She was born in 
Mecklenberg, Germany, June 23, 1830, and reared 
and educated in her native land. In 1856 she 
accomitanied her parents and other members of the 
family to America, whence two brothers had pre- 
ceded them. They crossed the Atlantic on a slow 
sailer from Hamburg to New York, the entire fam- 
ily coming direct to the Prairie State, and settling 
at Oak I'ark, Cook Count}'. There Henry Shoof 
died in 1870, at the ripe age of seventy-one 3'ears. 
His widow afterward came to live with her daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Salzmann, and died at her home in 1872, 
when seventy -nine years old. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Shoof were members of the Lutheran Church, 
kindly of heart and industrious in habits. After 
reaching Chicago their daughter earned her liveli- 
hood as a domestic until her marriage to our sub- 
ject. 

The hap|)y union of Mr. and Mrs. Salzmann has 
been blest by the birth of seven children, and they 
mourn the loss of a daughter, Sarah, who died 
when a year old. Of the surviving members of 
the family circle, Rosa is living with a sister in 
Thornton, III. ; Frank married Anna Kratchmar and 
lives in Chicago, where he has a saloon; Emma A. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



725 



is thu wife of William Maxwell, a quarryman, in 
Thornton; Robert, a promising young man, is at 
home and working the homestead and an eighty- 
acre tract of land whicb belongs to himself; 
C'iiristy M. is attending school at Thornton; Jessie 
G. is at iiome. Mr. Salzmann is a member of the 
Republican part}', and he and iiis good wife be- 
long to tiic Lutheran Cliurch, by whose principles 
Ihey endeavor to guide their daily lives. 



n LINK, though of foreign birth, came to this 
country in his boyhootl and was reared under 

_ our institutions and educated in our schools, 
and to-day, in the vigor of a stalwart manhood, 
scarcely past its prime, is a prosperous and suc- 
cessful citizen of one of its richest farming commu- 
nities, the possessor of a farm in Troy that is as 
valuable and well improved as any to be found in 
this section of Will County. 

Mr. I>ink is a native of Alsace, Germany, vvhere 
lie nas liorn August 1, 1845, to Joseph and Mary 
Ann (Striker) Link. When he was eleven years 
of age his parents emigrated to America and came 
di recti}' to Joliet, where they lived for five years. 
In 18C3 they purchased apart of the farm in Troy 
Township now owned and occupied Ijy our subject, 
llcie thej' remained making their home with him 
until death called them lience, the father dying 
in February, 1888, at the age of seventj'-five years 
and one month and the mother April 3, 1889, aged 
seventy-five years, seven months and twenty-five 
d;iys. They left a family of three children — Ellen, 
wife of Xavier IJeath, a farmer of Troy; our sub- 
ject; Mary, widow of Joseph Metzgar. 

He of whom we write, received an excellent 
common-school education. He was reared to farm- 
in"- pursuits and remained on the homestead of his 
parents, finally buying the farm of them. He has 
been very much prospered in his vocation and has 
.added to his first purch.ase a large tract of fine 
farming land comprising two hundred and sixteen 
acres, so that his farm is now composed of two 
hundred and ninety-six acres of land well tilled 
and tineh improved. lie has bulll a large and 



conveniently arranged barn and is preparing to 
build a commodious and substantial residence, and 
has other suitable buildings. 

The marriage of Mr. Link with Miss Christina, 
daughter of Michael and Caroline Eigsted, took 
place in 1872. Mrs. Link's parents came from 
Prussia in 1855, and spent the remainder of their 
lives in Joliet, leaving two children at their death. 
Seven children complete the present household 
circle of our subject and his wife. Frank, John, 
JIar}', Albert, Lizzie, Josephine, and bab\' Louisa. 
Mr. Link aims to give his children each two years 
schooling in the church as he desires to have them 
well educated. They all spe.ak good German and 
the elder ones have good English educations. 

Mr. Link h.as well improved his opportunities, 
laboring unceasingly, carrying on his work with 
skill, and sound, clear judgment, so that he has 
achieved a proud place among the most wide 
awake and successful of our farmers in this part of 
the county. His fellow-citizens, marking his abil- 
it}' in carrying on his own affairs, have called on 
him to aid in the management of public business. 
He has been Highway Commissioner for three years 
and also Collector for the Township, and has faith- 
fully filled the position as School Director for six- 
teen years, the school of District No. 5, being 
located on his farm. He and his wife are true 
Christians and members in good standing of the St. 
John's German Catholic Church of Joliet, their chil- 
dren also being communicants of that church. In 
politcs he is a sturdy Democrat, though he is not 
confined to party ties, but in local elections votes 
for the man whom he thinks is best fitted for the 
otiice. 



AVID ROSENHEIM, one of the pioneer 
j) clothing men of Joliet, has, by a thorough 
understanding of his business, built up an 
extensive and lucrative trade, having 
among his friends and patrons the leading men of 
the city. He is still comparatively a young man, 
approaching the forty-third year of his age, hav- 
ing been born December 11,1847. His native place 
was in the kingdom of Wuitemburg. and his par- 




726 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



cuts were Benedict and Bahette (Melzgar) Rosen- 
heim, who were likewise of German birtii and an- 
cestry, and who spent liieir entire life on their 
native soil. 

Our subject, arrived in .loliel in liic spring 
of 1863, having made the passage on the steam- 
ship "China." lie engaged first .as a clerk with 
his brother, and then became proprietor of the busi- 
ness. B}' steady application thereto and court 
eous treatment of his customers, he has attained to 
a good position .socially as well .as in a business 
way, and like most of those of his nationality who 
have sought their fortunes on the soil of America, 
he is now comparatively independent. 

Mr. Roseniieim was joined in wedlock witli Miss 
Augusta Lindauer at the bride's home in Joliet, 
June 18, 1878. This lady was born in the same 
town in Germany as her husband, and was his play- 
mate during their school days. Her father, Julius 
Lindauer and his wife, were of German birth and 
parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Rosenheim are the par- 
ents of four bright children — Bert, Julian, Myra 
and Sidney. The little family occupies a snug 
home in the city where they enjoy all of the com- 
forts and many of the luxuries of life. 



-^^^^ 



EN 



\ti EN.SP:N BROS., proprietors of tlie cele- 
! l)rated "Paradise Farm," are among the 
most intelligent, active and enterprising 
farmers and stock-raisers in Will County. 
Their farm, on section 30, Channahon Township, 
lies on the upland, near the mouth of the Des- 
plaines and Kankakee Rivers, where they unite to 
form the Illinois. From the bluff on which they 
live they have a magnificent view for many miles 
up the Kankakee, and on a clear day can see Wil- 
mington, 1)1 aid wood and other surrounding towns. 
Our subjects came here in 1875 and bought a small 
part of their present estate, lying in the forest, 
and since then they have done so well financially 
that they have added to their original purchase 
and now own four hundred acres of valuable 
land. By e.xtraordin.ary exertions and persever- 
ance they have cleared about one huntlred and 



forty acres of this and have it under the plow, de- 
voting the remainder to pasturage for their large 
herds of stock, the land being especially adapted 
to that purpose. The^- have provided it with am- 
ple buildings, each having a comfortable dwelling, 
and there are good barns and other outhouses on 
the place. 

The Messrs. Jensen early took the advantage of 
the adaptability of their land to stock raising, and 
have made a speciality of that line, raising horses, 
cattle, hogs and sheep, all of the best grades. 
TlVey have a fine thorough-bred Holstein bull, and 
a herd of thorough-bred cows, making a specialty 
of this breed; while in liorses they have the heavy 
draft Clydesdale and Norman stock; in sheep they 
have nothing but the Shropshire; and in hogs they 
have the celebrated Poland-Chinas. These gentle- 
men have by no means confined their operations 
to agricultural pursuits, but have branched out in 
otiier directions since coming to Will County, in 
1869. They own and operate a steam threshing 
machine and corn sheller, and furnish power for 
drilling artesian wells. They were the first to buy 
and operate the now ver^' common road grader, 
taking road grading by contract, and have made 
all the roads in the township of Seward, Grundy 
County, and have done considerable work in the 
city of Chicago, grading all the streets of Ever- 
green Park and Washington Heights. 

JjOuis and Augustus Jensen, of whom we write, 
are natives of Norway, their birthplace being on 
the shores of the beautiful lake Mjarson. They 
came to America when Louis was eighteen years 
of age and Augustus was but sixteen. A twin 
brother of the latter, John, accompanied them. 
He is now numbered among the well-to-do farmers 
of Grundy County, having a good farm but a few 
miles from his brothers. They came directly to 
Chicago, and from there to Minooka, where they 
had an uncle living, and where each acceiited work 
at anything at which they could turn an honest 
penny. 

Louis Jensen was married to Miss Clara Moe, of 
Chicago, in 1880, she also being a Norwegian by 
birth. They have two daughters and one son — 
Annie Pauline, Ida Fredericka and Warner. 

Augustus .lensen w.as married, in 1.H81, to a Dan- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



727 



ish-Geiiii;iii l.ady. Miss Catliarine Ilonsuii. The}- 
have two children: Louisa Dora Missa, seven years 
of age; and Walter Nelson, a baby. 

The Jensen brothers, by their courage, foresight 
and business enterprise, have been very influential 
in advancing the financial status oi the township, 
and are numbered among its most invaluable citi- 
zens. In politics they are a little mixed, being 
rather inclined to the Green})ack order. They 
were educated in the tenets of the Lutheran 
Church and still abide by that faith. 



^-^^^^;^tk^5<^ 




ASHINGTON D. STEWART is one of the 
oldest residents in point of settlement in 
Custer Township, and has been a very 
elHcient aid in developing Its fine agricultural re- 
sources. He was born Juh' 30, 1826, in Wayne 
County, Ohio, a son of John and Elizabeth (Motz) 
Stewart, natives of Pennsylvania. They were mar- 
ried in that State about 1820, and moving to Ohio, 
became early settlers of Wayne County, where the 
father carried on farming and where they made 
their permanent home till death called them to a 
higher life, she d3ingin 1 870, and he in 1880. Thev 
had eleven children, eight of whom are now living. 
The son of whom we write was their sixth child. 
His early educational advantages were limited and 
after he was eight years old, he never attended 
school again. Ambitious, however, to better his 
education, later in life he pursued his studies and 
became quite a proficient, especially in mathematics. 
During his youth he was kept in attendance at the 
Postoffice and bar of the tavern belonging to his 
f?.ther, but at the age of nineteen he began life for 
himself. For some years he engaged in handling 
stock and in general trading until he had ipiite a 
sura of monej'. In 1847, he came to Illinois and 
bought his present farm, locating land warrants for 
four hundred acres. He did not however, settle 
here then, but went back to his home in Ohio, and 
in 1850 returned with his family to make his per- 
manent residence here. The two hundred and 
eighty acres of land comprising his farm have been 
)iut nnder excellent tillage and he has erected a sub- 



stantial set of buildings. He first erected a frame 
house and in 1868, built his present more commodi- 
ous residence at a cost of $2,800. He has given his 
attention to stock-raising and farming, and formerly 
raised some very fine blooded cattle. 

Mr. Stewart was married April 23, 1845, to Miss 
Rosella Tanner, a daughter of Stephen Tanner, of 
Wayne County, Ohio, a pioneer farmer of that lo- 
cality. Mrs. Stewart was born November 24, 1826, 
on her father's homestead in Wayne County, and 
received the advantages of a good common-school 
education. Mrs. Stewart departed this life March 
27, 1888. Of the six children born of her mar- 
riage with our subject, two are now living: Ella, 
wife of Joseph Myers, who lives with our subject; 
and Emma. 

Our subject occupies a worth}- place among the 
(lioneers of the county, and during his long resi- 
dence iu Custer Township has shown himself to be 
a good citizen who has always taken an interest in 
its welfare anil who has served it faithfully while 
in public office. For many years he has been a Di- 
rector of the school district and for eight years has 
served with credit as Justice of the Peace. He has 
been Township Clerk and Road Commissioner. He 
has always taken an active part in politics and kee|)3 
himself well |)osted on the political issues of the 
day. He has been a .sound Democrat fi-om his 
youth upwards, though in local affairs, he votes for 
the man regardless of party. 

,^p^ MEYER, M. D. For about eighteen years 
^^5 Dr. Me3er has been the leading physician 
lv^l2) ^"'' surgeon of Beecher,where he established 
himself iu 1872, and where he has built up a 
large and successful practice. He was thoroughly 
educated in the science of therapeutics, and had an 
extended experience as an arm\- physician and sur- 
geon, as well as a private ex|)erience of man}- 3'ears, 
before he became a resident of this [iltice. His the- 
oretical knowledge and skill in the use of remedial 
agents is unciuestioneil, while in the use of the scal- 
pel he was equally well versed. 

The father of our subject was Michael Meyer, a 



728 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



native of Prussiii. who served his country as a sol- 
dier for nine years, chiefly under Nnpoleon. lie 
lived to the extreme old age of one hundred and 
two years, dying in the land of his birth. His first 
wife bore the maiden name of Mary Francen. She 
W.1S the mother of two children, our subject and a 
brother, Michael, .Ir.. who also came to this coun- 
try. The latter died in (Chicago after having served 
twenty years as detective and policeman tliere. 
The mother was noted in her country for her med- 
ical skill and education, she having practiced mid- 
wifery for man3' years; she died at the ripe old age 
of eighty-^ven years. She and her husband be- 
longed to the Catholic Ciuirch. 

Dr. Meyer was born in one of the Rliine Provin- 
(!e.s of Prussia, September 11, 1821, and was care- 
fully re;ired by his parents, who bestowed upon him 
all the. advantages possible in the way of obtaining 
kiu)wledge. When lie had reached the proper years 
he entered the medical college of Bon, Germany, 
where he studied si-x years. He was then gradu- 
ated, and entering the Prussian Army spent nine 
years in discharging the duties devolving upon an 
army physiciair and surgeon. He had charge of 
many serious cases, and performed many critical 
surgical operations, as he has since done in America. 

The knowledge which Dr. iNIeyer had obtained 
of the United States led him to believe that a 
broader field would be opened before him in this 
country, and he therefore determined to leave his 
native land and seek a home in the New AVorld. In 
the fall of 1854 he engaged passage for himself and 
family on a vessel which sailed from Antwerp to 
New York. They reached the latter city after a 
perilous voyage of sixty-five days. Storms swept 
the vessel clear of its masts and rigging, and the 
five hundred passengers nearly died from starva- 
tion before the desired haven was reached. The 
Doctor came at once to Chicago and opened an 
ollioein that city, where he pursued liis chosen call- 
ing with marked success until 1872. He then le- 
moved to Beecher, which has since been his home, 
and the center of his well-directed efforts to allevi- 
ate the sufferings of mankind. 

The first wife of our subject was Miss Theresa 
A. Haerman, a native of one of the Rhine Prov- 
inces, in which she spent her entire life, dying 



when but twenty-three years old. She left one 
child, Lena, now the wife of Adam Rauen, whose 
home is Chicago, and who is connected with the 
water-works there. .Dr. Meyer chose for his second 
companion Miss (icrtrude Ilann, who was also born 
and reared in a Rhine Province in (iermany. This 
marriage has resulted in the birth of a large famil}-, 
four of wliom are now living. Of the eight who 
have been removed by death, all died young and 
most of them in infanc}'. The survivors are Mi- 
chael, Peter, John and Anna. The first is foreman 
of the painting deiiartment of the car shops; he is 
a clever artist, wielding the brush in other lines 
than those required in the business. He married 
Miss Augusta Heinz. Peter is a prominent fresco, 
sign and landscape painter, and he also evinces 
considerable artistic talent; John is employed in 
the Cook County Court House; Anna is the wife 
of John I'auly, a dealer in wines and liquors, at No. 
100 Randolph Street, Chicago. 

Dr. Meyer is a believer in the principles embod- 
ied in the Democratic itlalform, and in all national 
elections supports it with his vote. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity, being enrolled in Blue 
Lodge No. 740, Grantl Park. The entire family' 
belong to the Catholic Church. Tiie Doctor owns 
some fine property in Chicago. 



<* IfclLLlAM COOK. For many 3 ears this 
\r\j// gentleman resided on a fine farm on sec- 
^^y^ tion 10, Crete Township, Will County, and 
this land, through his energetic management, was 
converted into one of the most pleasfint estates in 
the township. He also owned land on section 17, 
comprising altogether one hundred and twent^'-five 
acres. He dated his arrival in this county from 
May 10, 1850, after which he gradually' built up a 
finely improved farm and accnmidated a fair share 
of this world's goods. Toward the close of his life 
he retired from his more' arduous labors and spent 
his declining years in ease and comfort. His death 
occurred at his home, July 14, 1890, when he had 
attained the ripe old age of eighty years, four 
months and nineteen days. For six years preced- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



729 



iiig his death, his activity was soniewiiat lessened by 
the lameness which resulted from a fall he then 
received. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in 
his religious belief was a consistent member of the 
Methodist Church. His intelligence, uprightness 
and useful life and industry were recognized by his 
ac(iuaiutauces who accorded him their highest es- 
teem. 

In Lincolnshire, Kngland. many years ago, lived 
and died Thomas Cook, a small landowner. He 
married Sarah Holmes, a native of the same shire, 
who died when sixty j-ears old. This worthy cou- 
ple were active members of the Methodist Iii)isco- 
pal Church for thirty years, and for years tlieir 
home was a meeting place for the congregation on 
every AVeduesday night. They also had prayer- 
meeting every Frid.ay night and class-meeting every 
Sunday for some years, these facts illustrating the 
faithful interest which they felt and manifested in 
the cause of Christianity. To them were born nine 
children, the subject of this sketch being one of 
younger members of the family, and the only one 
who came to the United States. 
• The natal day of William Cook was February 
25, 1810, and his birthplace in the northern part of 
Lincolnshire, England. The early years of his life 
were spent in acquiring knowledge, but at the age 
of thirteen years he left school an<l began to learn 
the trade of a shoemaker. He served under Rich- 
ard Michaehvait in Winterton, in his native shire 
until he was twenty years old, after which he worked 
.as a journey man for a time. He then set u|) a shop 
in the place where he had learned his trade, and 
there married Miss Elizabeth Adkinson, the daugh- 
ter of well-to-do parents, by whom she was well 
reared. She was born in Blygton, England, in 1803 
and in her native shire grew to womanhood. There 
her mother died, and a few years later her father 
came to the United States, where he lived to be 
quite old. Joseph Adkinson was a tailor. Upon 
coming to America he settled near Monroeville, 
( )hio, where he owned a large property. 

After the birth of their first child and the death 
of the same, our subject and his wife set out for 
the United States, leaving their native land Feb- 
ruary 2.'), 1831. They took passage at Hull on a 
brig frigate, and after a voyage of some seven 



weeks landed in New York City, whence they jour- 
neyed to IMonroeville, Ohio. There Mr. Cook fol- 
lowed his trade of a shoemaker one year, and then 
purchased a small farm on which he lived for some 
time. After fifteen years of residence at that place 
he went to Lake County, Ind., and for two years 
made his home near Clinton, whence he removed 
to this State and county. 

Here Elizabeth (Adkinson) Cook died in 1865 
when about sixty-two years of age. She attended 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was the 
mother of eightcliildren,of whom but two are living. 
Thomas resides in Onarga, this State; his wife bore 
the maiden name of Margaret E. Fellows, and was a 
resident of Plainfleld. Cieorgc, who lives at Coun- 
cil Bluffs, Iowa, married a ]\Iiss Shipley for his first 
wife, and for his second a Mrs. Davis. 

The gentleman of whom we write contracted a 
second matrimonial alliance, the ceremony taking 
place in Chicago, 111., and his chosen companion 
being Mrs. Mary A. (Mitchell) Iloskins. She was 
born in England, whence she came to America in 
early womanhood. She died December 12, 1878, 
when past middle life, leaving one "daughter, .Julia 
A., a refined and well-educated young lady. Mrs. 
Mary Cook was identified with the Methodist 
Church, and by her former marriage had one child, 
Frank, a successful merchant at Geneseo. 



^¥r 



DWARD D. HOWLAND, M. D. Although 
still quite young in his profession and in- 
deed in years, this gentleman is rapidly 
building up for himself a reputation as a skilled 
physician which gives promise of leading him to !i 
front rank ere many years shall have passed over 
his head. He is a close student who is not content 
with the knowledge ho h.as already ol)tained, but by 
every means in his |)ower is constantly adding to it 
information regarding the latest discoveries and the 
theories of older and more skilled physicians. His 
quickness of apprehension, his mental culture and 
his honorable character give him popularity in so- 
ciety and a reputable name among his fellow-men. 
The i)arents of Dr. Ilowland are Elihu and Jane 



730 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



(l!;il(hvin) Ilowland, natives of Litchlicld County, 
Conn., wliu canio to the Prairie Slate in 184U, and 
who at piosent ifsidc in Ottawa, 111. The father 
was a farmer an'.l llie earlj- life of our subject was 
surrounded with llic usual scenes ;ind inlluences of 
eountry living, lie was born in LaSalle County, 
this Slate, Octolier 13, 1858, and obtained his fun- 
damental education in the public schools. In the 
State Normal 1 iiiversity at Normal, Ollawa High 
School and Ml. Carroll Seminary, he extended his 
fund of knowledge, and completed his general 
course of study. 

Having chosen medicine as the science to which 
to devote his energy, young Howland began read- 
ing in the office of R. M. McArlliur, M. D., at Ot- 
tawa, and after a time entered Rush Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago. He pursued his studies there during 
the years of 1883-84, and tlicn practiced one year 
with Dr. Wilcox in Michigan. After this practi- 
cal application of the theories and principles of 
therapeutics he returned to Rush College in 1885, 
and was gradu.ated therefrom the following year. 
On looking about for a field of labor he was led to 
Lockport, in which he located the, year of his gradu- 
ation. Dr. Howland is an Odd-Fellow, a Mason 
and a consistent member of the Baptist C'hurch. 

eWILKENING. The name which stands at 
the head of this biographical outline will be 
at once recognized as belonging to one of 
the most energetic business men of Crete and one of 
its leading merchants. He ranks as one of the finest 
salesmen in Northern Illinois in which region he 
commenced building his fortunes and where he has 
gained a competence. I'nder the tirin title of C. 
Wilkening & Co., our subject and his brother 
Frederick are oiierating one of the most complete 
dry-goods establishments in Will Count}' and com- 
manding a large portion of the patronage of its 
best citizens. The brothers were assisted in the 
establishment of their present enterprise b^- their 
honored father, a man of more than ordinary- abil- 
ity and from whom the sons have inherited the 
talents which have brought them success. The 



present firm was organized in 1880, and located iu 
a tine building at the corner of Main and Exchange 
Slrcicts, the most eligible liusiness site in the town. 

In due lime, owing to the lapid increase in trade, 
more room was needed and so they removed their 
old brick store. 20x60 feet, to another lot further 
south and began the construction of one of the best 
buildings in the city, which they now occupy. The 
second floor of this building w.as designed for a 
l)ul)lic hall, but the firm are obliged to utilize it 
for the storage of a part of the 140,000 stock of 
goods which they carry. The Wilkening Block, 
two stories in height, is 51x60 feet in dimensions, 
facing on Main Street and comprises two stores 
with a basement joining the old store-room. The 
latter is used for a grocery department and there 
are three large warehouses in the rear from which 
many hundred pounds of butter and many thou- 
sand dozens of eggs are shipped monthly. The 
main building was completed in 1886, and contains 
a full line of a finely-selected stock of dry goods, 
tastefully arranged and which never fails to attract 
attention. Besides these there is a special cloak 
and shawl department, also clothing and gentle-- 
men's furnishing goods, together with different de- 
partments for carpets and oil cloth, toys, etc. It is 
thus most properly called the Department Store 
and neither time nor money has been spared to make 
each attractive and convenient. 

The business career of Mr. Wilkening began at 
an early period in his life and from the start he has 
kept iu view one end and aim — that of excelling in 
his chosen calling. We find him officiating as a 
clerk at the .age of fifteen years and he completed 
his l)usiuess education in Bryant At Stratton's Com- 
mercial College. His father in former years was a 
farmer, owning land in Crete Township, and at 
that homestead our subject was born March 24, 
1855. He grew up vigorous in n)iud and liody and 
at an early age learned the self reliance which has 
been largely the secret of his success. Both in social 
and business circles he is a general favorite, being 
prompt to meet his obligations and more than ordi- 
narily well informed. In i)olilies, he is a Democrat 
and in religion he conforms to the doctrines of the 
Lutheran Church. In all that goes to m.ake a man 
reliable and trustworthy, he is a fine exponent of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



731 



his substantial German ancestry. With the single 
exccnliun tiial he still remains a bachelor, Mr. Wil- 
kening has creditably performefl all the obligations 
of an honest man and a good citizen. In addition 
to his mercantile interests Mr. Wilkening deals 
quite extensively in real estate and from this 
source also realizes handsome returns. 



^1/-^ KNRY GRABE so ordered his daily walk and 
jil conversation that his life was an example 
worthy the consideration of all who desire 
to honor their manhood. He took an active 
part in all that meant the real advancement of the 
township, was interested in the cause of religion, 
industrious and hard working in the affairs of this 
world, and kindly and affectionate in his domestic 
and social relations; an honest and reliable citizen 
was removed bj' death when he breathed his last at 
his home in Washington Township, April 14, 1882. 
The lyes of Mr. Grabe opened to the light of 
day in Germany, in 1821. lie grew to maturity 
under the charge of good parents, developing the 
natural virtues and talents he possessed and being 
grounded in the firm principles that led to the repu- 
tation he won. When about twenty-two j'ears old he 
set out from Brenierhaven, and reaching the shores 
of America made his way to the Prairie State and 
settled in Crete Township, Will County. His first 
home was on eighty acres of new Government 
land, but m the fall of 1807 he changed his lesi- 
dence to Washington Township. Here he pur- 
chased two hundred acres of land on section 21. 
It was almost unljroken l)ut he at once began to 
make improvements, and after some years he found 
himself pleasantly surrouiuled with good buildings 
and other tasteful improvements. Here he caiiied 
on a successful agricultural career until called hence, 
when he left to his mourning household that best 
of all inheritances — an honored nanie. In politics 
he was a sound Re|)nlilican, and religiously' was a 
member of the Kvangelical Church, to which faith 
Mrs. Grabe also adheres. 

The marriage of Mr. Grabe and Miss Catharina 
Schwirena was celebrated in Chicago. The bride 



was boin in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, July 26, 1831, 
to Fred and Ingel (Miller) Schwirena. Her par- 
ents were natives of the same kingdom.and there the 
father died when sixty-two years old. He was a Lu- 
thera:i in religious faith. The widowed mother 
came with her six children to America and located 
in Cook County, III., dying thereat the same age that 
her husband had reached. Mrs. Grabe lived near 
Chicago until her marriage, manifesting the quali- 
ties that won the regard of our subject and that 
have kept the esteem of all who know her. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Grabe resulted in the 
birth of nine sons and daughters. Henry, Jr., mar- 
ried Miss Augusta .Schencka and is now living at 
Manhattan, Kan.; William is with his mother, as- 
sisting her to operate the large farm; John, who is 
a shoemaker in Crete, married Miss Sophia Rennie; 
ISIary is the wife of Fred Meyer, their home being 
in Riley Count}', Kan.; Conrad married Miss 
Emma Sitzel and lives in Kankakee County, work- 
ing at his trade of a blacksmith; Cara is the wife 
of Charles Ruge, of Chicago; Louisa married Fred 
Bowermaster, who lives in Oak City, Iowa; August 
is a blacksmith and is now living in Brunswick, 
Lake County, lud.; Soi)hia is at home with her 
mother. 



(41 IV>ILLIAM J. AOAiM, Secretary and Treas- 
\/\j// urer of the Joliet Paper Company, is a na- 
^^ tive of Joliet, and is classed among the 
most intelligent and enterprising of its j'oung busi- 
ness men. He was born in this city, September 18, 
1852. Here in the city schools he laid a solid 
foundation for his future career. After attaining 
manhood, he first entered the business world through 
the doors of his father's flouring mill, which stood 
where the paper mill now stands. In 1887 he be- 
gan the manufacture of barb wire and such line of 
goods, in compan}' with his father, and they have 
already built up a thriving business, from which 
they derive a desirable income. 

Mr. Adam and Miss Lizzie Folger, were wedded 
November 28, 1874, and to them has come one 
child, whom the\ have named Folger, Mr. Adam 



73-2 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBFM. 




is a lliouglilfiil. cU':ir-lieiKl((l, eiieigetif man, of 
good iK'isonal liahits, and is highly considered by 
all about him, both socially and as a business man. 
He isLa leading member of the Central Presby- 
terian Church, of vvhi(;h he is Trustee, and in poli- 
tics gives his allegiance to the lieijublican party. 

ORACK I. MKSSKNGER, of Homer Town- 
ship, is comfortably situated at his fatiicr's 
old homestead on section 33. It comprises 
a fine body of land, two hundred and eiglity- 
sevcn acres in extent, and is embellished with a set 
of good buildings, together with all the other ap- 
purtenances of the well-regulated country estate. 
Mr. Messenger is a modest, unassuming citizen, 
whose course in life has been .such as to commend 
him to the esteem and confidence of all with whom 
he lias had dealings. His life-long habits of indus- 
try have resulted in the acquirement of a compe- 
tence, and he is in the enjoyment of all of the 
comforts, and many of the luxuries of life. 

In noting the parental history of the subject of 
this sketch, we find that his father, Horace Messen- 
ger, was a native of Chenango County, N. Y., and 
born April "26, 1807. The mother bore the maiden 
name of Fannie Shedd, and she was born in Os- 
wego County, N. Y., June 13, 1810. They were 
married in their native State, and came directly to 
this county in 1835, settling in Homer Township, 
in June of that year. They were among its early 
pioneers, and in Homer Township thereafter so- 
journed until called hence. They were not long 
separated, llie father dying August 31, 1882, and 
tlie mother July 3, 1884. Tiieir family consisted 
of five children, the eldest of whom, a son, Will- 
iam, died wlien three ^ears old; IMary J. is the wife 
of IJenjamin White, of Geneseo, this State; Frances 
is a resident of Joliet; Horace I., our subject, is 
the next in order of birtii; Helen also lives in 
Joliet. 

Mr. Messenger was the fourth cliild of his par- 
ents, and is the only living son. He was born in 
Homer Townshii), February 5, 1841, and therein 
spent hi/carly years, attending the common schools 



and becoming familiar with the various details off 
farm life. He completed his studies in Knox Col- 
lege, (jlalesburg. 111. During the third year of the ■ 
Civil War he entered tlie ranks of the Union army,, 
enlisting February 29, 1864, in Company F, Eighth i 
Illinois Cavahy, and served seventeen months. 
During that period he became full}- acquainted 
with the hardships of a soldier's life, althougli es- 
caping some of its sterner features. Aside from 
this, he has always followed agricultural pursuits. 
Mr. Messenger was married May 31, 1883, in 
Locki)ort, 111., to Miss Bell F'ox. This lady was 
born in Ashtabula, Ohio, October 13, 1849, and is 
a daughter of (Jibsou Fox, who still resides there. 
In politics Mr. Messenger is a stanch supporter of 
the Republican party, and as a Union soldier, be- 
longs to the Grand Army of the Republic. 




■^ IMON HOHENSTEIN occupies a pleasant 
farm three miles from Fraukfoit .Station, 
the estate comprising one hundred and 
sixty acres on section 25, Frankfort Town- 
ship, watered by the south branch of Ilickorj' 
Creek, and joined by the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern 
Railroad. All the land is tillable except the timber, 
and is adapted for the raising of both grain and 
stock, in which Mr. Hohenstein occupies himself. 
He keeps a good grade of cattle and hogs, uses two 
teams on the place, and carries on a thriving agri- 
cultural business. 

Mr. Hohenstein is descended from honorable 
German ancestors,. both lines having been resident 
in Hesse-Darmstadt. His paternal grandfather, 
Johannes Hohenstein, was a farmer, and his father, 
Balthasar, engaged in the same occupation, and that 
of fruit-raising. The latter came to America in 
185 1, and tilled the soil in Green Garden Town- 
ship, this county, until he retired to live with our 
sulijcct; he is now seventy-eight 3'ears old. He 
l)olongs to the Evangelical Church. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Catherine Ditzel, and was a 
daughter of Jacob Ditzel, also a farmer. She 
breathed her last in this county, in 1860. The pa- 
rental faniily included three sons — Simon, Conrad, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



733 



and (ieorge. 'I'lie st'coiul son enlisted in l<S01,in 
tiic Twentietli Illinois Infaiili-y, and served until lie 
(lost liis life at the battle of Jackson, 'lY'nn. The 
youngest son li*es with our subject. 

Simon Ilolienstein was born in the village of 
Messel, Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, September 17, 
1837, and being reared on a farm, early acquired 
the rudiments of his father's occupation. He at- 
tended the common schools from the age of six to 
fourteen years, acquiring a good education. Three 
years after the completion of his studies, the fam- 
ily determined to emigrate to America. They 
sailed on the "Bremerhaven" in May, 1854, and 
after an ocean voyage of forty nine flays, stood on 
sliorc in New York City. Thence they took a boat 
to Albany, the cars to Buffalo, a steamer to De- 
troit, and cars to Chicago, completing the journey 
to Green Garden Township, this county, by teams. 
A farm of eighty acres was purchased, and the new 
life was begun in a log house. This was the home 
until 1865, when the place was sold, and an im- 
proved tract on section 2, Frankfort Township, was 
purchased by our subject. There he continued his 
agricultural labors until 1883. when he rented it, 
and removed to the [jlace which he now occui)ies, 
and which he inirclmsed foi' $55 per acre. 

In April, 1863, Mr. Hohenstein led to the hyme- 
neal altar Miss Charlotte Knapp, of Green Garden 
Township. This estimable lady was born in Bava- 
ria, tiermany, and came to America with her par- 
ents in 18.50. She is a daughter of Carl Knapp, 
formerly a farmer in Green Garden Township, but 
who is now living in Frankfort. She has borne her 
husl)and ten children, named respectively: Simon, 
Cluirles, Daniel Conrad, Charlotte, Peter, Chris- 
tian, Henry, Katie, and Carrie. The oldest son is 
married, and living on the farm on section 2; 
Charles is clerking in liatavia. The others are at 
home. 

Mr. Ilohenslein is one of the most inlluentialciti- 
zcns in Frankfort Township. He is now Assessor, 
and has held this office for fourteen years, being the 
oldest Assessor in the county. He was Collector 
of (ireen Garden Township one year, and of Frank- 
fort Township one year, and has been a member of 
the School rH>ard sixteen years. While living on 
sniion 2, he was School Director nine years, and 



he has held a similar position in his present district 
seven years. lie belongs to the Evangelical 
Church in F'rankfort, and is now filling the office 
of Trustee. His political adherence has always 
been given to the Democratic party. He has served 
on the Petit jurj', and was on the Grand Jury in 
1890, and is prominently connected with all enter- 
prises which promise to benelit the community. 



(g^ AMUEL GLASGOW, a fine type of the 
^^^ foreign element who, by sheer force of en- 
l|\/_Jl) ergetic persistence and well directed labor 
have made for themselves comfortable 
homes in this county and have secured a good 
competence, is a thoroughly practical, highly suc- 
cessful farmer, owning and managing a choice farm 
in Plainfield Township, and is well worthy of 
a place in this Biooraphical Album, dedicated to 
the citizens of Will County. 

Mr. Glasgow was born in the North of Ireland, 
five miles from Ballymena in the Count}' of Ulster, 
November 8, 1842. His father and his grand-, 
father both bearing the same name, Robert Glas- 
gow, were n.atives of Scotland. The grandfather 
was a farmer and so far as known spent his entire 
life in the land of his birth. The father of our 
subject was reared and married in Scotland, and 
moving to Ulstershire, leased Land and was actively 
engaged in farming and stock-raising there for 
many years. In 1868, he emigrated to this coun- 
try, and bought a farm in Plainfield Township and 
was engaged in its management. After the death 
of his wife he made his home with our subject un- 
til his death, January 10, 1888, at the ripe old age 
of seventy-five j-ears. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Margaret Dunseath, 
and she was of Scottish birth. She died at her 
home in Plainfield, June 10, 1886. Of their chil- 
dren, one died in Ireland, and seven came to 
America, their names being as follows: Catherine, 
Maria, Samuel, Jane, Margaret, Martha and Robert. 
The subject of this biographical review was 
reared and educated in the place of his nativity. 
He was carlv set to work on a farm and obtained 



734 



rORTUAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



an excellent knowledge of agriculture in all its 
branches. lie IIvihI with his [jarents until he was 
twenty-two jcars old, and then engaged witii a 
commission merchant as a buyer of produce, con- 
tinuing with tlic same firm tiutij 1868. In tliat 
3 cur lie came to America, hoping to insure liis 
prosperity by settling in this great Hci)ublic. lie 
landed at New York on the ISth of July, and com- 
ing directly to Illinois, souglit and found employ- 
ment on the farm of .!. C. Carpenter, of Kendall 
County. He w;is wilii him two years and the ensu- 
ing year was employed on Judge Caton's farm, and 
then worked l";s(iuire Corbin's place on shares for 
six years. At the expiration of that time he be- 
came a landowner in liis own right, buying a farm 
on section 29, of I'lainfield Township. ?"ive years 
later he sold that and purchased tlie place where he 
now resides. This farm contains one hundred and 
eighty acres, well improved, and provided witii a 
fine set of Viuildings and all tlie aiUJUrtenances for 
operating a farm to the best advantage. 

l\Iay 14, liSGl, Mr. (ilasgow was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Martha Asdel, a native of the same 
place as himself, and of Scotch ancestry. Tiiey are 
now the parents of ten children : William J., Robert, 
Margaret J., Samuel, Catherine, James,Anna, George, 
Albert and Edward. 

The citizenship of I'lainfield received a worthy 
addition when our sul)ject came here to reside, as 
he is a man of excellent reputation, is honest and 
truthful in all the relations that he sustains toward 
others, and is endowed with good practical sense 
and an excellent capacity for skillful labor, and the 
patience, without which he could not have accom- 
plished what he has. 



j^^TEPHEN J. WILLIAMS. This well- 
^^^ known and wealthy citizen occupies a fine 
lll^jj) farm on section 31, DuPage Township, 
upon which he was born September 22, 
1849. He was fortunate in belonging to a family 
possessed of means sudicicnt to enable him to culti- 
vate his talents and develoji the powers of his mind 
at first class institutions, and has therefore obtaineil 



a fine education. The rudiments were gained in 
the district schools of the home neighborhood, and 
when sixteen years old he entered the academy at 
Naperville, DuPage County', following a period of 
study there by one at Wheaton College. 

The next institution attended b}' young Williains 
was the Plalnfield College of AVill County, after- 
ward destroyed by fire, where he studied for a short 
time only, finally entering the University of Notre 
Dame, at South Bend, lud., from whicii he was 
graduated in 1865. The same year he was selectedi 
by Gov. John Madison, of this State, to accom- 
pany the surveying party as assistant leveler, oni 
tlie Union Pacific Railroad, between Omaha and 
San Francisco. Seven months were S[)ent in that 
labor, then Mr. Williams returned to his home. 
His father at that time owned a coal mine at Brace- 
ville, Grundy County, and Stephen was sent to 
superintend it, whicli he did for two years. 

After that experience in controlling affairs, Mr. 
Williams returned again to Will County, and set- 
tled upon the homestead, making it his home from 
that date. He owns a large body of laud in the 
county, and in the agricidtural work to which he 
gives his attention, and the rental of property, is; 
meeting with a degree of success that stamps himi 
as a worth}' successor of a father who was a fine 
financier. 

Mv. Williams has been twice married, and is the 
father of five children, named respectively: James, 
Thomas C, Maud C, Mary E. and Jennie. He 
has served as School Director, and as Township > 
Sui)ervisor has acted six years, satisfying the (uil)- 
lic, whose interests he serves. He is a Democrat, , 
and on the party ticket was nominated in 1887 for • 
the State Legislature, but defeated by his opponent, 
the Hon. Dwight Haven, the present representa- 
tive. Probably few, if any, men in the county 
have a better education than Mr. Williams, or 
keep better informed regarding the course of events 
in this busy world, and certainly' few can claim a 
deeper interest in the advancement of civilization 
.and the growth of the country. The qualities ex- 
hibited by Mr. Williams are such as to gain respect, 
and he is looked upon .as one of the leading mem- 
bers of the community. 

The parents of our subject were Thomas .an<l 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



735 



Susan (Horner) 'Williams, tlie latter a native of 
Johnstown, Vii., and tlie former l)orn in Cornwall, 

[England, about 1809. Tlie father came to America 
early in the '30's, tlie first liusiness in whicii lie 
engaged in Pennsj'lvania being tlie iiurchasc of 
flax seed which he shipped to England. In this 
venture he lost all his money, and he therefore re- 
turned to his native land for furtiicr funds that 
were supplied him by his father. For about two 
years Mr. Williams was foreman in an iron mine in 
Ireland, after which he returned to the United 
States, and came, direct to Illinois, this being in 

'18:5G. 

The work then undertaken by Mr. Thomas Will- 
iams was the construction of a portion of the Illi- 
nois and Michigan Canal, in Will County, one and 
a fourth miles being built by him. He then became 
a contractor for railroad construction in this State 
and Wisconsin, continuing thus engaged until 1850, 
when he followed the great tide that was setting 
westward to the Pacific sloi^e. He secured the con- 
tract for the levee around San Francisco, m.aking 
considerable money on the job, and returning to 
Illinois in 1852, resumed railroad contracting 
herein. 

In 184G the family of Mr. Williams had settled 
on the farm now occupied by the son, our subject, 
and some time in the '60's the father abandoned 
his former line of labor, and devoted himself to 
home life thereon, remaining constantly with his 
family until called hence, October 14,1881. His 
reputation was not confined to the county of which 
he was considered one of the most public-spirited 
citizens, but extended throughout the State and 
even beyond its borders, his contracts having been 
honorably carried out, and the workmanshiji upon 
them having stood the test for strength and dura- 
bility. He was a bidder for the tunnel that supplies 
Chicago with water — the first to the crib — but 
Messrs. Fox & Howard had a few dollars the ad- 
vantage of him and secured it. 
■ ' Mr. Williams had served as Supervisor of I)u 
Page Township six years, with credit to himself 
and his constituents. But a few days before his 
decease he was nominated on the Democratic ticket 
for the State Legislature, and it is quite probable 
that he would have been elected li.ad not his career 



been cut short by death. He was interred with 
the solemn rites of the Masonic fraternity, with 
wliich he had long been identified. He was a 
member of the E|)iscopal Church. In every move- 
ment that promised to benefit the community he 
bore an active part. The excellent education he 
had received, combined witli pre-eminent business 
ability, made him a successful financier, .and his 
liberal spirit inclined him to assist churches and 
other bodies in their work to improve society. 

Mrs. Thomas Williams departed this life in 
1879. Of the nine children comprising the family 
of the worthy couple, the only survivors are our 
subject and his sister Susan, widow of Frederick 
Haney, who lives in Brighton Park, Cook County. 



' ' ' °^ 




ENRY S. BKOCKWAY. Among the work- 
IJj ers in handicraft in the thriving city of 
Joliet, none better deserve mention in a 
volume of this description than H. S. Brock- 
way. He was born in Chemung, N. Y., being a 
son of Edmund and Elizabeth (Shoemaker) P.rock- 
way, both of whom were likewise natives of the 
Empire State. The father was born January 29, 
1811, and the mother in February, 1817. They 
removed to Kendall County, III., in 1855, and after 
a time chai;f;ed their location to Grant Township, 
Buena Vista County, Iowa, where the husband and 
father engaged in farming until his death. May 30, 
1885. The mother died in November, 1854. 

The natal day of him of whom we write was Oc- 
tober 1, 1841, and he is the eldest son in a family 
comprising seven children. Having accompanied 
his father to the Prairie State in 1855, he attended 
the public schools and afterward entered Clark 
Seminaiy in Aurora, where he completed his stud- 
ies. He began his career in life as a farmer, but 
after a brief period devoted to agriculture learned 
the trade of a carpenter and, coming to Joliet, be- 
gan active business as a contractor and builder. 

Many beautiful buildings that are ornaments to 
the city have been put up by him. among them be- 
ing the Campbell and Stevens Blocks, the elevator 
and the residences of James Ashley and W. S. 



73G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Brooks. He is a man of the strictest integrity, 
punclual in the smnllest details of liis engasjements 
and i-uiiable in word and deed. He tiiorefore en- 
joys tiio iiiarlicd esteem of his fellow-men and the 
sincere friendship of those intimatel3' acquainted 
with Ills worth of character. 

At the head of the cozy home on Sherman Street 
is a lady of housewifely skill and fine character, 
between whom and our subject the rites of wedlocK 
were celebrated November 13, 1878. She bore the 
maiden name of Nettie E. McCowan, is a native of 
this county and a daughter of parents who helped 
to subdue the prairie and are yet living as examples 
of tiic sturdy yeomanry of pioneer days. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Brock way two sturdy sons have been 
born: Henry S., wiiose natal day was April 28, 
1884, and Jay McCowan, who opened his ej-es to 
the light January 5, 1886. Mr. Brockway is an 
active meml)er of the Kiehards Street Methodist 
Ki)ise()pul Church. 



^^ABRIEL NOEL. On a fertile and well-dc- 
■II J—-, velopcd farm consisting of two hundred 
*^^|j and twenty acres on section 9, Jackson 
Township, Mr. Noel pursues the oven tenor of his 
way, gaining the good will of his fellows and win- 
ning maintenance from the soil. He was born in 
Portsmouth, Ohio, July 2, 1820, and grew to man- 
hood on his father's farm, the parent adding the 
control of a saw-mill to his farm labor. 

When twenty-seven \'enrs old our subject came 
tt> Will County, 111., and on October 15, 1847, was 
married to Miss Elizabeth D. Zarley, daughter of 
the late Reason Zarley and his good wife. (See 
sketch of J. C. Zarley). This l.ady was born in 
this county November 22, 1830, is well educated, 
cni)able and of fine character. The union has re- 
sulted in tha birth of twelve children, of whom five 
died in infancy. The living are Albert E. and Er- 
vin R., farmers in Jackson Townshij); Calvin Z., 
clerk in the Hotel Royal; Elvis C, in the stone 
business in Chase County, Kan.; Susie E., wife of 
L. H. Lineberger, of Peotone; Rose M., wife of 



C. W. Table, of Jackson Township, and Frank G., 
still at home. 

Mr. Noel has been Road Commissioner and held 
the various school oflices. In politics he is a Re- * 
publican, and both he and his wife are Universal- 
ists in religious belief. Farming has been the chief 
occupation of Mr. Noel since boyhood and he shows ■ 
a thorough understanding of the business. Ilis es- 
tate bears excellent improvements, and good cheer 
abounds within the dwelling, whose occupants are 
held in good repute by all who know them. 



■^1 



-^w_=E 







LVIN J. KINO, an honored resident of 
Plainfield, was born in Collins, Erie 
County, N. Y., May 13, 1824. He came 
!§/' of sterling New England stock, his father, 
Allen King, having been a native of Rhode Island, 
and his grandfather, Nathan King, who w.as a 
soldier of the Revolutionar}' War, is also supposed 
to have been born in the same State. He removed 
from Rhode Island to Vermont, and was an earl3' 
pioneer of the town of Danby, in Rutland Countj-. 
He resided thereuntil 1811, and again became a 
pioneer, moving with an ox team to Erie County. 
N. Y. He bought land of the Holland Purchase 
Company in the town of Holland, and spent the re- 
mainder of his da^'s there. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was 
reared and married in Vermont and made the re- 
moval to Erie Count}', a few months before his fa- 
ther. He bought a tract of wild land in the piimev.al 
forests in the town of Collins, obtaining his patent 
from the Holland Purchase Company. His first 
work was to build a log house for the shelter of his 
family, and he then entered upon the hard task of 
clearing a farm from the wilderness. He felled the 
limber from quite a tract, and then sold it at an ad- 
vance, and bought again, and he thus made three or 
four changes in the ensuing years, selling so as to 
make money each time, and was a resident of Erie 
Count)- until his death. The maiden name of his 
wife was Virginia Thompson, and she was born in 
Westmoreland County, N. H. Her father. Joseph 
Thompson was asoldier in the Revolutionary AVar, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



737 



lind two of his sons served with him'in the battle 
of Saratoga. He was a farmer and spent Ills last 
years in Otsego County, N. Y. His wife spent her 
last years with a daughter in the town of Collins. 

The subject of this sketch was reared and edu- 
cated in his native town, and resided tliere until 
IHST). He bought a farm and was actively engaged 
in its cullivation until the 3'ear mentioned, when he 
sold it, and coming to Illinois, located in McHenry 
County, buying a farm in Seneca Township. He 
carried t)n farming and stock-raising with good suc- 
cess until 1882, when he sold his place there, and 
coming to Plainfield, bought where he now resides 
and is living in the enjoj'mcnt of Ihe cunifortalile 
competence that his industry has lirought him. 

Mr. King was married in 1849, to Susan A. South- 
worth. She was l)orn in Chautauqua County, in 
the town of Slieridan, N. Y., a daughter of Epiphias 
and Hannah South worth. Three children have 
blessed their marriage to them : George M., a res- 
ident of AVoodstock; Mrs. Robert Graves, of Plain- 
field ; and .Tohn M., who lives in Woodstock, Mr. 
and Mrs. King are members of the I'niversalist so- 
ciety and for their great personal worth are held in 
higli esteem by the people among whom they 
have come to make their home in their declining 
years. 

— "^osso^" — 

DWARD ETHERIDGE is a citizen of whom 
Joliet raa3- well be proud, his life having 
been marked by uprightness, faithfulness 
and industry. He hns won the attention of em- 
ployers Ijy the manner in which he has performed 
tiie work before him and shown th.at liis was not 
eye service alone but was prompted by a sense of 
duty anil self-respect. He was born in Worcester- 
shire, England, in wliich ids parents also opened 
their eyes to the light of day and wherein lliey died 
at advanced ages. The fatlier was one of twenty- 
two children, and worked at the trade of a brick- 
layer. 

He of whom we write, learned the trade of hi? fa- 
tlier at an early age and became a master workman, 
lie came to America, landing at Portland, Me., and 
from there to Chicago, III., reaching the latter city 



April 1, 1872. On the 4tli of June following he 
came to Joliet and at once entered the employ of 
the Joliet Steel Company with which he continued 
until 1874. He then went to Pittsburg, Pa., be- 
coming an employe in Braddock's Steel Works. 
On severing that connection he went to St. Louis, 
Mo., where he assisted in the construction of the 
blast furnaces of the Jas. Green Iron Works. 

Mr. Etheridge next returned to Joliet, but after 
a brief period went to Crystal City, Mo., coming 
again to Joliet by request and making the connec- 
tion that has not since been severed, except for a 
short time in 1877, when tire mills were closed on 
account of the financial panic. During tiie 3'ears 
in which he has sojourned here, Mr. Etheridge has 
assisted in the erection of all the structures that go 
to make up the splendid plant of the Illinois Steel 
Company. 

The pleasant home of Mr. Etheridge is presided 
over bj- an estimable woman whose many virtues 
and graces of mind and heart endear her to a large 
circle of friends. She was known in her maiden- 
hood as Miss Eliza Sawyer, and is a native of the 
Mother Country, in which her wedding took place 
in 1806. She is the mother of four children, as fol- 
lows: Sarah is married and lives in Joliet; George, 
an estimable and industrious young man, is now in 
Chicago; Martha and James are still at home. Mr. 
I<;theridge is devoted to his home and its attractions 
are foremost in his eyes. He belongs to the Knights 
of Pythias, and worships at the Ottawa Street 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an excellent 
citizen, interested in all^that tends to advance the 
prosperity of his chosen home. 



^jHEODORE M. H. STARMANN is the fifth 
'''(^<\ son and child of Jurgen F. and Amelia 
<^-' Starmann, his father being a well-knowu 
farmer and stockman of Manhattan Township. 
The young gentleman is one of the promising 
business men of the town of the same name, in 
which he opened an establishment for the sale of 
agricultural implements in the si)ring of 1889. He 
has already mauifcsted good business qualities and 



73S 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



a. degree'of enterprise which gives bright prospects 
for his future success. lie is popular in society, 
iiavinu; a pleasing manner and great intelligence. 

The parentsof our subject were born in Ilolsleiii, 
CJermany, and resided in the Fatherland until 1869, 
when with their family they emigrated to America. 
locatingjMn Joliet, 111. After reaching manhood 
Mr. Starmann dealt in grain for some years.but for 
two years prior to his rcmov.al to America he had 
been occupied as a teamster. After settling in .loU 
iet he pursued various employments, working in 
a stone quarry, the roller mills, etc., until 1873, 
when he rented land iii Manhattan Township and 
began tilling the soil. After having operated 
rented projjcrty four years he bought eighty acres 
near the northern line of the township and a few 
years later purchased eighty acres in New Lenox 
Township, which bordered on the Manhattan line. 
He established his home upon his new purchase, 
where he is still engaged in farming and stock-rais- 
ing. A third purchase of eiglitj' acres was made, 
this tract being in Manhattan Township, and he 
therefore now possesses three well-improved farms, 
comprising two hundred and forty acres. He is 
a Re|)ublican and a member of the Lutheran 
Church. His re[)utation is most excellent and his 
son is fortunate in having him as a backer in his 
own enterprise. 

The parental family comprises eight children, as 
follows: Jurgen is a teamster in Manhattan; John 
is deceased ; Gustav us is farming on the homestead ; 
Edward is also on the home farm; the next is our 
subject; the younger brothers and sisters are; 
Peter, Catherine and Amelia, who are still under 
the parental roof. 

Theodore Starmann opened his eyes to the light 
of day in Ilolstcin, liermanjr, .Tanuary IG, 18CS. 
The next ^ear he was brought to America and .lol- 
iet was the scene of his earliest recollections. He 
was reared in that city to the age of five years 
when his parents removed to the farm in Manhat- 
tan To\vnshi[i. Upon it and the one in New Lenox 
Townshii). the lad was reared to manhood, having 
the advantages of the public schools and learning 
the rudiments of farming. He remained with his ! 
fathir until he became of age, when his l.astes 
having led him to desire a mercantile career, he '' 



opened the establishment over which he now pre- 
sides. The building which he occupies is owned 
l)y his father and under its roof will be found a 
good assortment of farm implements and machines, 
including Deering binders and Garr Scott threshers 
and likewise carriages and wagons. Mr. Starmann 
has also bought his brt)ther Edward's stock of liq- 
uors and cigars and after July 1, will also be en- 
gaged in the sale of them. He is a true-l)lue Re- 
publican and a member of the Lutheran Church 
in Joliet. 



€--^-^- 




ORRIS UMSTED. This county is famous 
for the richness of its soil, and for its 
n many farms that are scarcely exceeded in 
production and the value of their improvements 
liy that of any other section of our fair land, and 
this gentleman is represented in this volume as the 
fortunate owner of a large farm in Wesley Town- 
ship, that compares favorably with any in this lo- 
cality. 

Our subject was born April 30, 1849, to Bazil 
and Julia Ann (Haynes) Urasted, natives of Ohio. 
The father was born in Ross County. His family 
originated in Pennsylvania and were earl^' set- 
tlers of Ohio, where he was reared and married and 
himself and wife were life-long residents there, he 
dying in 185L and she in 1890. They were par- 
ents of six children, five of whom are now living. 

Their son Norris was bred to the life of a farmer, 
and received a good common-school education. 
At seventeen years of age he began life for himself 
and was emi)loyed on a farm until twenty-one, 
when he became the owner of the old homestead 
that had been his birthplace. He farmed at good 
advantage for several j'ears and then decided to 
try .agriculture in this State, and in 1871, bought 
his present farm in Weslej- Township. He now 
has two hundred and forty-two acres of as fertile 
farming land as is to be found in this section of 
the country, all lying together and under excel- 
lent improvement. He has wrought many changes 
since taking possession of tlie farm, that have greatly 
increased its value, and h.as on it substantial build- 






O-^I^C^^^ 





^CY^'IA^ 



{/-T^V^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



743 



ings whicli he has alturod and made more conve- 
nient for his use. He carries on mixed farming, 
raising good crops and having iiis farm well slocived 
witli standard grades of cattle. 

He was married May II, 1870, to MissMargnret 
Foley, a daughter of Charles Foley. Her "father 
was a native of Ireland, came to this country with 
his wife when quite young, and they are now res- 
idents of Ohio. The home circle of our subject 
and his wife comprises six children, .as follows: 
Annie, Nellie, IMinnie, Edward, Margaret and 
Retha, four of whom are now attending school in 
tliis district, and their father intends to give them 
good educational advantages. Mr. and Mrs. Um- 
sted have lost two from their little flock. Mrs. 
Urasted is a worthy woman and a consistent mem- 
ber of the Catholic Church at Wilmington. 

In the prosecution of his labors Mr. Umstcd has 
shown a practical knowledge of his calling and has 
exhibited sufficient foresight and discretion to ac- 
quire a com))etency. He has a pleasant, obliging 
disposition and his willingness to lend a helping 
iiand to anyone in trouble has won him the esteem 
of tliis community where he came to establish a 
iiome nearly twenty years ago. For the last ton 
years he has taken an active part in local educa- 
tional matters and as .School Director for his dis- 
trict has done what he could to procure the best 
of schooling for the children of the iieighborhood. 
lie t.akes an interest in the political issues of the 
day and votes the Republican ticket. 




ENRY CLAY CAS.SEDAY. The subject 
of this notice is one of a prominent family 
in Will County, and the son of George AY. 
@) Casseday, who emigrated lo Paris, 111., in 
1824, and came to Joliet May 10, 1850. He be- 
came well-to-do, financially, and was the owner of 
about four hundred acres of land, running from the 
Michigan Central cut-off to the Illinois Steel 
Works, and thence to the canal north of the old 
city limits. The family residence is a fine large 
structure, occupying No. 10(i,"i .lackson Street, and 



with its surroundings forms one of the most at- 
tractive homes in the city. 

George W. Casseday was born December I, 
180.3, about nine miles from the Natural Bridge, 
Bedford County, Va. He there grew to raan"s 
estate, and subsequently removed with bis parents 
to Troy, Ohio. On the 13th of January, 1824, he 
was married to Miss Delilah Murphy. This lady 
was a native of his own county, and born July 6, 
1806. She went with her parents to Troy, Ohio, 
when quite 3'oung, where she was reared to woman- 
hood. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Casseday re- 
moved to Paris, 111., from there to Danville, and 
finally to Joliet, May 10, 1850. 

The father of our subject upon coming to this 
county began dealing in re.al estate, and became' 
owner of a large .amount of land in Illinois. He 
held the most of this up to the time of his death, 
which occurred July 23, 18G3. He laid out all 
that part of Joliet lying north of Jackson Street 
and extending to the city limits, this being known 
as Casseda3''s Addition. He was not a politician, 
with the exception of voting first the Whig and 
later the Repulilican ticket. His religious views 
coincided with the doctrine of the Mc;thodist Epis- 
copal Church, in which he neld the various offices 
and assisted substantially in the erection of the 
church building at Joliet. 

The widowed mother is still living a*; the old 
homestead in this city. The five children born to 
her and her husband were named respectively: 
David. Maria L., Henry Clay, Harriet N. and 
Mary E. David was born July G, 1826, in Paris, 
III., and attained to manhood in Danville; he was 
a youth piously inclined, and at an early age be- 
gan to study for the ministry. He joined the Illi- 
nois Conference, and after the removal of the fam- 
ily from Danville became connected with the Rock 
River Conference, with which he remained until 
the time of his death. May 5, 18G2. He spent his 
last days at the home of his mother in Joliet. Dur- 
ing the latter years of his life he was the Presiding 
Elder of Galena District. He first married Miss 
Rowena Welch, of Perrysville, Ind., and she bore 
him two sons — George E. and David W. For his 
second wife David married Miss Ellen M. H<);<g, 
of Plainfield, November 23, 1853, and of this 



744 



PORTRAIT AND RIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



union there was boiii one son, now Dr. F. F. Casse- 
day,wlio received liis literary eiiucation in llie Nortii- 
western University at Kvanston, from wliieli lie 
was graduated with the degree of A. 15. Later lie 
proseented lii.s medical studies at the Homeopathic 
Medical College, riiiladelphia. and is now a prac- 
ticing physician of Kansas City, Mo. 

ALaria L. Casseday married Milton Partlow, of 
Danville, and became the mother of five children; 
she is now deceased. Harriet N. married Elias 
Tyler and removed to Califcnnia, where she died 
January 17. 1H77; Mary K. became the wife of 
John Durham, and they are now living in Dan- 
ville, III.; Henry Clay, our subject, was born 
June 22, l»3Lfit Paris, 111., and is still unmarrieiL 
He completed his education in Joliet, and has since 
been bis mother's mainstay, looking after the old 
homestead and the business connected with the es- 
tate. During the (!ivil War he enlisted, in 1861, 
in Company B, Twentieth Illinois Infantry, and 
went with his regiment to Cairo. He was Assis- 
tant tiuartermaster, and participated in the battle 
of Fredericktown, Mo., also in the engagement at 
Springfield, the same State. At the end of six 
months he received his honorable discharge, and is 
now one of the most honored members of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, lie is a 
Republican. His portrait, together with that of his 
esteemed father, will be noticed in connection with 
this sketch. Mr. Casseday is a man of unassuming 
demeanor, quiet and retired in his habits, and 
enjo3's the confidence of a large circle of friends. 



^^ 



^i^^ TANTON LYNK. It is a worthy ambition 
^^^ which makes a man jealous for the reputa- 
\J_1)) tion of his town or township and incites 
liini to contribute his moral and substantial 
aid to the enterprises calculated for its progress, 
socially, morally and financially. Mr. Lynk has 
distinguished himself in this direction in a marked 
degree and is looked upon as one of the most use- 
ful members of his communit3'. At the same time 
his personal interests and the comfort of his family 
have kept pace with his public bi'iiefactions and we 



find him in possession of all that makes life desir- 
able — a pleasant home and a coiniietence for his de- 
clining years. He has been accompanied for many 
years on his life journey by one of the most esti- 
mable of ladies who shares with her husband the 
respect of the community. 

A native of Columbia C'ounty, N. V., Mr. Lynk 
was born October 7, 18."il, and came to Illinois with 
his father in 1 «.")2, and has since maintained his resi- 
dence in New Lenox Townshi|i. He w.as reared to 
habits of industry and economy which have served 
him well all through life, and his education was such 
as was to l)e obtained in th(> common school. He 
worked with his father on the farm until a man of 
twenty-six years and then took unto himself a wife 
.and helpmate. Miss Isabella Doig,the wedding being 
celebrated at the bride's home in Hoiner Township, 
July f), 18o(j. After his marriage he continued to 
reside at the old homestead of which he is now the 
owner and which comprises two hundred acres of 
choice land with first-class improvements. 

To Mr. and Mrs. L3'nk there have been born a 
family of six children, the eldest of whom a daugh- 
ter, .Inaet, is the wife of AlielBliss, of New Lenox 
Township; Zachariah W. married Miss Cornelia 
Finch and lives in Nebraska; Adelia is the wife of 
Walter Rowley, of Homer Township; Everette S. ; 
Evalena and Erwin remain at home with their par- 
ents. Mr. Lynk has been exceedingly' careful in 
the education of his children who, after leaving the 
district school, completed their studies in the high 
schools of Joliet and Englewood. In politics, Mr. 
Lynk votes independently and has never sought 
oflice, simply serving at one period as Highway 
Commissioner. 

Zachariah AV. Lynk. the father of our subject, was 
born March 24, 1790, in Columbia County, N. Y. 
He was reared to manhood in that county and was 
married to Miss Sarah Hardy,who was born Septem- 
ber 16, 1800, and reared not far from the early 
home of her husband. They were married in Co- 
lumbia County and thence removed to Madison 
County, N. Y., where they settled upon a farm. In 
the spring of 1852, the}' decided upon seeking their 
fortunes in the Prairie State and accordingly com- 
ing to this coiinty, settled on a farm on section 4, 
New Lenox Township, vvhere they spent the re- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



745 



mainder of their days. The mother passed away 
Jaiuiary 8, 1860. Mr. Lynk survived his wife over 
eiglitecii yours, liis deatii taking |)l:iee April 8, 1878. 

Nine cliildren were born to the parents of our 
siil)ject and he was tiie eightli in order of birth. 
His sister Sarali became the wife of Frank Mesick, 
and died at her home June 16, 1877; Peter died 
in Iowa in 1879; Ann M. is tlie wife of Thomas 
Doig of New Lenox Township; William is retired 
from active labor and living quietly in the village 
of New Lenox; Sylvanus lives in Marshalltown, 
Iowa; Louis lives in Florida; Norman is a resident 
of this county; Catherine P. is the wife of Addison 
Collins of New Lenox Township. 

Mrs. 1^3'nk was born November 9, 1836, in Phila- 
delphia, Pa., and is a daughter of Andrew, Sr., and 
Isabella (Fife) Doig, both of whom are natives of 
Scotland and who are represented on another page 
in this Aliu'm. They came to Will County in 1847, 
and settled in Homer Township where the mother 
(lied May 4, 1861. Mr. Doig de|)arted this life in 
New Lenox Township, February 17, 1887. Their 
family consisted of ten children, of whom Mrs. 
l.ynk was next to the youngest. 




ON. CHARLES B. GARNSEY, Judge of 
the County Court of Will County, was 
elected to the office he now holds in 1882, 
and at the conclusion of his first term, of 
office, in 1886, was re-elected. He was born in Liv- 
ingston County, N. Y., October 25, 1842, and is a 
son of N. B. and Emily Gainsej'. The father was a 
native of Saratoga County, but was educated in 
Massachusetts and adopted the occupation of farm- 
ing. Judge Garnsey came to Will County in May, 
1859, and has practically made Joliet his home ever 
since. His literary education was obtained in the 
E.ast, and his legal studies pursued at the Chicago 
Law School, from which he was graduated in 1862. 
He entered the One Hundredth Illinois Infantrj-, 
July 30, 1862, and served through the war, with 
his command. 

hi 1865 Mr. Garnsey was admitted to the bar of 
this State, and at once entered upon the practice 



of his profession in the city where he has since 
practiced continually. In 1877 he became asso- 
ciated with A. F. Knox, under the style of Garn- 
sey tfe Knox, the partnership still existing. He 
was Corporation Counsel of the city of Joliet for 
two years. 

Our subject was married in Wilmington, No- 
vember 4, 1867, to Miss Mary A. Henderson. 
Mrs. Garnse}', who is an educated and refined wo- 
man, is a daughter of John D. Henderson, an old 
merchant of Wilmington, who is still living in that 
town. They have two sons — John II. and C. B., 
Jr., both of whom are now in school and will re- 
ceive excellent educational advantages as they ad- 
vance in years and knowledge. Judge Garnsey 
belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member 
of Joliet Commander3-, No. 4. 



ON. HENRY H. STASSEN, Clerk of the 
Court of Will County, has faithfully dis- 
charged the duties of this position for the 
_ past three years with credit to himself and 
satisfaction to all concerned. He has just passed 
his fifty-second birthdajs having been born March 
2, 1838, and is a native of the Grand Duchy of 
Oldenburg, Germany, the parental home at that 
time being in the town of Westrum, Jeverland. 
His father, Harm H. Stassen, was also born in Jev- 
erland, September 15, 1805. He learned shoeraaking 
in early manhood and was married to Miss Metta 
Ulrichs. To them were born nine children in 
Germany, of whom Henry H., our subject, was the 
third. The family emigrated to America in 1854, 
landing in Monee, this counl^-, on the 27th of June. 
The household then included four children, five of 
them having died in infancy. Maria E. died when 
forty-six years old; Metta became the wife of 
Christian Shrader and removed to Kansas, where 
she died; Mina is the wife of Frederick Peters, of 
New Baden, Tex. 

The elder Stassen followed his trade two years 
after coming to this country, and then settled on a 
farm near Monee. Henry II. also learned shoemak- 
ing, at which he worked until he arrived in this 




74G 



I'ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



country. The father died November 16, 1886, at 
tlie age of eighty -one years. Tlie mother passed 
away over twenty years prior to the dcce.asc of her 
husband, her deatii taiiing plac-e September 3, 1805, 
when she was fifty-tliree years old, siie having been 
born March 11. 1808. Botii were members of the 
Kvangelioal Liitiieran Church, a congregation of 
which the father assisted in organizing in 1856 in 
Monee, 111., and to the support of which he re- 
mained a liberal contributor. He rendered sub- 
stantial aid in the erection of the church edifice and 
from first to last maintained a warm interest in the 
welfare and advancement of the society. He cast 
his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 
1860, together with his son, our subject, and both 
from tliat time forward gave their allegiance to 
the lieiiublican parly. 

The subject of this notice learned shoemaking in 
his native land, and upon coming to America at 
once changed th.-^it occupation for farming. Dur- 
ing the month of .Inly which followed he worked 
for $4 and h.'s board. In 1865 he returned to his 
native country' (Germany) and on the 4lh of Feb 
ruary, 1860, was wedded to a maiden of his own 
province. Miss G. Maria Dudden. This Lady was 
born August 27. 1840, in a neighboring village to 
that of her husband, which remained her home un- 
til her marriage. She is the daughter of Ilillerich 
J. and Anne Dudden, who died in middle life and 
before their daughter was married. 

In May, 1860, following his marriage, Mr. Stas- 
sen returned to tiiis country arriving in Will 
County on the 4th day of the month, and for 
twenty-one years thereafter followed farming in 
Green (iarden Township, where he had a farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres. He was prosperous 
in his laliors and invested his accumulated capital 
in additional land, so that in addition to the farm 
mentioned he has one hundred and fiftj'-fivc acres 
in Monee Township. His possessions are the result 
of his own unaided oflTorts, as he began at the foot 
of the ladder, without other resources than his na- 
tive industry and energy. 

Mr. Stassen is a man of more than ordinar}' in- 
telligence, and in 1872 served as Assessor of Green 
Garden Township. In the spring of 1873 he was 
elected to rejjresent the township in the County 



Board of Supervisors, and with the exception of 
one year held the otlice by continuous re-elections 
until his resignation in 1886, when he entered upon 
the duties of his present position. He has .always 
been a liberal and public-spirited man, interested 
in educational matters, and all other matters calcu- 
lated to advance the people. He organized the first 
school in District No. 8, Green Garden Township, 
assisted in buiUling the schoolhouse and officiated 
as Director from 1869 until leaving the district. 
In 1867 he assisted in organizing the Green Garden 
I^arracr's Mutual Insurance Company, the first cor- 
poration of the kind in the State, and in the spring 
of 1868 was elected Treasurer of the company, 
which position he held until his resignation in Jan- 
uary, 1887. This company began business without 
capital, charging one-half per cent, premium per 
$100 on all property insured, and in 1886 had ac- 
cumulated, after paying all losses and expenses of 
Government and organization, 18,000. It had at 
that time over twelve hundred members. Its suc- 
cess w.as largely owing to the good management of 
its treasurer, who engineered it through many dif- 
ficult places, and frequently went security' for large 
risks. 

Mr. Stassen also became interested in the Grange 
movement in 1873, which he has represented at 
various times and u)ion various occasions at their 
meetings and conventions. His title of Honorable 
has been fairly won liy his service in the Twenty- 
ninth (ieneral Assend)l3', to which he was elected 
in 1874. He served on various important commit- 
tees, including Insurance, he being well qualified 
by experience as a member of such committee. 
He served his term accci)tably, and in 1884 vvas 
once more nominated, serving this time in the 
Thirty-fourth General Assembly. In the meantime 
he formed one of the famous "one hundred and 
three" who were engaged in the six months' mem- 
orable struggle for the election of John A. Logan 
for United States Senator and in which, it will be 
remembered, they succeeded on the 19th of May, 
1885. 

In 1876 Mr. Stassen was made the nominee of 
the Grangers for Clerk of the Circuit Court and 
made an admirable race, although defeated as was 
expected. In 1886 he was elected to his present 





or^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUiM. 



749 



position, taking cliargc of tiie ofBce December 6. 
lie superintended the operations of his farm for a 
year thereafter, but in February, 1888, he removed 
his family to Joliet. During the summer of 1889 
he put up a couimodious, modern residence at the 
corner of Oueida and Nicholson Streets, wiiere he 
now lives. In 1884 Mr. .Stassen was elected Presi- 
dent of the Farmers' State Insurance Alliance and 
served two years. Religiously, he belongs to the 
United Evangelical Lutheran Churcii. 

To our subject and his estimable wife there have 
lieen born Ave sons, of whom but two are living. 
Charles J. married Miss Anna Albers and the3' re- 
side on the farm; Menno H. lives with his))rother 
and assists in the labors at tiie liomestead. Com- 
ment is unnecessary relative to the position which 
Mr. Stassen holds among his fellow citizens. He 
has become fully identified with the interests of 
this county and h.as contributed in no small degree 
to its growth aud prosperity. 



-♦^^= 



^UGUST ERIKSSON. The results of 
^f-i unflagging perseverance, i)ruilent economy 
I \ and investment, and good habits, probabl3' 
find no better exponent in the city of 
Joliet than in tiie above-named gentleman, whose 
portrait is presented on the opposite p.age, and 
who is the i)roprietor of a fine stone quarry, being 
also engaged in contracting aud l)uilding. The 
Eriksson stone tjuarr}- is located at the foot of 
Ilowen Avenue on South Richard Street, and has 
a four hundred foot face; flagging stone from two 
to ten inches in thickness is gotten out, seventeen 
hundred carloads having been cut in the [)ast year, 
and the best steam appliances being used in the 
quarry. 

Mr. P^riksson was born in Sweden, January 7, 
1854, was reared upon a farm, and came to Amer- 
ica in 1876, without a trade upon which to depend, 
but full of pluck and energy. His first place of 
abode was Des Moines, Iowa, where he remained 
about three years, after which he returned to his 
native land. Having already with his own empty 
liands made a start in life, he embarked in business, 



but in April, 1881, decided to return to America. 
Crossing the Atlantic, he traveled westward to 
Joliet, 111., where he began working for Sanger & 
Moody, soon getting into mason's work, but being 
a non-Union man, he was obliged to stop working, 
and he was thus forced into contracting. His 
principal contract was a three-story business block 
which he put up in 1882. 

The first large contract of Mr. Eriksson was 
with (xeorge 11. Munroe for the Mnnroe Block, and 
the second for a Catholic school at Lemont; the 
next large contract was for the Lombart and Bishop 
Wire Mill, and in 188.3 he put up a block for Ed 
S. Munroe. In December, 1883, he bought the 
stone quarry described above, which in connection 
with his building, gives occupation to from fifty to 
one hundred men at different seasons of the year. 
In the summers of 1888 and 1889 he contracted for 
the oltice building and for the Fox plant for the 
Illinois Steel C(jmpany, the latter a $22,000 job, 
and also the Atheneum Building. He now has the 
contract for the stone work for the new Masonic 
Temple and the new Presbyterian Church. 

Besides the business enterprises mentioned, Mr. 
Eriksson is also building up a fine farm, having in 
the fall of 1887 bought twenty-five hundred acres 
in Greeley County, Kan. Its improvement was 
begun in the spri]ig of 1888, and during the two 
years that have passed seven hundred acres have 
been placed under cultivation. He aho builds and 
sells houses. All his worldly possessions, with 
the exception of ^2,000 received by him three 3'ears 
since, have been earned by his own exertions and 
saved liy his prudence. Few, if any, men of his 
years can show so good a record Hnanciall}' speaking, 
or have a higher standing among their fellow-men 
for manly character and upright habits. 

In the winter of 1882, Mr. Eriksson paid a sec- 
ond visit to Europe, and in 1885 spent the Christ- 
mas holidaj'S in his native land, accompanied on 
this occasion by his family. He is a stockholder 
in the Borrowers' and Investors' Association, of 
which he was one of the organizers and is now a 
Director. His vote is always given to the Repub- 
lican candidates, as he is a firm believer in the 
principles of that party. He and his wife belong 
to the First Lutheran Church. 



750 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mr. Eriksson found a wortliy companion and 
helpmate in Miss Anna Christine Anderson, a na- 
tive of Sweden, with whom he was united in mar- 
riage in Chicago, December 6, 1881, the ceremony 
being performed by the Rev. C. B. L. Boinan. 
Iler wise oversight of houseliold affairs, her intelli- 
gent mind and pleasing disposition make the home 
a pleasant one. The happy union has been blessed 
by the birth of four children, tiie three now living 
forming a bright and interesting group. They are 
named respectively: Frank A., David Alfred and 
Carl Antonias. 'I'lie deceased child, who was the 
second born, bore the name of David Abiel. 



\IV1LL1AM ADAM, an old and honored resi- 
-^Ij dent of .loliet, has lung been connected 
^ with its business interests as the oldest 
Inmlier dealer in the city, having a large and well- 
stocked lumber-yard on the corner of Des Plaines 
and \'an Buren Streets. lie is also President of 
the .loliet Paper Company, which was incorporated 
here in 1888, with a capital stock of $1;'),000 by 
himself and his son, and they also have a barbed 
fence and wire factory in the same biiilding as Iheir 
paper mill. 

Mr. Adam was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, 
Fcbruarj' 4, 1821. He was a lad of eleven years 
when he came to this country in 1832 with his par- 
ents, James and Margaret Adam. They located in 
Montreal, Canada, and there the remaining days of 
his youth were passed. In 1850 he became a resi- 
dent of the United States, coming to Joliet with his 
family, and for a period of forty years his life has 
been spent in this city. In 1853 he established a 
lumber yard here, and that being before the advent 
of railways in this part of the country, all of his 
lumber was brought to him by the canal. He also 
took charge of a grain business, and was much 
prospered in both ventures, and gained capital 
whereby he was enabled to branch out in other 
directions. He built the city roller flouring mill, 
in which he engaged in the manufacture of flour 
until it burned in 1887. He rebuilt on the same 
spot, and uses the present building as a paper mill, 



a wire mill, and a bnrl)ed fence factory, and is 
largely interested in the manuf.-icture of those arti- 
cles. This business, which is an extensive and con- 
stantly growing one, is conducted by himself and 
son, William .1.. under the firm name of William 
Adam it Son, a corporate company, which was in- 
corporated in 1888, with our subject as President, 
and his son as Secretary and Treasurer. 

Mr. Adam is also prominently connected with 
the Peoples' Town and Homestead Association, 
of which he was one of the first stockholders, he 
giving great encouragement to the organization of 
the concern. He has avoided all oflicial and [)oliti- 
cal life, although he is well-adapted for both, and 
he has given his whole attention to his business 
affairs. He is a man of keen intelligence, and in 
his travels he has gleaned an interesting fund of 
; knowledge, and from his well-informed mind draws 
original toi)ics of conversation, and is apparently 
well-versed in all questions of general importance. 
Last winter he passed the season in California, and 
has visited other parts of the country, and is (juite 
a tourist. 

Mr. Adam has been twice married. IJy his mar- 
ri.age with .lane Roach, in Canada, he had born to 
him A. R. and William J. His second marriage 
was with Miss .lane E. Martin, of this city, and to 
them have come two children, U. M. and .Jeanette, 
now the wife of J. S. C. Royer, of Chicago. 

As their interests are so closely connected, we 
are [)leased lo incorporate a sketch of the life of 
the son in this biograjjhical revie\y of the life and 
work of the father. 



-^^:-^- 



^''^ ELVILLE A. GRANT. Lockport is not 
without its share of able business men and 
influential citizens, and chief among them 
S^ is the gentleman above named, whose career 
has been marked by a degree of tact, energy, and 
success rarely equaled. The business in which Mr. 
Grant is engaged, is that of manufacturing wire, 
and his goods find customers in all parts of the 
United States. He has patented an appliance by 



PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 



751 



which fusel oil is used as a fuel, and this important 
[liece of machinery is in successful operation. 

The natal day of Mr. Grant, was Oclol)er 23, 
IHM.ajid Ills birthplace Fleming Count}', Ky., in 
\i'luch ho lived until about lour years old. His 
parents, William S. and Mary A. (Tolle) Grant, 
then removed to Henry County, Iowa, where the 
son p.nsseil his youth in acipuring an education and 
a knowledge of the pursuits of a farmer and miller. 
After comiileting the course of study in the com- 
mon schools he attended the high school at Mt. 
Pleasant, Iowa. In 18G-1, while he yet lacked some 
months of having reached his majorit}', he entered 
the Union army as a member of the Forty-fifth 
Iowa Infantry, and displayed his gallantry in Mis- 
souri, Mississippi, and the West. 

At the close of his honorable career .as a soldier, 
young Grant returned to his former peaceful pur- 
suits, ere long becoming a resident of the Prairie 
State, arriving in Lockport, .Tune 4, 1867. Here he 
was engaged in various lines of business until 1878, 
when he entered the employ of II. 15. Scutt & Co., 
wire manufacturers, as Superintendent. He rc- 
mainccl with the company until 1881. when they 
sold out, and he, liaving thoroughly ni.astered tlie 
business, established a wire factory in Lockport, 
under the firm n;inieof Grant, Harmon cfe Richards. 
Mr. Grant soon absorbed the whole business, and 
formed a stock compan>-, by whom the business 
was continued for a year, after uhich it became the 
I laker Wire Mill. 

Mr. (irant drew the [iliins and superintended the 
erection of the buildings for the new organization, 
and his great executiveability in the management 
of the business is shown by the fact that the mills 
which started on a capacity of fifteen tons i)er week, 
now use four hundred tons weekly. From the 
original plant has grown an establishment which 
employs three hundred and fifty men, and disburses 
large sums of money each nujutli b}' which various 
departments of industry in the town aw benefited. 

The personal popularity of Mr. Grant is extreme, 
as was indicated by his election to the M.a^-oralty 
in op|)osition to two of the strongest men in the 
city, his caudidacj- being supjiorted by the best 
element of society. He is a member of Gooding 
Post, G. A. R. The beautiful home of which be 



took possession in the year 1888, is presided over 
by a lady of refinement and culture, with whom be 
was united in marriage on the 1st of December, 
188(). She is a native of Will County, and w.as 
known in her maidenhood as Miss Ella Cagwin. 
To her has been born one daughter. Bertha Eloise, 
whose natal day was November 30, 1887, and who 
is a child of striking beauty, giving promise of be- 
coming a charming woman. 



_S=5" 



m- 




^fr/BIJAH R.STARR, the pioneer florist of 
Joliet, for many years conducted a flower 
(*\ garden attached to his residence grounds 
i(i< at the corner of McCombcr Street and 

Bowen Place. He came to .Joliet in the sjiring of 
1871 and soon afterward established the business 
which he conducted unt'l 1888. He then sold out 
and rented his ground, and since that time has not 
been engaged in any .active business. He had one of 
the finest gardens in the country and met with phe- 
noniinal success. His life-long habits of industry, 
however, vvill probably not permit him to remain 
long in idleness and it will not be surprising if in 
the near future he resumes his okl occu|)ation. 

The subject of this notice was born Marcli 2.5, 
1832, in Ithaca, N. Y. His father, William R.Starr, 
emigrated from New York to Illinois iu the pioneer 
days, settling in what was then Thorn Grove, but is 
now Crete Township, in 1831. He took up a tract 
of Governmeut land from which he opened up a 
farm and lived there until his death, which occurred 
iu 1856. Although not a politician he was a stanch 
supporter of the Abolitionist party, and for a time 
otliciated as the Postmaster of Crete. He was born 
in Dutchess County, N. Y. He was there married 
to Miss Harriet L. Ro^ce, who died at the family 
residence in Joliet, August 23, 1884. Al)ijali R. 
was the only child. 

The subject of this sketch was only two j-ears 
old when his parents came to this county, but when 
of suitalile years and attainments he was sent back 
to his native place, where he completed his educa- 
tion. He was also a student in the boarding school 
at Berkshire, Tioga County. Then returning home 



7.52 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lie remained witli his father until a youth of eight- 
een years. In 1850, being seized with the Califor- 
nia gold fever lie crossed the phiins via St. Joseph 
and Vi. Kearney, being on the road from May 4 un- 
til .luiy 31, and locating in Ilangtown. He worked 
in the mines about two years with fair success, then, 
anxious to reach home, sacriliced valuable interests 
and returned to the' old farm. His father in the 
meantime had removed to Chicago and engaged in 
the hotel business. 

Mr. Starr now had charge of his fallicr"s farm 
until the latter's death. In the meantime he was 
married, October 21, 1853, to Miss Sarah Ann 
Mogg. In I8G4 he went to Wliealon, DuPage 
Count}', this State, where heeng.aged in the nursery 
business and became somewhat prominent in local 
affairs, serving as Street Commissioner. He also be- 
came interested in the mercantile business. Finally, 
returning to this county, he occupied himself as a 
general merchant until 1874. To him and his es- 
timable wife there have been born three children, 
viz: Mary, born July 18, 1854, and now the wife 
A. C. Johnston, manufacturer of optical goods at 
Detroit, Mich.; Ellen A., born January 30, 1858, 
and the wife of Dr. C. H. L. Souder, of Rockwell; 
this daughter was graduated from the Homeopathic 
College of Chicago, and is engaged in the practice 
of medicine. Attie C. was born March 20, 1860, 
and married George T. Uelyea, a wholesale grocer 
of Joliet. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
Abijah .Starr, who was probably a native of New 
York, whence he removed to Patterson, and lived 
there until 1816. Thence he removed to Ithaca, 
where he died in 1824. He w.as a survej'or b}- pro- 
fession, and married Miss Hannah Watts. Among 
the children born to them was William Russell .Starr, 
the father of our subject, a native of Patterson, 
N. J., and born August 4, 1807. 

Mrs. Sarah A. (Mogg) Starr was born in the 
town of Clay, Onondaga County, N. Y., June 1, 
1830, to Jared and Lan^- (Young) Mogg and was 
there reared to woniaiihood. She came to the West 
in 1852. .lared Mogg was a native of Connecticut 
and born August 4, 1791. He was bound out at an 
early age but, being an ambitious lad and impatient 
of restraint, ran away to Schoharie County, wher(^ 



in due time he met and married his future wife. 

They si^ltled liowu upon a farm and Grandfather 
Mogg engaged in agricultural pursuits until his 
death. 

Mrs. Lany (Young) Mogg was born in Seward, 
Schoharie County, N. Y., and was the daughter of 
Jeremiah Young, whose family consisted of twelve 
children. Jared Mogg's famil}' consisted of four- 
teen children. Thirteen of these grew to mature 
years and there are still living six brothers and five 
sisters. Mr. .Starr, politicall}', is a sound Repub- 
lican, while he and his good wife are prominently 
connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
Joliet. 



U 



4«# 



LAUS PAULSEN. The German-American 

^ citizens of this county have an excellent 
IJ] ■' 

»^' representative in the person of Mr. Paulsen, 

a successful farmer of Washington Township. His 
pleasant homestead is locate<I on sections 25 and 
36, and consists of one hundred and sixty broad 
and fertile acres, supplied with all the needful 
buildings erected substantiall}' and designed attract- 
ively. When the present owner took possession of 
the place in 1863, there was but a small piece bro- 
ken, the rest being wild land. He put forth his 
best efforts to make of it a home suited to his t.aste 
and the needs of his family, and well has he suc- 
ceeded. 

The natal day of Mr. I'aulsen was February 25, 
1841, and his birth|)lace .Schleswig-Holstein, (Jer- 
Djany. He is the youngest child in a family' circle 
that included nine brothers and sisters, but four of 
whom are now living. He and two sisters came to 
America. The parents, John and Catharine ( P>ran<lt) 
Paulsjn, passed their entire lives in their native 
kingdom, Schleswig-Holstein. He of whom we 
write grew to ni.in's estate in the land of his birth, 
gaining a good education under its excellent school 
laws. When twenty -one years old he determined 
to seek a home in the land across the sea, of whose 
advantages he luid heard. 

Setting sail from Hamburg in April, 1862, on the 
"Otseal" Mr. Paulsen spent eight long weeks on the 
broad iVthintic ere landing was made at New York. 



PORTRAIT AND BI0f4RAPriICAL ALBUM. 



Tbence lie went to Chicago and into Kankakee 
County, where lie labored about a twelvemonth. 
He then came to Will County and in Monee 
Township spent some time as a farm liand. Ere 
lung he determined to have a home of his own and 
therefore began to improve the land, which now 
rewards his efforts with an abundance of the fruits 
of the earth. 

The eflicient helpmate and companion of Mr. 
Paulsen in his labors to secure a competence was 
known in her maidenhood as Miss Sophia Hack. 
She is a daughter of Ernest and Sophia (Recopf) 
Hack, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, who 
came to America in 1804, following some of their 
ciiildren across the sea. They settled in Will 
County, III., and here both died well advanced in 
years. They had six children, Mrs. Paulsen being 
the youngest; she was born in Mecklenburg, May 
19, 1842, and was consequentl}' twenty -two years 
old when she came to the United States. She has 
lionie her husband nine children, two of whom died 
in infancy. 

The surviving members of the famil}' circle are: 
Bertha,wifeof Henry Wherraan, a farmer in Wash- 
ington Township; .lolm, Herman, Carrie, Henry, 
r.ouis and Emma, who are jet living under the pa- 
rental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen belong to the 
German Evangelical Church, and politically, he 
is a stanch Republican. 



\|(_^ ON. JOHN M. THOMPSON. Few residents 
in New Lenox Township have so strong a 
claim upon the consideration of the readers 
^^^j of this volume as the gentleman above 
nnmed. He has borne an honorable part in the 
|)ublic affairs of a gieat commonwealth, won a gal- 
lant record for service during the Civil War, suc- 
cessfully and intelligently prosecuted a farmer's 
career, possesses a cultured mind and much learn- 
ing in the law, and represents a family which has 
given many honored members to public life. His 
home is on a finely-improved farm where every 
necessary and convenient structure, first class ma- 
chinery and farm implements, and high grades of 



stock may be seen. The estate consists of about 
six hundred acres which, when covered with grow- 
ing crops, present an appearance of prosperity not 
to be surpassed in Northern Illinois. 

The Thompson family is of English origin while 
the maternal ancestors of our subject sprang from 
Germany. His father, the late James Thompson, 
was born in Salem, Jlass., and his mother, Sarah 
(Snure) Thompson, in Canada. Their first home 
after marriage was in the Dominion, from which 
they removed to Winnebago County, 111., about 
1840. Mr. Thompson Brst built a blasting furnace 
and afterward a factory in which he manufactured 
woolens and did custom carding and fuUintj. He 
resided in Roscoe until his death, which occurred 
in 1863. His widow survived until September, 

1884, breathing her last in Rockfortl. Their fam- 
ily consisted of eleven children, of whom the fol- 
lowing facts may be noted: 

Clark W., a resident of IMinnesota, died in April, 

1885, at the age of sixty-one j^ears; he was a State 
Representative, a member of the Constitutional 
Convention and State Senator several terms, bear- 
ing a prominent part in the political affairs of the 
State. He was also one of the Lincoln Electors, 
and the first President of the Southern Minnesota 
Railroad. He owned a tract of twenty-five thous- 
and acres and established the town of Wells, which 
was named for his wife. Edward, a miller, resid- 
ing in Blunt, S. Dak., has been a Representative 
and State Senator; Mary C. is the wife of James 
Abbott, of Beloit, Wis.; Eliza J. died in 1870; the 
next in order is the subject of this sketch; Agnes 
died in 1854 at the age of sixteen years; Anna 
is the wife of JMaj. D. C. Wagner, of Chicago; 
James a resident of Fillmore County, Minn., was 
nominated to the Legislature but declined to run; 
Marie L. is the wife of Seely Periy, of Rockford ; 
Fanny A. is the wife of Dr. Manuel Quintero, of 
Lyons, France; Albert died when two years of age. 

The natal day of our subject was October 22, 
1832, and his birthplace Yarmouth, Canada. He 
was nine years old when his father removed to 
Illinois, and he prosecuted his studies at Mt. Morris 
• and Beloit, Wis. After completing his classical 
education he was emplo.yed as clerk in a store and 
post-office at Roscoe for a year. then, in the fall of 



7:>G 



POHTUAIT AND IIIOCUAPIIICAL ALBIM. 



1855, went to Hokali, Houston County', Minn., 
where for ulioiit tliree years 1k> had charge of the 
Imsiiicss of his hrolher Clark. He next engaged in 
Ihe real-estate Imsiness in the same |)hice, and two 
years later turnc-d his atlcintion U> the study of law. 
In 1859 he returned to Roscoe, 111., continuing his 
legal studies there a twelvemonth. Assisted by 
V. 0. Ensign and James B. Kerr, he raised a com- 
pany of men under the (irst call for troops in I8C1, 
to become a |)art of the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry-. 
He tendered his services but was rejected, and re- 
turning to Minnesota entered the ollice of his 
brother Clark, who had been appointed Superin- 
tendent of I.'idian Affairs and was located at St. 
Paul. 

There Mr. Thompson resumed the study of his 
chosen profession. In .September he accompanied 
liis brother up the St. Louis River and Lake Super- 
ior, assisting him in |)aying off the Nation's wards. 
lie was nearly i)repared for admission to the bar 
but was still determined to enter the army, and in 
Uctober, 1861, enrolled himself as a [jrivate in 
Company K, Fourth iNIinnesota Infantry. In due 
lime he was in the held, bearing his [lart in tlie 
many privations and dangerous scenes incidental 
to a soldier's life, lie participated in ten of the 
hardest-fought battles of the war, among them be- 
ing Iidva, Corinth, Jackson and Champion Hills. 
From the ranks he was i)romoted to the position of 
First Lieutenant of his com|)any and afterward 
solicited by the Colonel to act as his Adjutant. He 
was afterward iinanimousl}' elected Captain of 
Company E, and still later (January 14, 18G3) 
[Momoted to be PMrst Major of Cavalry and as- 
signed to duty with the Second Jlinnesota. That 
regiment took part in the Indian campaign, and 
Maj. Thompson was assigned to the command 
of Ft. Rii)ley. He was finally detailed to serve on 
a court martial convened in St. Paul, Minn., and 
remained there until the surrender of Cien. Lee, 
when he resigned, his resignation to take effect May 
1, 1865. At Forty Hills he received a slight wound 
and at Chamiiion Hills, while leading his company 
to charge a batter^', he was sliot through the body. 
He was supposed to be mortally wounded, was so* 
reported, and being left to die on the field was 
tiken [prisoner and held from May 16 until son^e 



time during the following September when he was 
exchanged. 

On account of the wound he had received, Maj. 
Thompson was led to adopt farm life, and in May, 
18G5, located a sliort distance east of Joliet. He 
has given his attention chiefly to his farm, placing 
it in a condition second to none iu the county and 
making it the source of an abundant income. Hav- 
ing some years since returned to Minnesota for 
business purposes, he was elected to the State Leg- 
islature and resided in that State about two years, 
creditably discharging the duties of his official 
station. In 1807, accompanied hy his wife, he 
visited the World's FairatParis, and traveled quite 
extensively on the continent. 

In Joliet, January 14, 18G3, Mr. Thompson was 
united in marriage with Miss Jennie M., daughter 
of Judge John J. and Priscilla (Moore) Davidson. 
Her father had been a I'robate Juc'ge in Indiana, 
but in Will County, of which he was one of the early 
settlers, he followed the occupation of a civil engin- 
eer. He died in New Lenox Township in 1844, his 
wife surviving him nearl3- forty years and breath- 
ing her last in the county seat in 1881. She was a 
native of New Hampshire and an estimable woman, 
under whose careful training her daughter grew to 
womanhood in possession of tine traits of charac- 
ter, useful habits and courteous manners. The 
family of which !\Irs. Thompson is a member, con- 
sisted of her.self and a sister, Rachel D., now the 
wife of H. N. Iligginbotham, of the firm of Mar- 
shall Field iV Co., Chicago. 

Mrs. Thompson was born in New Lenox Toun- 
shii) in December, 1840, and after acquiring a 
fundamental education entered Rockford Female 
Seminary, from which she was graduated in due 
time. She has borne her husband five children — 
Jennie M., John D., Helen, Agnes and ^'era. The 
son is now a clerk in the drj'-goods house of INIar- 
shall Field & Co. Agnes died when in her eighth 
year. The other daughters are at home, gladden- 
ing their parents with their increasing culture and 
true womanliness. 

Maj. Thompson has taken quite an active part in 
political affairs, always endeavoring to act upon 
principle and fearing not to change his party afflli- 
tions as his views regarding party policy were 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tin 



iiiodificd or liis opinions as to the National needs 
(livergerl fioin ;i foiiner standpoint. He was ori"-- 
inally a radical Republican, luit afterward became 
active with llie Grcele}' factitm. l'\>i' some years 
lie was independent, then alliliated willi the Green- 
liaciv [larl}-. by wliicli he w.as nominated .Secretarj' 
(if State by acclamation. 

Li November, 1887, Maj. Thompson was elected 
Trustee of the State Grange of Illinois, Patrons of 
Husbandry, anr] in the fall of 1889 wa.s almost 
unanimously re-elected to the same otHce on ac- 
count of the prosperity which the order was enjoy- 
ing under the business management of himself and 
colleagues. At Springfield. May 2. 1890, he was 
elected Chairman of a conference of the four organ- 
izations — the Patrons of Husbandry, Farmers' Mu- 
tual Benefit Association, Farmers' Alliance and 
Knights of Labor. Tliey formed a federation known 
as the Farmers and Laborers' Conference, of which 
Maj. Thompson was elected first President. 



^|]OHN WOODS, an old and well-known resi- 
dent of Joliet, came West in a prairie schoo- 
ner with his parents in 1842. He was then 
a mere child, born December 11, 183C, in 
Mercer County, Pa. The family located in Pike 
County, this State, but seven years later they re- 
moved to Galesburg, Knox County, where John 
obtained his education, completing his studies in 
Knox Academy. He learned the printing business 
with C. R. Fisk, and subsequently' worked on the 
(hjuawka Si)ectator. His f.ither in the meantime 
purchased the Free Democrat office at Galesburg, 
whereupon -John went to work for him. When the 
bitter disposed of his paper in 1858, John opened 
a job office. 

Mr. Woods, in 1860, removed to Winchester, 
Scott County-, where, in company with C. J. 8el- 
lon, he published a Republican paper during the 
Lincoln campaign. After the election it was 
aliandoned and Mr. AVoods then went to Spring- 
field. On the 1st of April, 1861, he decided to 
take Mr. Greeley's advice "Go West voting man," 
and crossing the Mississippi located in Page County, 



Iowa, and commenced farming. Upon the break- 
ing out of the Civil War he, in company with 
others, organized a company of Home Guards, and 
on July 4, they organized a regiment, the First 
Iowa Militia, of which Mr. Woods was appointed 
Adjutant. 

In September following this regiment volunteered 
under Col. Cramer and went into Missouri as far 
as St. Joseph. Adj. Woods, however, on the dis- 
bandment of the regiment the following month, 
returned to Springfield, 111., and entered the (Quar- 
termaster's department as a clerk under Capt. Bail- 
hache. In 1 802, in connection with Tom Lewis 
and his brother, he established a daily paper, the 
Union Herald. Subsequtntly they attempted to 
transfer this to Memphis, Tenn., but did not suc- 
ceed. The office, however, was removed to Cairo, 
in August, 1803, but its politics being changi'd 
from Republican to Democratic Mr. Woods with- 
drew. 

In 1805 our subject purchased a printing office 
at Cairo, HI., which he conducted two years, and 
in 1807 repaired to Belleville, this State, and be- 
came manager of the Weekly Advocate, with which 
he remained for a period of ten years. In 1879 he 
came to Joliet with his brother and purchased the 
Republican, which they con<lucted until 188;j. Mr. 
Woods was appointed Postmaster of Joliet, by 
President Arthur, through the rccoiumendation of 
Congressman CuUen and others, his commission 
bearing date March 3, 1883, and during his term 
secured the establishment of the free delivery sys- 
tem for the city. In recommending letter carriers 
for appointment, however, he did not see fit to con- 
sult the wishes of the local leaders of the party then 
in power, which act gave color for the charge of 
'•offensive iiartisanship" underPresidentCleveland's 
dictum, and resulted in the suspension of the offend- 
ing Postmaster four months before the expiration 
of his term. He then formed a partnership with 
H. N. Blarsh in the real-estate and insurance busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Woods was married in Springfield, III., Au- 
gust 6, 1803. to Miss Jennie M. Dunn. There have 
been born to tluin four children, one of whom is 
deceased. The survivors are Charles Holcomh, 
William W. and .\sa. Mr, AVoods stands high in 



758 



POUTRAIT AND 151()(;RAPII1CAL ALBUM. 



Masonic circles, liaviiig attained to lii« Jlaster and 
IJoyal Arch degrees at liellevillc, where he served 
as Worshipfid Master and liigli I'riest. He re- 
ceived tlie Knight Templar Orders at Joliet and 
belongs to Cominandery No. -1. He is serving his 
tliird term as High Priest of .Toliet Chapter, No. 27, 
and has been an active promoter of the Masonic 
Temple enterprise, which magnificent building is 
now nearing completion. 



->- 



\i 



r/ACOBA. HKNRY. It is the common re- 
mark that there is not .-i more public-spirited 
man in the cit}- of .Joliet than he with whose 
name we introduce tliis biographical out- 
line. He has been in all respects the architect of 
his own fortune, rising from an humble position 
in life to one of affluence, and is now one of the 
capitalists of Will County, and extensively en- 
gaged as a railroad contractor. Of New England 
antecedents, he was born in Hunterdon County, N. 
.!., the date thereof being April 2.5, 1825. 

Mr. Henry was reared a farmer's boy, and at an 
early age was made acquainted with hard work. 
The last active manual labor which he performed 
was driving a team at $7 per month, and of this 
small wages he was cheated b}- his employer, who 
failed in business. Then in 1842, when a youth of 
seventeen years, he entered the employ of the Hart- 
ford it New Haven Railroad Compauj-, and assisted 
in laying the first tract on the canal road through 
the city of New Haven. In 184G he emigrated to 
Ohio, and locating in Elyria, took his first contract 
in connection with a railroad in Ohio and Indiana. 
He superintended the construction of the northern 
division of the Sandusk}' road, then, in 185(), came 
to Illinois, and three years later became a resident 
of Joliet. 

Thereafter Mr. Ilenrj' spent several years as' a 
Roadmaster of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. In 
1870, going to Tex.as, he filled the contract for the 
building of the Houston & (ireat Northern Railroad, 
which he completed in I87;J. In the meantime, he 
also built a jjortion of the .Southern Pacific, which 
involved a huge amount qf heavy work. In 1888 



we find him operating in Arkansas, and since that 
year he has built one hundred and seventy-three 
miles of railroad. Few men in this part of the 
countT}- have entered into larger contracts than Mr. 
Henry, or carried them out more satisfactorily. He 
enjoys the enviable record of having fulfilled every 
cf>utract he has ever made to the letter. 

Mr. Henry, in 1873, put uj) one of the most ele- 
gant residences in Joliet, this being located on East- 
ern Avenue, and still remaining the home of the 
family. Within and without it is indicative of 
cultured tastes and ample means, and forms one of 
the most attractive features of the city. Mr. Henry 
has always taken a lively interest in the growth and 
l)ros|ierity of his adopted city, and contributed lib- 
erally of his time and means to this end. For a 
city of its size, Joliet enjoys an unequalled "system 
of street railways, the cars pro|)elled by electricity, 
and this enterprise was inaugurated and carried out 
by Jacob A. Henry. Every enterprise which is 
calculated to advance the interests of the people, 
socially, morall3', and financially, receives his un- 
qualified supi)ort. Since the organization of the 
Re(iublican party, Mr. Henry has been its stanch 
adherent. Although he has filled many positions 
of trust and responsibility', he has never been am- 
bitious of official preferment, being content to 
work out his plans in a quiet way, and in this man- 
ner has accomplished a vast amount of good. 

The subject of this notice was first married, 
April 20, 1846, to Miss Nancy, daughter of Ellis 
Briggs, of Winsted, Conn. Of this union there 
was born one daughter, now the wife of J. W. Folk, 
of Joliet. Mrs. Nancy (Briggs) Henry departed 
this life at her home in Joliet, January 23, 1878. 
In October, 1885, Mr. Ilenrj' contracted a second 
marriage with Mrs. Rachel (Hulsizer) Apgar. 



/ AMF:S a. CLYNE, M. D. Among the suc- 
cessful practitioners of Joliet may be men- 
tioned Dr. Clyne, who located in the city in 
the fall of 18!S(3. He is the surgeon of the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, and aside from this en- 
joys a lucrative practice in the city and vicinity. 



m. 





(S^dtAArry^dL^ j^. WZ^y^x^M^, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



7G1 



He is also a member of St. Joseph's Hospital Staff. 
Ho was born at Colioes, N. Y., March 2, 1860, and 
is the son of James Clyne. The latter was also a 
native of New York State, where be was reared to 
manhood and married Miss Catherine Quinn. The 
mother of our subject was born in the northern 
part of New York, near the earlj' homo of her hus- 
band, and both are still living at Cohoes. 

Dr. Clyne pvirsued his early studies in the com- 
mon schools of his native cit^', and supplemented 
them by a course in the Business College at Cohoes, 
being a student in the class of 1878. He began the 
study of medicine in his native town, under the 
instruction of Dr. D. W. Houston and in due time 
entered ui)on a course of lectures at the Albany 
Medical College, which he commenced attending 
in tiic fall of 1883, and from which he was gradu- 
ated in the class of 1886. While there, after a 
successful examination, he received a hospital ap- 
pointment and remained in AH)any until May, 
1H86, in the meantime having charge of a physi- 
cians, practice in the northern part of the State. 

Soon after coming to Joliet, Dr. Clyne associated 
iiimself in partnership with Dr. G. C. Raynor, one 
of the prominent physicians of the city. Two 
years later he was appointed city physician, which 
position lie still holds. He still belongs to Albany 
Medical Soeiet3-, also the Will County IMedical So- 
ciety, and is the Medical Examiner for various life 
insurance companies. He is prominently connected 
with the Independent Order of Foresters, .and is 
the court [ihysician of the same. He has entered 
upon a successful career in connection with his 
chosen calling, to which he devotes his close atten- 
tion and in which he is ambitious to excel. Politic- 
ally, Dr. Clyne is a Democrat. 



EDWARD H. WERNER, D. D. S. Although 
but little past his majority this young gen- 
tleman is manifesting that close attention 
to business which combined with his thorough un- 
derstanding of his profession, will undoubtedly 
secure for him a higii standing in the dental ranks 
and a fine reputation among tliose who need such 



services as he can render. He has opened in Joliet 
one of the best dental offices in the county, furn- 
ished with all tlie modern ap[)lianccs, and in the few 
montlis in which he has been established h.as started 
a rapidly increasing trade. 

Dr. Werner was born in Joliet, December 9, 1867, 
and received his education in the public schools of 
this city. After making his choice of a vocation 
he became a student in the New York College of 
Dental Surgery, from which he was graduated in 
the class of '89, with the degree of Doctor of Den- 
tal Surgery. He at once opened an office in his 
native city and in a short time set up his own 
home, taking for iiis companion in life Miss Leonora 
M., daughter of S. J. Barber. The rites of wedlock 
were celebrated between tlieni January 22,1890. 
Mrs. Werner is a cliarming young woman, educated 
and cultured, and endowed with many virtues of 
character. 

The gentleman of whom we write is of German 
descent, his parents being natives of the German 
Empire. William Werner, the father, was born in 
Frankfort on-the-Main, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Feb- 
ruary 5, 1831. At the age of sixteen years he was 
apprenticed at tlie trade of a mason and four years 
later emigrated to the United States. He spent 
three months in Stroudsburg, Pa., and in October, 
1851, came West, locating in Frankfort, III. His 
first work here was as a stonemason on the Rock 
Island Railroad, which was then being built, but 
the next year he located in Joliet and began busi- 
ness as a contractor and quarryman. He erected 
many of the prominent buildings of this city, 
among them the Will County Jail, the L^nion 
Schoolhouse, the West Side Presbyterian Churcli, 
St. Mary's Catholic Church and others. 

In 1856, William Werner was elected Commis- 
sioner of Highways and Treasurer, serving three 
years. In 1861, he became a member of the Board 
of Aldermen, serving in that august body four 
years. He also served on the Board of Supervisors 
seven years. During the late war he was Draft 
Commissioner, having been appointed in 1863. His 
wife was Miss Barbara Goeblc, a native of Prussia, 
with whom he was united in holy wedlock Septem- 
ber 7, 1853. The union was blessed by the birth 
of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch 



762 



I'OR'rRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



is the j'Oiingest. The other members of the family 
cirtie are Frederick W. Werner, M. D., Fre(leric;i< 
Clmrles, :i liarness-maker; and Coorge AV., a veteri- 
nary surgeon. 

Dr. Werner's portrait will l)e found aeeompany- 
in<i his personal sketch. 



JAMKS E. AUSTIN was lioiii in Trehle County. 
Ohio, May 7, IH'25. 



^ ■^--^^^ ^ 



?3 L. SIIAFFNER. The subject of this no- 
^ tice established himself in Joliet as a coal 
JL,,-^ -; dealer about thirteen years since and is now 
located at No. 501, Washington Street. Formerly 
he was in partnership with his father, the^' opera- 
ling under the firm name of B. Sliaffner ife Son, bill 
for the last seven years Mr. Shaffner liaf done busi- 
ness alone. Ilis yard is conveniently located near 
the tracks of the Alton and the Illinois C'ential 
Railroads, alst) the Santa Fe tracks. lie has proved 
himself a good business manager and has built up 
an extensive patronage. 

A native of Joliet, our subject was born October 
1, 1852, and is the son of Benjamin Shaffner, who 
was born in Summit County, (Jliio, in 1825. The 
latter came with his parents to this county about 
the year 1850, they locating in Manhattan Town- 
ship. Grandfather Shati'ner took up a track of 
Government land and there Benjamin lived with 
his parents until the time of his marriage. The 
maiden of his choice was Miss Caroline Larkin, of 
this county, and they commenced the journey of 
life together on a farm in .lackson Township, where 
they resided until their son E. L. was about live 
years old. Benjamin Shaffner then sold out and 
removed to Joliet where he commenced working at 
bis tr.ade of carpenter and finally- diifted into 
wa^on and carriage making. He also embarked in 
the grocery and provision business and fin.ally be- 
came interested in the coal trade. He was pros- 
l)ered financially, and retired from the active labors 



of life aljout 1883. He and his excellent |)artner 
are still residents of Joliet, occup^'ing a comforta- 
ble home. Mr. Shaffner has been for many years 
a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics 
he is a Republican. 

The subject of this sketch acquired his education 
in the schools of his native city and conimenced 
his business career as an employe of the Joliet Iron 
& Steel Com[)any. He rapidly advanced in the 
good opinion of his employers, being placed in the 
position of foreman, and having charge of the pay 
roll for about five years. About 1877 he engaged 
with his father in the coal trade with which he has 
since been connected. He added ice in 1886 and 
has several houses for the accommodation of this 
article, two on the east and two on the west side,and 
one in his yard. He usually obtains this from 
quarries, but this season (1890) is shipping from 
Winnebago, Wis. 

Mr. Shaffner was married, January 22, 1877, to 
Miss Amanda Stanley, and they become the parents 
of four children, vi/: Edwin Stanlc}*, Frances M., 
Benjamin Francis and Lottie A., who died at the 
age of five years. The wife and mother dei)arted 
this life May 13, 1885, at the age of thirty years. 
She was the daughter of Francis G. Stanley. 

The jjrescnt wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married May 18, 1886, was formerly Miss Martha 
J. George, of Doylestown. Ohio. She is the daugh- 
ter of John George, who was formerly a resident 
of Joliet. There has been born of this union one 
child, a daughter, Cl:aa Belle. 



ONRAD WILKENING. The subject of this 
sketch was born in 1856, in the township of 
V Crete, attended the common schools until 
the age of fourteen, at which time he entered a 
general store in the village of Crete, and there by 
his aptness soon learned the rudiments of the busi- 
ness that in after years made him successful. Not 
being satisfied to enter the business world without 
a better knowledge of its methods, lie took a course 
of study in the best business college of Chicag'o, 
graduating with honor. He at once secured a re- 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



763 



s|)onsihle [josition in one of tlie oldest commission 
houses of Chicago, wjiich lie filled with credit until 
.1880, when he located on the present s'te of his 
place of business at the corner of INIain and Ex- 
change Streets, under the firm name of C. Wil- 
kening & Co. The building they then occupied 
was an ordinary sized general store, and was soon 
found to be altogether too small to accommodate 
the stock of merchandise they desired to place be- 
fore the people of Eastern Will County. It was 
then moved south to give place for a l)uilding of 
brick, stone and iron, 51xfi0, two stories and base- 
ment, with fire and burglar proof vault and gallery 
on first floor. 

The establishment is one of which the citizens of 
Crete are and well may be proud, and is gen- 
erally conceded by travelers to be the most nicely 
arranged store to be found in the country, contain- 
ing the largest and best a.ssortment of merchandise, 
and arranged in departments. In addition they trans- 
act quite an extensive banking and exchange busi- 
ness. In all of lliis work he has been ably assisted 
1)3' his father, John Wilkening, an early settler of 
the township, and his younger brother Fred. He 
w.as united in marriage to Miss Ida Riebling, of 
Pittsburg. I'a., in May, 1890, and is at present 
erecting an elegant residence, and will soon be al)le 
to say "at iiome" to his man}- friends. 



* 




LEXANDEK DOIG, who is identified with 
the agricultural interests of New Lenox 
Township, is the ninth child of Andrew 
and Isabella Doig, wliose history will be 
found in the sketcli of Thomas Doig. He was born 
in Washington, D. C, October 17, 1841, and came 
to this county with the jjarental family, who settled 
in Homer Township. When about twenty-one 
years old he married, the happy event taking place 
December 31, 1802, and the bride being Miss Sarah 
C, daughter of the late Gilbert Van Duser. The 
maiden name of the bride's mother was Ann M. 
Lynx. She is now the wife of Thomas Doig, Mr. 
Van Duser having died Ai)ril 12, 18r)2. 

Mrs. Doig of this sketch is tiie elder in a family 



of two children and was born in New Lenox Town- 
ship, November 26, 1842. She has borne her hus- 
band four children named respectively, Melissa I., 
Grace IJ., Sadie and Gilbert A. The third born 
died in child iiood. After their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Doig settled on Maple Street, in New Lenox 
Township, where they have spent the greater part 
of their married life. Their pleasant homestead 
comprises sixty-three acres, on which good build- 
ings have been erected and other improvements 
made. For nine years Mr. Doig was engaged in 
the livery business and during that time was a 
dweller in town. In politics he is a sturdy Demo- 
crat. He has served as School Director, but with 
this exception has devoted his time entirely to iiis 
personal aff.airs. 



^y\ MOS EIB is the owner and occupant of a 
0/J|i pleasant and fertile estate on section 7, 

/// v^ Ja<;kson Township, the same comprising 
((2/' one hundred and eighty-five acres. Lpon 

it are to be seen tlie usual farm buildings, but of 
better construction than many, while the appear- 
ance of fields, fences and stock give the imiiiession 
that Mr. Eib understands tilling the soil and carinif 
for the produce of his fields and the increase of his 
herds. 

The birthplace of Mr. Eib was Harrison County, 
Va., and his natal day July 29, 1823. He was a 
child of four years when his parents removed to 
Columbus, Ohio, two years later, the location of 
the famil}' being changed to Fountain County, Ind. 
There they remained until 1833, when they came to 
this county and the youth of our subject was spent 
amid pioneer surroundings in the township of which 
he is an honored resident. The mother had died in 
Columbus, Ohio, and the father breathed his last in 
this county at the home of his son. 

The marriage of our subject and Miss Catherine 
Gonter took place in Jackson Township, March 28, 
1851. The bride was born in the province of Alsace, 
at that time a part of France, but now belonging to 
the German Empire, in April, 18.il. Her parents, 
Michael and Catherine (Arnholt) (iontor, made a 



r(!4 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



settlement in Will Comity in 1810, and tlii" fathei- 
died in Jnckson Township. The mother siiivivos, 
now residing with her daughter, Mrs. William 
Brown. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Eiharc, Levi 
II. a resident of Minden,Neb.; George W. a farmer 
in California; Albert N. a farmer of Jackson Town- 
ship; Clara K. wife of Albert Cotton, and Sus.in H. 
wife of Alvin Spangler of Jackson Township. Mr. 
Kit) has been School Director. In politics he is a 
good Democrat. He is held in good repute by his 
fellow-nnn as a reliable citizen,an industrious farmer 
and a man of kindly nature and upright life. 



y 




LLEN P. CARPENTER. This gentleman 
has done much to forward the business in- 
terests of Will County, and as one who is 
disposed to support all measures tending toward 
the continuation of its prosperity, he is well wor- 
thy of representation in this volume. He bought 
a number of acres of land in Channahon, lying 
along the Wide Water Canal,as early as 18G5, which, 
aside from its value a.'^ a farm, is one of the most 
lieautiful places along the route from this town- 
ship to Joliet. 

Mr. Carpenter was born January 27, 1.S34. He 
was reared in the place of his birth until he was 
nineteen years old, and then came to Wdl County, 
where his brother Henry and a sister, Lucinda, 
were then living. His brother is a carpenter and 
still a resident of Joliet. His sister was the wife of 
Dr. G. Randall. Of his other brothers and sisters 
the following is the record: Mary A. was the 
wife of Thomas Logan and died in Springfield, 
III.; Wilber lives in Joliet; Charles in Dakota; Lu- 
cinda in Kansas, and a sister resides in Iowa. Al- 
fred "Carpenter, the father of our subject was a 
resident of this county in 1840, and died just be- 
fore our subject came here in 1853. 

Our subject taught school in Joliet in 1853, for 
one winter, and in the summer of 1854 went back to 
New York. Returning to this part of the country in 
the fall, in the following January he was united in 
marriage with Miss Helen Spencer and established 
a home. He lived on his farm in Channahon Town- 



ship for three years, then was a resident of Troy 
for two years, and in 18G0 commenced buying 
grain in Minooka, at the landing of the Wide 
Water Canal, and was thus engaged the ensuing 
live years, shipping both by canal and rail. In y 
1865 he turned his attention to farming, and bought f 
one hundred and seventeen acres of land lying 
along the Wide Water Canal, his warehouse l)eing 
lust across the canal. He immediately moved into 
his residence there and has since made it one of the 11 
finest in the vicinity. In the adornment of the 
grounds he has been greatly assisted by Mrs. Car- 
penter's taste and skill. She is a great lover of 
(lowers and has a garden in which are many choice 
varieties of roses and other beautiful jjlants, all of 
which are tended by her careful hand. 

In 18C8 Mr. Carpenter formed a partnership with 
Mr. Truby to buy and sell grain and lumber, with 
their headquarters at Joliet and Birds Bridge, the 
business being conducted under the firm name of 
Carpenter ik Truby. They were together for some 
ye.irs and built up a large business, keeping their 
own line of boats in the summer on the canal, and 
in winter shipping by rail on the Rock Island Kad- 
road, which runs close by their warehouse. These 
gentlemen were together until 1875, and then our 
subject sold out his interest to Mr. Truby, and has 
since lived on his farm. He has added to his orig- 
inal purchase seventy-one acres, on which is a good 
residence, which he uses as a tenement house, as 
he rents all of his land. Mr. Carpenter devotes 
his time to looking after his interest, investing his 
money as he sees fit and, as he is of a spccul.alive 
turn of mind, he has taken many a bout with the 
bulls and bears on the Board of Trade in Chicago. 
Mrs. Carpenter was born in the city of Chicago, 
her patents being Thomas and Sarah A. (Van 
Dusen) Spencer. Her mother was a daughter of 
John Bingham, and they were all of New York. 
She came to Will County in 1834 with her husband. 
Mr. Spencer subsequently died in Kendall County 
when Mrs. Carpenter was but four years of age. 
Her mother died in 1888 in Chicago, at the age of 
seventy-eight years. Mrs. Carpenter is a lady of 
no ordinary intelligence and attainments, and she 
has endeared herself to her many acquaintances by 
her [ilea.sanl ways and kindly acti,. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



765 



Mr. Carpenter is one of tlie most influential and 
trusted citizens, and is a man of brain, decided 
c'liaraeter, and admirable tact. He is one of tiie 
most efficient civic oflicials, and through his lib- 
erality' and public si)irit this community lias been 
benefited in more ways than one. He is now serv- 
ing his tiiird term of three years as Highway 
Commissioner of tiie township, iiaving been re 
(>lectei] last spring. lie is also Treasurer of the 
townsiiip, having served in that office with distiti- 
guisiied ability for the last six years, and received 
his re-appointment last spring. He takes an act- 
ive part in polities, and is a stanch supporter of 
the Republican partv. Although not a member of 
any religious organization, he has served as Trus- 
tee of the church, whicli his wife attends, for the 
[last fifteen years. 

The chief sorrow of tlie otherwise happy wedded 
life of our subject and his wife lias been in the 
ileatii of tlieir two children, a boy and a girl in in- 
fancj'. But life's lesson may have taught thera that 
it is better, 

'•Far better to smile with a deep content 
O'er tlieir darlings quietly sleeping. 
O'er their little ones safe from all that can harm, 
Safe and quietly sleeping. 

"The sun comes up and the sun goes down 
On sorrow and sin and aching, 
And to all the evil that's in the world 
Their darlings will know no waking." 



♦^^ 



E^^ 



f^LDER STEPHEN R. BEGGS, the oldest 
preacher of the Methodist denomination in 
Northern Illinois, and an old-time and hon- 



ored resident of Plaiiifield, was born on a farm in 
Rockingham County, Va.. March 30, 1801, a son of 
James Beggs, who was born in the same county in 
1768. Thomas Beggs, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject was bom in New Jersey, and James Beggs, his 
father, who was of Irish birth, came to this country 
in Colonial times and settled in that State. The 
grandfather of our subject was reared and married 
in his native State, Sarah Barnes becoming his wife, 
and before the breaking out of the Revolution, 



migrated to Rockingham, Va. He joined the pa- 
triot army and became an officer of the Commissary 
Department and died in the service in 1779, or '80. 

The fatiicr of our subject was reared and married 
in Rockingham County, and resided there until 
1802, when ho removed to Kentuckj' making the 
journey on horseback, his wife also riding on a 
horse and carrying Stephen in her lap. They re- 
sided in Kentucky three years and then settled in 
Clarke Count}', Ind., where Mr. Beggs cleared a 
farm from the timber and m.ade it his home until 
his death Ma}' 13, 1835. His remains are buried in 
the Gazaway church yard. The maiden name of 
the mother of our subject was Mary Custer, and she 
was born in Virginia and of English ancestry. The 
father of our subject was a Whig and was a mem- 
ber of tlie Indiana Territorial Senate for ten years. 
He and his wife both belonged to the Methodist 
Episcopal Churcii. The latter died July 7, 1833. 
They were the parents of five sons and four daugh- 
ters. 

The subject of this sketch was set to work on a 
farm as soon as he was large enough to be of any 
assistance. In his younger daj'S Indians still lin- 
gered in Indiana and were often hostile, and when 
the news of tiie Pigeon Roost massacre reached the 
settlement, all gathered at his father's and built a 
fortification around the house. They remained in 
that several days and then built block houses in 
different places. Our subject was early instructed 
in religion, and at the age of nineteen was con- 
verted, and at twenty-two commenced preaching at 
his father's home. In the same fall he joined the 
Missouri Conference tliat then embraced all of Illi- 
nois, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas. He remained 
in Indiana until the fall of 1830, and then was ap- 
pointed to the Tazewell Circuit, which included 
Peoria, Bloomington and Pekin. At that time 
there were three families residing on the present 
site of Bloomington, then called Blooming Grove, 
at Peoria not more'than half a dozen families, and 
all the surrounding country was wild and unsettled. 
In July, 1831, he went to the village of Chicago 
and organized the first Methodist Church ever 
started there and he was the first minister ever 
stationed at that point. In 1832 he came to Plain- 
field and lias called this his home since that time, 



76G 



PORTRAIT AN'D BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tliougli he has lived away from here one or two 
years at a time wliile pretiehing al different (jlaces. 
In IS."?! he hold a camp iiieetinj,^ at ^V'alkor's (!rove, 
as Phiinfield was then ealied, tlu; first held in tiiis 
section. 

Elder Beggs has liocn twice married, fir-st in Sep- 
toinher, 1831, to Kli/.abolh L. Heath, a native of 
Muskingum Count3', Ohio, and she died Aiiril 7, 
IMufi. His second marriage, December 30, I8G8, was 
to Sarali U. (Diblile) Frost, a native of New York 
State. Our subject was the father of four children 
b\- his first marriage, Marv E., James W., (!eorgc 
W. and Charles W. 



AMES JONES. The late James Jones de- 
serves more than a passing notice, not be- 
cause he acquired a solid financial standing, 
but because his home in Manhattan Town- 
ship w.as a resort for many of the best people of the 
county, and because his personal traits of heart and 
mind gave him the respect and affection of all who 
became acquainted with his good qualities. He 
was one of those whole-hearted men wlio are ever 
ready to give liberally of their means, as well as of 
their time and energ}', to all movements for the 
public good, and who, while having special likes in 
church or party, give honor to whom honor is due 
and display no bigotry. Modest and unpretending, 
he was yet one of the finest scholars in the county, 
excelling particularly in penmanship. 

The father of our subject was Robert Jones, 
whose family consisted of three sons and three 
daughters; he was a native of Delaware, in which 
State his boyhood was spent. When he became a 
man he went to New York City and engaged in the 
mercantile business, becoming prosperous and finally 
carrying on a wholesale clothing house; importing 
the finest goods from abroad. In 1830 he came 
West to look after some investments, driving in a 
carriage from New York City and bringing his 
boys with him. In Chicago they found no board- 
ing house but a shanty, were obliged to pay twelve 
and a half cents for a pail of water, and to buy 
bread to feed the horses and cattle which tiiey had 



brought with them. IMr. Jones had invested in 
Illinois lands, owning large tiacts in various coun- 
ties. He also continued his business in New York 
City, where he breathed his last. 

The members of the parental family are: Sarah, 
now living in New York City; Anna, who died in 
1872; IMaria. living in New York; Frederick, for- 
merly a merchant in that city, who ilicd in 187;"); 
James, our subject, and Robert, who came to AVill 
Count}' when our subject did, owned and operated 
three hundred and twenty acres of lanil here, but 
finalh' returned to the metropolis, where he died in 
1889. 

James Jones was born in New York City in the 
year 1820. During his boyhood and youth he 
sometimes accompanied his father to the West, en 
joying the journey and the scenes which they en- 
countered, as a bright boy can. lie became a cadet 
ntAVest Point and was graduated from the Military 
Academy at the age of twentj^-one years. His fa- 
ther then started him in life with ^l.')0,000 which 
he invested in ships, establishing a line which plied 
across the ocean. For several years he gave his 
time and attention to the shipping business. 

One of his best vessels went down with all on 
board, and refitting another he sent it out under 
charge of a captain who had been highly recom- 
mended to him, for the purpose of trading his 
cargo for other goods in Africa. The captain sold 
the goods, reloarled the vessel with a return cargo, 
for which he did not pay, and al)sconded with his 
employer's mome}-. News was sent to Mr. Jones, 
who at once crossed the ocean, visited the Gover- 
nor of the place, but found that he could do noth- 
ing in the premises, as the absconder had fled into 
the interior. Returning with his cargo Mr. Jones 
determined to abandon the sea, and so embarked in 
the wholesale crockery, glass and pottery business 
with a iiartner. 

The junior member of the firm of Jones St 
Decker ere long succeeded in getting funds into 
his hands, with which he ran away, and our subject 
became so disgusted with his experiences that he 
determined to come West. His good nature and 
leniency had proved his financial enemies, as thej' 
do that of many a man in a world which contains 
so many sharpers. Telling his father of his desire 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPlIICAI. ALl'.UM. 



767 



to ti-}' a new home, our subjecl was given section 
'J, of Manhattan Township, tliis connty,an(l in 1848 
caine to tliis vicinity. For some time lie made his 
home with his unole, Klion Jones, in New Lenox 
Townsliip, near the old Red Mill, looking after the 
improvements of his plaee, hut doing little else, 
although at one time he and his brother owned a 
mill on Bhiff Street, Joliet. 'i'his was destroyed by 
lire. 

In 1855 Mr. .lones took possession of the large 
brick house which he had built ujjon his land and 
engaged in fanning. The brick which were u.sed 
in his residence were made on the site by a Mr. 
Shaw. Mr. Jones proved to be but a poor farmer 
and manager, so he finally acted on advice and 
rented his farm on shares. He had four tenants on 
the land, which was divided into five improved 
places. Under this order of things he did wetland 
ere his death had the section of land free of debt, to- 
gether with funds in the Joliet Bank. His beautiful 
himie was under the ('are of a competent house- 
keeper, who furnished good cheer for the owner 
and his man\' friends. 

Mr. .tones was a great hunter, delighting exceed- 
ingly in the sport. At different times he served as 
Justice of the Peace, l)ut bej'ond that never aspired 
to ollice. He was tendered the nomination of 
member of the Legislature, but refused to run al- 
though, being a stanch Republican, he would un- 
doubtedly have been elected. In New York he had 
belonged to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, but 
being of a liberal mind he helped the different or- 
ganizations in this section, having been a main in- 
strument in suggi'sling and building the Si. Paul's 
Ei)iscopal Church, in JIanliattan Township. 



'*/ AFAYETTE M. HENTZE. This gentle- 
man is "mine host" of the Hotel Monroe, 
in Joliet, which lie conducts in an admi''- 
able manner, every department of the excellent 
hostelry lieing carefully overseen. The hotel con- 
tains seventy -two rooms, is well furnished through- 
out, and its table supplied with a bill of fare 



which includes all the sulistantials of the cuisine 
and the appetizing luxuries which add a relish to 
the raoie neetlful foods and appeal to the palate of 
the more dainty. The acute |)ereeption which at 
once detects the needs of guests, and the cordial 
manner which makes them at home, are manifested 
by our subject in a commendable degree and add 
to the popularity of the house over which he has 
control. 

The forefathers c>f our subject lived in Holland, 
whence at the time of the Revolution, his direct 
progenitor came to America as a Hessian soldier. 
Settlement was then made in the States of which 
the family have been citizens since that time. 
Henry Hentze, who was born in Vermont, mai"- 
ried Miss Charity Gould, of New York, and reared 
several children, of whom the subject of this 
sketch is the youngest. The father was for many 
years a hop raiser and teamster in New York, 
whence he came to Illinois in 1850, accompanied 
by his son L. M. The same year other members 
came, the group in this State then comprising the 
parents, two sons and three daughters, and two 
married daughters remaining in the East. Of the 
entire family those now living are Sarah, wife of 
George Monroe, of Joliet; Mrs. Polly Ford, of 
Aurora; Mrs. Louisa Northam, of the same place; 
Mrs. Cornelia l'arker,of Watertown, N. Y.; George 
W., a dealer in cigars and tobacco in Joliet; and 
the subject of this sketch. 

The birth of L. M. Hentze occurred in Jefferson 
County. N. Y. December (5, 1833, and in his native 
State he p.asscd his boyhood and early youth, ac- 
quiring his early education in the common schools. 
He was not yet seventeen years of age when he 
became a resident of Illinois, where he continued 
to make his home under the parental roof until af- 
ter the breaking out of the Civil War. On July 
!), 1S()2, he was enrolled as a member of Company 
I, One Hundredth Illinois Infantrj', and from that 
time until the close of the vvar accompanied 
his regiment in their various campaigns, with the 
(^xce|)tion of four months si)ent in the hospital at 
Nashville, Tenn." After having taken part in va- 
rious battles, skirmishes and weary marches, endur- 
ing the hardships of a soldier's life and manifest- 
ing his loyaltj" and gallantry throughout his career 



768 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



as a soldier, lie ictiiriutl to the piusiiits of agri- 
eultui-e in the souliu'in jxirt of this lounty. 

Ill 1870, Mr. Ilcnlze went to Dakota, where he 
continued his agricultural labors seven years. Hav- 
ing been seriously tormented hj' grasshoppers, he 
determined to leave the field to the insect hordes 
and returned to the I'rairie State. He secured 
employment with Monroe & Sons in Joliet, re- 
taining his position ten years, after which he spent 
two years in the eniplo\' of Monroe <fe Seaver. 
His next enterprise was to assume the manage- 
ment of the hotel over which he still has charge. 
He is a Republiciin and a member of the (Irand 
Army of the Republic. 

An important event in the life of our subject 
was his marriage, April 9, 1856, to Miss Ann E. 
I'elton, who has proved her worth as a wife and 
mother and is respected by her acquaintances. 
They are the parents of three children — Henrj' A., 
a painter in Joliet; William J., manager of the 
hotel; and Anna S., who assists in the oversight of 
the affairs of the hotel. 



-;^ 
••==% 



<=ri 



-^^•'' 



WjlLLIAiM A. NICOLAUS. Among the en- 
terprising tirms of the city of .loliet, none 
are more so llian that of Nachbour & Ni- 
colaus. Young' in years, its members have thor- 
oughly iinbilied the sjiirit of progress characteristic 
of the age, and furnish models of what may be ac- 
complished by persistent effort and close applica- 
tion to business. Their diy-goods establishment, 
occupying the lower floor of the Barber building, 
(the best in the city), is a model in systematic ar- 
rangement, completeness in everything which goes 
to make such an establishment first class, and would 
reflect credit upon the efforts of dealers in much 
larger cities. The success of the young men is in 
many respects phenomenal. From an humble be- 
ginning they have steadily advanced to the man- 
agement of a huge and constantly increasing busi- 
ness. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Muscatine 
Count}', Iowa, December 23, 1861. His father, 
Henry J. Nicolaus, a grain dealer, possessed sys- 



tematic business habits which were imparted to his 
children. He died November t, 187"2. His widow 
now lives in Wilton, surrounded by her children 
with the exception of the subject of this sketch, 
having three sons anil one daughter near her. She 
bore the maiden name of Margaret Frenzel, indica- 
tive of the German origin of her ancestors. The 
boyhood of our sul)ject was passed in the (luiel of 
home life until he reached the age of fourteen 
years, when he began laying the foundation for his 
future SL'ccsss, by becoming a clerk in a diy-goods 
establishment where he remained six years. 

At the expiration of this time, young Nicolaus 
visited Chicago looking for a suitable location, and 
from that city came to Joliet in September, 1883. 
Engaging as clerk with a firm here, he acted in that 
capacity until the following January, when he be- 
came a partner in the business, the firm name being 
changed to Nachbour & Nicolaus, under whi(;h the 
business is still conducted, Mr. Nicolaus takes 
great interest in everything calculated to promote 
the welfare and prosperity of the city and the coun- 
try contiguous thereto. He and his partner take 
just pride in owning some of the best horses to lie 
found in Northern Illinois. 

Mr. Nicolaus set up his own household on Janu- 
ary 10. 1883, when he vvas united in marriage with 
Miss Louella L., daughter of L. L. Lane, of Musca- 
tine, Iowa. This pleasing and intelligent lady in- 
vests their dwelling with the attributes of true 
home life, making of it the center of their social 
existence. Mr. and Mrs. Nicolaus arc the hap|)y 
parents of one child. 



r/EROME DOXTADER, whose life work has 
been farming, owns and occupies a valuable 
tract of land on section 21, New Lenox 
Township, in addition to which he owns 
property in the village of New Lenox. In a quiet 
and unassuming manner Blr. Dg^tader has pursued 
his way in life, conscientiously discharging the du- 
ties which lay in his pathwa}', accumulating a com- 
fortable share of this vvorld's goods, and gaining 
esteem from all who know him. 



rOKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



7C'J 



From honorable German ancestry Me. Doxtader 
derives llie stcrlino; traits of his character. His 
parents, .lulin J. and Phrebe B. (Diienhach) Dox- 
tader, were natives of Montgomery County, N. Y., 
in wliich the\' niyo departed tliis life. They liad 
nine children, of whom their son Jerome was the 
youngest. He was born in the same county as his 
parents, his natal day being November 1, 1829. 
His life niitil liis twenty-third year was spent in 
his native county, pursuing the opportunities af- 
forded liiti) for acquiring an education, and the ag- 
ricultural worli which he chose as his vocation. In 
the fall of 18,")! he came to the Prairie State, and 
choosing a location in New Lenox Townsliip, tiiis 
C(.unty, has since resided here. 

One of the most important slei)s in the life of 
Mr. Doxtader was consummated October 2.'i, 1858, 
when in this township he became the husband of 
Delia Hartshorn. This lady is a daughter of David 
ami Fannie ( Mellen ) Hartshorn, and was born in 
this township about 1810. .She was a good woman, 
faithful to her duties as wife and motlier, and ex- 
hibiting toward neighbors and acquaintances 
the kindliness of a gentle nature and Christian 
spirit. She entered into rest Julj' 24, 1878, 
iniiurued by a large circle of friends. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Doxtader three children were 
liorn, namely', Willard K.; John D., who died when 
nineteen j'ears old; and L\dia L., who is now teach- 
ing in New Lenox. They received good advan- 
tages in the way of education and home training, 
and the surviving son and daughter are doing 
credit to the name they bear. i\Ir. Doxtader is a 
member of the Congregational Church, in the 
faith of whicli his wife died. He believes that the 
principles embodied in the Democratic platform 
are those best adapted to the needs of the people, 
and he therefore supports them with his voice and 
vo'e. 



^^ M. CULVER, Superintendent and Man- 




v^^/ I; ager of the Ashley Wire Works, in Joliet, 
" '*^ is well known here and highly respected 
(^' for his sobriety, honestj- and indnstry. His 

career has not been devoid of exciting incidents, 



and he has been "in perils oft" on fiehls of carnage 
and in dangerous campaigns, while even the peace- 
ful arts he has pursued have not been without some 
liability to accidents. 

Mr. Culver was born in Cazenovia, N. Y., May 
18, 1842, and is of honorable ancestry. His grand- 
father. Col. Richard Culver, was a brave officer of 
the War of 1812. His mother belonged to the 
illustrious family that gave to our country "Old 
Tipi)ec!inoe"' and onr present honored President. 
The father, Richard R. Culver, was a merchant in 
Buffalo until 1849, when he disposed of his stock 
and removed to Wisconsin, engaging in farming 
until his death, in 1852. The farm was then sold 
and the family made their home in Waukesha, 
where Mrs. Paulina (Harrison) Culver died. 

The eilucation of him of whom we write was 
olitained in the public schools, and he began life 
as a harness-maker. He remained in Waukesha 
until 185(!, when became to Joliet. Li 1861, at 
the first sountl of the war-cry, he returned to his 
former home and enlisted in Company F, Fifth 
Wisconsin Infantry, under Capt. Irving Beam and 
Col. Cobb. The regiment was at once called into 
active service in the Arni_^- of the Potomac, and with 
that part of the Union forces went on the Penin- 
sular campaign. At Williamsburg Mr. Culver was 
wounded in both legs and head, and received a 
furlough, subsequently being discharged on account 
of the injuries. 

Too patriotic to remain at home while the coun- 
try was still in danger, Mr. Culver re-enlisted 
after a partial recovery, joining the Third Wiscon- 
sin Cavalry, in Comjjany D. With that body he 
was sent into the dangerous regions infested with 
bushwhackers, where many a deed of daring was 
done and many a hazardous journey performed bj' 
the brave men, to whom capture meant certain 
death. He w.as present at Pilot Knob and Inde- 
pendence, and made one of the band that captured 
Gen. Marmaduke, "the lion of. the jungle." The 
tireless band to which Mr. Culver belonged fol- 
lowed Price to the Arkansas River and then turned 
to scatter Quantrell's guerrillas. After the war was 
ended and the rebels had laid down their arms, 
they were detailed to guard Gen. Butterfield dur- 
ing the construction of the route through the moun' 



770 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tains past Denver. Mr. Culver then rude back to 
Muilison, Wis., and leeeived an iionorable dis- 
ciiargc. 

Coming baci< to .luliel, Mr. Culver engaged in 
roofing for a brief period, following which he was 
Willi llie Auioricaii Sewing Machine Company as 
general manager five years. After a season in the 
rolling mills lie was requested by Oliver Bros., 
of I'ltlsburg, who had bought the plant of Scutt 
A Co., to take charge of a division in the Smoky 
City, anil did so, moving to that place. He re- 
mained there three years and six months and then 
acceded to r, [jersonal request to return to Joliet 
and take charge of the Ashley Wire Works. The 
responsible position he then assumed he is still 
holding, satisfying his employers and pleasing his 
patrons. 

In Joliet, in 1HG6, Mr. Culver was united in 
marriage with JMiss Sarah Dice, a worthy woman, 
who lived until 1872. To them were born: Ia'wIs 
E., who died in 187G; Charles; and Willie, who 
died in 1875. After the death of his first wife Mr. 
Culver remained a widower until June 11, 1882, 
when he led to the iiymencal altar Miss Catharine 
(iieen,a lady of great worth of character and many 
womanly accomplishtnents. She has borne him a win- 
some daughter, Ida Nettie, whose natal day was 
April 25, 1889. Mr. Culver is a member of Post 
No. 2, U. Y. U., and holds the office of Lieutenant 
Colonel. lie was reared to a belief in tiie tenets 
of the ^Japlist Church, and to it gives his support 
and personal influence. His wife also attends that 
church. 



\YJ AMES CURRY GRADY, of Joliet, was born 
in Dublin, Ireland, November 26, 1836, and 
spent his early years near his birthplace. 
Young Grady learned the trade of a mechan- 
ical engineer. He came to America in 1858, his 
first sojourn being at Portland, Me., whence be went 
to Toronto, Canada, and thence to Chicago, 111., in 
1861. He tooK a position on the Illinois Central 
Railroad, remaining in the Garden City until 1863, 
when he entered tiie emi)loy of the Chicago & Al- 



ton road, in whose service he lias been continuously- 
since that date. In 1864 he removed to Joliet, in 
which city he has since made his home. During 
these twenty -seven years of employment by the 
Chicago <k Alton Railroad Company, Mr. Grady 
has been on all the branches of the s^^steiu, and has 
drawn all kinds of trains. A still more remarkalile 
fact connected with his career, is that he has never 
had an accident. 

Mr. Grady is a son of Henry (!rady, a native of 
Galwa3-, Ireland. His parents came to Chicago by 
the way of New ( )rleans. The Southern branch of 
the family produced Henry Grad}' of Atlanta, Ga., 
the noted orator and journalist whose recent death 
was mourned far and wide. 

Miss Ann Blake, a native of his own birthplace, 
won the esteem of Mr. Grady, :nid his wooing hav- 
ing proven successful, tliey were joined in holy 
wedlock according to the ritual of the Churcli of 
England, January 10, 1856, in Clonmel Parish, 
County Tipperary, Ireland. Their liapi)\- union has 
been blessed by the birth of nine children — Eliza- 
beth, Henry, Will, John. Annie. Mary, Rosabel, 
Mabel, and James. The three elilest are married; 
Henr}' is a passenger conductor for the Union Pa- 
cific and Oregon Navigation Company, having 
risen through successive [jromotions; he is one of 
the most trusted railroad men on the Pacific Slope: 
his home is at Umatilla, Ore. Will is with the 
Elgin, Joliet <k P^astern Railroad: John is Superin- 
tendent of the machinery- in an extensive manu- 
factory in Anderson, Ind. All the children were 
given excellent educations in the Joliet High 
School, and Annie is now a teacher in that institu- 
tion, while Rosa was accorded the honor of being 
chosen a teacher immediately on graduation. Mary 
evinces a decided musical talent, and makes that 
her specialty. 

Mr. and Mrs. Grady are members of the Episco- 
pal Church. Mr. Grady has passed through the 
Masonic ranks of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and 
Commandery. He enjoys the legitimate result of 
a life of honor and industry in the respect of his 
fellow-men, and the comforts of a cozy home on 
Eastern Avenue, presided over by a capable house- 
keeper, and blessed by the presence of cultured • 
children and friends. 



I'HlirKAlT AND BlOGllAl'HICAL ALBUM, 



771 



;f,^^ ENHY SPANGLER. A stninger would not 
jl be in this county- long without hearing the 
name which stands at the head of this bio- 
^^' graphical notice, and learning that it is the 
cognomen of a prominent citizen of Jackson Town- 
ship, and one wiio is widely known throughout the 
county. At present this gentleman holds theoflice 
I of Supervisor, a position iu which he has served 
I his fellow-men for several years, his continuance in 
it proving conclusively that the duties have been 
discharged in a satisfactory manner. This is not 
the only public capacity in which Mr. Spangler has 
acted. In 1882 he was elected County Treasurer, 
and for fourj'cars his financial ability and integrity 
were made useful in that capacity. 

Pennsylvania was the native State of David 
Spangler and Amelia Batey, who became man and 
wife, and reared a family of nine children. They 
removed to Summit County, Ohio, in which the 
latter years of their life were spent. There their 
youngest child was born February 26, 1837, he 
being the gentleman of whom we write. He re- 
mained in his native State until he was twentj- 
years old, in the meantime becoming well versed 
in the management of a farm, as his father was an 
agriculturist, and acquiring a good education. 

Upon leaving his native State, Mr. Spangler re- 
paired to this couuty, and at once made a settle- 



ment on section 12, Jackson Township, engaging 
in agricultural pursuits. So successful have been 
his labors, that he now owns five hundred and sixtj- 
I acres in Jackson and Manhattan Townships, and has 
I an assured Qnancial standing. Every detail of the 
work carried on u|)on his place is under careful 
I oversight, and every part of the large estate evinces 
the taste and ability of the owner. A full line of 
buildings may be seen thereon, all substantial and 
well designed, while stock and machineiy are ex- 
cellent and sufficient in number and quantitj'. 

The pleasant home of Mr. Spangler is presided 
over by a lady whose intelligence and grace add to 
the attractions of the hospitable dwelling. She was 
known in her maidenhood as Miss Rachael Grove, 
and was a native of Summit County, Ohio, in 
which her marriage to our subject took place. Mr. 
and Mrs. Spangler have four living children, named 
respectively : Samuel M., EUery G., Alvin O.. and 
Dora A. They mourn the loss of a daughter. 
Almeda M.. who died at the age of nine years. Mr. 
Spangler is a Democrat, and has taken quite an 
active part in political aflfairs. The family is re- 
garded as a credit to tlie section in which they re- 
side, and were a wish expressed regarding them, it 
would be that they might long continue their resi- 
dence here, as their present health promises will be 
the case. 




TRANSPORTATION. 




TRANSPORTATION. 





' 7 ■ ! 1 *^^4-1-5- 







'^NE of tlie most important fac- 
tors in the Inisincss develop- 
ment and prosperity of a 
-^ city, county ur State, is its 
||t^ railroad communications. A 



G~) " ^" retrospection of tlie history 
of the Soutli Platte Country since 
k) the advent of railroad facilities, will 
convince the careful observer of the 
immense benefit resulting from the 
introduction of this essential adjunct 
of commercial enterprise. The fol- 
lowing brief sketches of the leading 
lailroads of this section of the great 
common weal lIi will form an interesting feature of 
this Album. It may be remarked in this connec- 
tion that the roads referred to are not only the im- 
portant corporations of Kansas, but stand among 
the first in the Nation. 



-J^^- 



(!liic:ijjo. Rock ImIuihI & Pacific 

'iJ S among the oldest and most important trunk 
lines, ha » ing Chicago for its eastern terminus — 
the completion of this road in Illinois marked 
:in important era in the development of the north- 
ern and western portion of the State, as well as 
contributing to the upbuilding of many thriving 



manufacturing cities on its line — notably Joliet, 
Moline, Rock Island and Davenport; also with its 
two branches extending to Peoria, has opened up 
good markets for the extensive coal and agricul- 
tural resources of that locality, likewise giving a 
rajjid impetus to the commercial and manufactur- 
ing resources of Peoria. Moline (except Chicago), 
is probably the most important and extensive man- 
ufacturing city on the line, and through the enter- 
prise of the great Rock Island Route it has been 
enabled to lay down its manufactured wares to the 
farmers of Southern Iowa, Northern Missouri and 
Kansas, cheaper than by any other road, and the 
vast lumber interests of the cities of Rock Island 
and Davenport have by means of this line been 
enabled to react} the most important, as well as the 
most remote, places In Kansas. The Rock Island 
has always been in the very van of railroad prog- 
ress; while always solid and substantial, yet it has 
ever been steadily and constantly building new 
lines and extending its system until it now ramifies 
into the best regions of the Mississippi and Jlis- 
souri Valleys. It lines extending to Denver, Colo- 
rado Springs, and other points in Colorado, offer 
unsuri)assed facilities, to the tourist or man of busi- 
ness for elegant and comfortable traveling; its 
superb dining cars have among travelers made it 
renowned as among the best roads of the "West. In 
brief the Rock Island Company has by a judicious 
system of permanent improvements, and by the in- 



TRANSPORTATION. 



Iroduction of all modern appliances which tend to 
Ihe preservation of life and jn-operty, placed itself 
in such a condition, niatcriallj- and jjliysically, that 
its financial fnture cannot lie alTuctcd by the con- 
tingencies which seriously aflfect other roads. Its 
success as one of tiie f^rcat highways of tiic A\^est 
is an assured reality. It might bo appropriately 
noted here tliat while much of this road's past suc- 
cess may be attributed to its admirable geograjjh- 
ical loi'ation, einl)racing a vciy rich section of the 
country for local trallic, and with a termini on Lake 
Michigan, tiie Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and 
Denver, tlie heart of tlie- Rocky IMonnlain le- 
gions, equally as much is due to the stability of tiie 
management, and to the fact tiiat tiie property has 
never yet become the foot-ball of speculators. It 
is not surprising that the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific has maintained a firm position as an invest- 
ment in tlic moncj'etl centers of tlie world, and it 
lias acquired a well-merited popularity with tlie 
traveling and slii|)i)iiig public. Its steel rails and 
well ballasted road-bed have long since made it the 
favorite with shippers, and its freight traffic is im- 
mense and growing. At Council Bluffs and Omaha, 
connections arc made with all roads centering 
there. It is the most direct and shortest route be- 
tween Omaha and Chicago — and hence the favorite 
of shippers. At Davenport a branch diverges to 
the Southwest, and extends to Kansas City, Leav- 
enworth, Atchison and St. Joseph. 

At St. Joseph the road crosses the Missouri and 
enters Kansas; at llorton the line diverges and ex- 
tends up into Nebraska as far as Nelson; from 
Fairbury, Neb., the line extends through Northern 
Kansas to Denver, and Colorado Springs. From 
llorton the line leads in a southwesterly direction 
thiough Topeka, the capital of the State; thence to 
Ilerington, Hutchinson and to Liberal, the latter 
j)lace on the line of the Indian Territory. At Mc- 
Failand a spur extends in a northwestern direction 
through Manhattan and Clay Center to Belleville, 
■where a junction is made with the main line to 
Denver, Col.; at Herington a short branch goes to 
Abilene and Salina. From Herington the line 
passes south through Wichita and Wellington to 
Caldwell, on the line of the Indian Territoi-j". 

With its accustomed energy this road was the 



first to complete its line into the Oklahoma country, 
passing through Kingfisher, and having Kl Reno 
for its Southern terminus. 

ClIAKACTKlJlsriCS OK TIIIC KOAI>. 

The whole number of miles operated by the Chi- 
cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway at the presi'iii. 
time, including second tracks and sidings, is aboui 
four tliousand and ninety-three miles. The main 
track mileage in the following States is: Illinois, 
236 miles; Iowa, 1,060.10; Missouri, 286.70; Kaii- 
s:is, 1,117.37; Nebraska, 140.97; Colorado, 376. 0(; ; 
and Indian Territory, 106.75 — 186.70 second track, 
and about 565.45 side track. 

This company has a contract for joint use of 
track with the Hannibal it St. Joseph between Kan- 
sas City and Cameron Junction; with the Union 
Pacific Railway from Kansas City to North Topeka, 
also from Linion to Denver; and with the Denver 
<fe Rio Grande between Denver and Pueblo. 

The principal shops of this company are located 
at Chicago, 111.; Rock Island, III.; Stewart, Iowa, 
Trenton, Mo.; Horton and Goodland, Kan.; and 
Roswell, Colo. .Solid trains, carrying all classes 
of passengers, are run through between Chicago, 
Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, via St. Joseph, 
Kansas City and Topeka; through trains to Wich- 
ita, El Reno (Ft. Reno), Hutchinson, Dodge Cit\-, 
Salina and Al)ilene. The line is equipped with 
first-class baggage, mail, smoking cars and coaches; 
chair cars of the latest improved pattern of chairs, 
and Pullman Palace Sleeping Cars. Dining cars 
are now running on all through passenger trains 
between Colorado points and Chicago, and also 
between Council Bluffs and Chicago, and eating- 
houses are located at convenient points on all divis- 
ions for the accommodation of local trains. It is 
contemplated to establish dining-car service on the 
whole line, in the near future. In regard to freight 
traffic, the management has a comprehensive sys 
tcm of through cars and way-billing to all promi- 
nent points in the West, Northwest and Southwest. 
Having their own rails between Chicago, Peoria 
and Kansas City, St. Joseph, Omaha and Denver, 
no delays or transfers between Chicago and any of 
these points. Also run through cars to the Pacific 
Coast via all lines having terminals on the coast. 



TRANSPORTATION. 



Less than car-load shipments to all prominent 
points in through cars, thus avoiding transfers and 
delay. Special attention is paid to live stock from 
nil i)oinls on the line. At present there is one 
liundrcd and eighty-seven miles of double track 
licing operated, one luindrcd and eighty-one miles 
of which is located in Illinois, between Chicago 
and Rock Island; the balance in Iowa, from Da- 
venport to what is known as I)oiil)le Track Junc- 
tion, about six miles west of Davenport on the 
Council Bluff line. 

The cx|ierience of the jiast has clearly demon- 
strated that whatever is undertaken by the mana- 
gers of the Rock Island is not merely done, but 
done well, that tlic}' possess to an almost unlimited 
extent the confidence of Eastern and European 
capitalists, and that they are remarkably shrewd 
and far-seeing in anything which affects the present 
or the futvire interests of their property. 

It will be observed that all the great leading 
marts of trade in Kansas are tapped by this road, 
tlicreby giving to that portion of the AVestastrong 
and substantial competitive market with the great 
Ivistern commercial centers. 



•aaz/®*®^ 



5^4— ».^.a/OT'w<» 



Aicliisoii, Topoka A: Santa Vv Railway, 

JOPULARLY known as the Santa Fe Uoutt;. 
The initial lines of this great s\'stem were 
first built from Atchison to Topeka, in 
) \ 1869, and for many years the former c^ty 
was the Eastern terminus of the roail. The man- 
agement of the Santa Fe, with wonderful energy, 
pushed out its lines in every direction into the 
yuung and growing State of Kansas, and in the 
majority of instances preceding settlement and 
civilization. This road was the first to penetrate 
across tlie southern part of Colorado, via I'ueblo 
and Trinidad into New Mexico, until its lines pene- 
trated the old adobe town of Santa Fe, whose citi- 
zens were half Spanish and half Mexican. As its 
course penetrated the wilderness it sometimes fol- 
loweil tlie old Santa Fe Trail, and generally not far 
ilistant at any time from the "trail" which had 



been made famous j'cars before by trapi»rs and 
also by the Government freighters. The mar- 
velous growth and development of the State of 
of Kansas is in a great measure due to the enter- 
prise and public spirit of the managers of tlie Santa 
Fe System. Not 011I3' did they devote the'.r en- 
ergy to the upbuilding of the road, but at great 
expense they maintained emigration and Colonial 
agents in the various countries of Euiope, as well 
as in the Eastern, Middle and Southern States, 
thereby advertising the State of Kansas as no other 
State has heretofore been done. Its climate, its 
soil and great advantages to the home seeker were 
at times fully portrayed by the enterprise of this 
road — every fostering care was given to the stock 
anil ranch men, to the merchant, the mechanic and 
the manufacturer to settle in Kansas — as a result 
we have here a State in the center of the Union, of 
boundless agricultural resources, settled hy a wide- 
awake, enterprising and prosperous people. The 
Santa Fe owns and o[ierates more miles of road in 
Kansas than any other line, with its vast system of 
East and West, North and South lines reaching 
every important town in the State, and penetrating 
sixty-three counties in Kansas. The magnitude of 
its business is immense. Its lines beginning at the 
Missouri River towns in Kansas are St. Joseph, Atch- 
ison, Leavenworth and Kansas Cit}'; extends south 
to Coffey ville, Arkansas City, Ilunnewell, Caldwell, 
New Kiowa (thence to the Pan Handle of Texas), 
and north to Superior, in Nebraska; Concordia, 
Clay Center. Minneapolis, and other Northern 
Kansas cities. Its main lines and branches reach 
nearly every important city in the State. St. Jo- 
seph, on the Missouri side of the river, has a popu- 
lation of nearly one hundred thousand, and its 
wholesale trade is heavy througliout the West 
Atchison is a growing city of about twenty thous- 
and people; the .Soldiers' Orphans Home of the 
State is located here. Leavenworth, with her thirty 
thousand people, is an important manufacturing 
center. Leavenworth w.as the earliest famous city 
of Kansas, as it was the original outfitting point for 
travel and traffic across tlie plains. The Kansas 
system may bedescribed as a main e.istand west line, 
over four hundred miles in length, with branch 
lines extending in every direction where an area of 



TKANSPORTATION. 



particularly rich country, or some other special 
advantages invited a linn of rails. 

The read from Topoka, after 1 SC'J, was extended 
west and south, and then east to Kansas City l)y 
purchase of a line built by another company. From 
Kansas City, in 1887-88 the line was extended to 
Chit'ago, under the name of liie Chicago, Santa Fe 
& California Road; iu 1887, also the i)urchase of 
the Gulf, Colorado ct Santa Fe Road, and the ex- 
tension of tiie Kansas lines through the Indian 
Territory to Texas, gave the company a line to the 
Gulf of Mexico. So that at the present time liie 
Santa Fe System proper begins at Chicago, passes 
through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, 
Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona 
and California, and has for its Southern terminals 
Galveston, on the Gulf of Mexico, and El Paso, on 
tlie IMexican frontier; and for its Western terminals 
San Diego and Los, Angeles, on the Pacific Coast, 
(San Francisco being practically a Pacific-Coast 
terminal, as it is reached via Mojave, over the 
tracks of the Southern Pacific Railway); and for 
its Northern terminals Chicago, St. Joseph, Mo., 
Su|)erior, Neb., anil Denver, the capital of Colo- 
rado. 

Chicago to Kansas City is practically an air line, 
being the most straight and direct of any road 
between the two cities. It passes through a large 
number of important towns in Illinois, including 
Joliet, with its great steel worics, and other manu- 
facturing interests. The next important place is 
Streator, a few miles south of the latter place; a 
branch extends to tlie thriving city of Pekin, on 
the Illinois River. From Streator the main line 
crosses the Illinois at Cliillicothe, and extends 
through Peoria and Knox Counties to the beauti- 
ful .'ind enterprising city of Galesburg, here it 
comes in competition with several lines of the 
Burlington Sj'stem ; thence running in a southwest- 
erly direction through a rich and populous section, 
crossing the Mississippi at Ft. Madison, on a mag- 
nificent steel bridge. Here the company have 
established shops, that being the terminus of tlie 
two operating divisions of the road. From Ft. 
Madison by a spur Keokuk is reached. The line 
through Missouri shows very heavy construction 
work, made to secure what was desired iu the way 



of distance and grades. Along the Santa Fe new 
towns are springing uji, and new industries arc be- 
ing dcvilopcd. Twenty miles east of Kansas City 
tlic Missouri River is crossed by a steel bridge, so 
that the line enters Kans:»s City on tlie south sids 
of the river. From Kansas City to Topeka thi^ 
line runs on the Sou til bank of the Kansas River; 
at Wilder anil llolliday are [)oiiits for the depart- 
ure of branch lines — one northwest to Atchison, 
and the otiier soiilliwest through Ottawa and Suuth- 
ern Kansas, being known as the Southern Kansas 
division of tlie Santa Fe System. From Lawrence 
to Topeka tiie road is still iu the Kansas Valley, 
through a veritable garden. Native trees of greiit 
height overhang the railway here and there, and in 
the spring and summer the crops look green and 
luxuriant. The approach to Topeka is through the 
long yards, and by the vast machine shops of the 
Santa Fe Company, across various broad streets to 
a commodious brick station. 

The general offices of the road are in Topeka, 
and occu|)y a handsome and commodious buililing 
near tlie State capitol. From Topeka to Denver 
the Santa Fe Route runs for about seventy-five 
miles iu a southwesterly direction to the upper wa- 
ters of Neosho River, at Emporia, passing through 
Osage County, where are found some of the richest 
coal fields of the West. At Newton the line di- 
verges south through Southern Kansas, the Indian 
Territory and Texas to Galveston; continuing 
west from Newton the first city of importance 
reached is Hutchinson; here are some of the heaviest 
salt works in the United States, besides other ex- 
tensive manufacturing interests. West of Ilutch- 
inson the line extends through a fertile, pros|)erous 
and rapidly growing district. The line is beautified 
here and there by many thriving cities and villages. 
At La Junta, in Colorado, the line for New Mex- 
ioo, Arizona and beyond, turns south. Pueblo, 
sixty-five miles due west of La Junta, for years the 
terminus of the Santa Fe S^'stem. is a growing 
manufacturing cit3'. It is admirably located with 
reference to the great ore-producing canons of Col- 
orado. All roads leading to it, coal, iron, silver, 
gold, lead, copper, building stone, everything in 
fact which is produced in the greatest mining State 
in the Union, roll naturally down hill to Pueblo. 



TRANSPORTATION. 



Beyond Pueblo to tlio west are many thriving cities 
founded on mining and agrieiilture, notaljly : Lead- 
ville, the greatest mining camp in Colorado; while 
forty miles north, on tliu line of the Santa Fc, arc 
the lovely villages of Colorado Springs, and Mani- 
tou, nestling at tiie foot of Pike's Peak. Manitou 
is at tiie mouth of a deep canon, and is one of the 
most lovely summer resorts in America. Near iiere 
is the famous "Garden of the Gods," whose won- 
drous beauty and grandeur is unsurpassed. From 
Color.ado Springs westward, through Manitou and 
lip the canon beyond Pike's Pc.ik, the Colorado 
Midland Railvvay is pushing its waj' far toward tlie 
the western borders of tiie State. Eighty miles 
D'jrth of Colorado Springs the Santa Fe line tor- 
min.'ites at Denver, a magnificently built citj^ of 
nearly two hundred thousand people. It is prob- 
able that no American city has so many features of 
unique beauty as Denver. Its splendid public iiuild- 
ings, and its broad avenues lined with beautiful 
residences, cozily located at the foot of the snow- 
ca|)ped mountains of the Rocky range, render it 
unlike any other city of its size in the world. The 
ride from Pueblo to Denver along the foot of the 
mountains is one never to be missed. The snow- 
coveicd peaks, the many combinations of sun and 
cloud, and rain and snow; the marvelous ntmos- 
])liere, all combine to suriirise and charm the be- 
holder. 

From Newton to Galveston, the line leaving the 
main east and west line in Kansas at Newton, runs 
directly south to Galveston. The first place of 
importance reached is the phenomenal city of Wich- 
ita, located on the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers, 
a citj' of thirty-five thousand people, where only a 
few years ago was an Indian trading-post. "Wichita 
is (ine of the most remarkable cities in the West. It 
li:is a heavy and growing wholesale trade, and a 
large amount of manufacturing liusiness, includin<jr 
the Burton Stock Car Works, the Dold & Whit- 
aker Meat-Packing establishments. The city is 
handsomely laid out, and lias many handsome pub- 
lic buildings, commodious business houses and 
s|)acious residences, situated on broad avenues, 
lined with beautiful shade trees. South of Wichita 
is a cluster of growing (;ities, comprising Winlield, 
Wellington, Arkansas City and Caldwell. Wieliita 



and Arkansas City have profited mucli by the 

opening up of Oklahoma to settlement. Kntering 
the Indian Territory the line passes through a 
magnificent agricultural country, as yet almost 
wholly undeveloped. In Texas the principal cities 
on the line between the Indian Territory and Gal- 
veston, arc GainesvilU', Paris, Ft. Worth, Cleburne. 
Dallas, Morgan, Temple, Brenham, Houston and 
Richmond. Galveston, the terminus, is a rapidly 

I growing city of fifty tliousand inhabitants. It is 
charmingly situ.ated on the (iiilf Coast, ami has an 
unsurpassed climate in both summer and winter. 

( From La Junta to El Paso, the line leaving La 
Junta climbs to the summit of the Raton Range, 
seventy-sis hundred and twenty-two feet above the 
sea. On the way up it |ia.sses through the impor- 
tant Colorado towns of El Moro and Trinidad. The 
village of Raton is an important division point for 
the railway, and then comes Las Vegas and its 
famous hot springs, six miles distant from the main 
line, but connected with it by a short line with 
good equipments. At the Hot Springs is the PIud- 
nix Hotel. The springs are unsurpassed anywhere 
in the world, and the hotel is conducted by the 
company in the most generous manner imaginalde. 
The springs are forty-two in number, and are hot 
and cold, and have a variety of mineral properties 
which render them remarkably strong in their cura- 
tive power. South of Las Vegas the line passes 
through fertile valleys, heavy forests, and l)l.ack 
and rugged canons, until the valley of the Rio 
Grande is reached. A branch line from Laniy ex- 
tends up the mountain to Santa Fe, the capital of 
New Mexico, next to St. Augustine, the oldest city 
in America. Santa Fe li.as a new Stale House, and 
its quaint old churches and dwellings arc inter- 
spersed with modern structures. It should be seen 
before the peculiar charm of its antiquity has been 
entirely destroyed. Albuquerque, Socorro and San 
Marcial are the chief points between Santa Fe and 
El Paso. All are important points for the business 
of mining, cattle raising and general commerce. 
From Rincon a branch line leads to Deining, where 
junction is made with the Southern Pacific Rail- 
way, and to Silver Citj', and to the other mining 
townsof Southern New Mexico. It is the fortunate 
destiny of New Mexico generally', and the Rio 



TRANSPORTATION. 



Grande Valley particularly, to soon take front rank 
in the line of fruit protluction. The grapes produceil 
in the Lower Rio Grande Valley are not surpassed 
hi either quality or quantity by the product of any 
part of tlie Continent. 

From Albuquerque to tiie Pacific Coast, in tlie 
heart of New Mexico, due west, the Atlantic iVr 
Pacific Railroad forms the main Santa Ke Route to 
California. The line passes through a great mining 
and stock-raising country, where the climate is per- 
fect. Prescott, the capital of Arizona, is reached 
by a brancli from Prescott Junction. Constant 
changes of scenery characterize the line, and the 
crossing of the Colorado Canon is one of tlie most 
remarkable accomplishments known in the railroad 
world. In Soiithein California the lines of the 
California Central & Southern reach every impor- 
tnnt city. Barstow, San Bernardino, Colton, San 
Diego, National City, Los Angeles, and a hundred 
Other beautiful towns offer nnequaled inducements 
to the seeker after health, wealth and pleasure. 
San Francisco and other cities of Cential and 
Northern California are reached by the lines of the 
Southern Pacific by virtue of a special arrangement 
for trallic. Between Cliicago and Kansas City 
meals are served on the finest dining cars; on the 
other lines .and branches arc superb eating-houses 
and liotels. No expense is spared in securing ele- 
gant accommodations; the supplies are secured 
from the best markets Fast and West. 

From the resume thus given of the facilities pos- 
sessed by the Santa Fe Railway, for interchanging 
tratJic at its tonnini and various junctions, it must 
be apparent to the reader that the line is admirably 



situated, and tliat in many respects it occupies a ij 
strategic position, superi(*r to tliat of other trans- 
Missouri and Mississippi railroads. These ad van- ■ 
tages have been utilized in the p.ast, as they will be 
in the future, in developing tiie localities through i 
which the various brandies extend, and to build Ij 
up the permanent prosperity of the property whose ' 
histoiy is so closely interwoven witli tlie settlement, , 
development and prosperity of the West beyond I 
the Missouri River. Its local traffic compares fa- 
voi'ably with that of other competing lines. To 
this purely local traffic must be added the contri- 
butions of its several termini, all large cities and ll 
prominent trade centers in tlie Missouri and Mi 
sissippi Valleys. With the growth and steady 
development of the manufacturing and other indus- 
tries of Chicago, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Atclii- 
son, Leavenworth, Topeka, Wichita, Galveston, 
El Paso, Pueblo and Denver, the Santa Fe Rail- 
way must materially make corresponding strides <i 
toward attaining that proud financial position which i 
has been the life dream of its originators and i 
present owners. Under the present progressive and I 
conservative management, all advantages of geo-- 
grapical position, and all the resources of the v 
through line will be constantly utilized in building! 
up the future prosperity of the road itself, and in 
<levelopiiig the extended area of Chicago's com- 
mercial supremacy. The Land Grant from the 
(Government amounted substantially to three mill-- 
ion acres. In brief its commanding geographical I 
position, coupled with its direct Eastern alliance 
for tlirough business, must renilor the Santa Fe 
eventually one of the most remunerative of our 
Western railroads. 




TRANSPORTATION. 



Tlie Wabash. 

O THE public aii'l our thousands of readers 
in general: — It will no doubt be interesting 
^ to ill! if we give a brief description of 
this road. The WiUiash, as now known, has been 
ii| iiated under several names from time to time. 
Jl is the offspring, as it were, of the first line of 
road projected in Illinois, then known as the 
Northern Cross Railroad, extending from Dan- 
ville to Quincy. This was chartered in 1837, and 
upon it the first locomotive was placed in the 
winter of 1838-39, running from Meredosia, on 
the Illinois River, to Jacksonville. In 1842 the 
road was completed from Jacksonville to Spring- 
field, and three trips were made per week. The 
track was of the old flat rail style, which was made 
by nailing thin strips of iron on two parallel lines 
of timbers placed at the proper distance apart, and 
running lengthways of the road. The engine as 
well as the road soon became so impaired that the 
former had to be abandoned, and mules substituted 
as the motor power. However, such locomotion 
was destined to be of short duration, for tlie State 
soon after sold the entire road for a nominal sum, 
and thus for a short time was suspended one of the 
(iist railroad enterprises in Illinois. But in the 
West a new era — one of prodigious industrial 
activity and far-reaching results in the practical 
arts — was dawning, and within thirty years of the 
lemporarj' failure of the road mentioned, Illinois 
had outstripped all others in gigantic internal im- 
provements, and at present has more miles of rail- 
[road than any other State in the Union. 

The Great Western, whose name has been suc- 
cissivel}' changcil to Toledo, Wabash & Western, 
Wabash, and Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, and 
W.ibash Railroad, and The Wabash, the last of 
w liich it still bears, was an extension of the Northern 
t'l OSS Railroad, above mentioned, and traverses some 
of the finest portions of Illinois, Indiana and Oliio. 
It soon became the popular highway of travel and 
trailic lietween the East and the West. Through a 
system of consolidation, unparalleled in American 
railways, it has become a giant among them, and 
Ikis added many millions of dollars to the value of 
111, lids and shares of the various companies now 
incorporated in the Wabash system. The road 



takes its title from the river of that name, a tribu- 
tary of the Ohio, which ic part separates the States 
of Illinois and Indiana. In looking over the map 
of the Wabash Railroad it will be seen that the 
line extends through the most fertile and wealthy 
portions of the center of the United States, having 
termini at more large cities than any other West- 
ern road. It was indeed a far-reaching sagacity 
which consolidated these various lines into the 
Wabash system, forming one immense chain of 
great commercial activity and power. Its ter- 
minal facilities are unsurpassed by any competing 
line. Its home offices are established in commo- 
dious quarters in St. Louis. The lines of the road 
are co-extensive with the importance of the great 
transportation facilities required for the products 
of the Mississippi Valley. This line passes through 
the States of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio 
and Michigan. 

The various lines of road may be divided into 
the following: 

Miles. 

St. Louis to Chicago 286 

Toledo to Kansas City 662 

St. Louis to Des Moines 360 

Logansport to Detroit 207 

Chicago to Lsketon Junction 123 

Clayton to Keokuk 42 

lUuffs to Quincy 105 

Streator to Forest 37 

Attica to Covington 15 

Champaign to Sidney 12 

Edwardsville to Edwardsville 

Crossing 9 

Rement to Altamont and Effingham 63 

lirunswick to Omaha 225 

Roseberry to Clarinda 21 

Salisbury to Glasgow 15 

Centralia to Columbia 22 

Miles of main lines and branches. . 2204 

From the above main line and branches as in- 
dicated, it will readily be seen that the Wabash 
connects with more large cities and great marts of 
trade than any other line, bringing Omaha, Kansas 
City, Des Moines, Keokuk, (Juincy, St. Louis, 
Chicago, Toledo and Detroit together with one 
continuous line of steel rails. This road has an 
immense freight traffic of the cereals, live-stock, 
various productions and manufactured articles of 



TRANSPORTATION. 



the West and the States through which it passes. 
Its facilities for rapid transit for the vast produc- 
tions of the packing houses of Kansas City and 
St. Louis, to Detroit, Toledo and the Eastern marts 
of trade, is unequalled. A large portion of the 
grain productions of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Mis- 
souri, Illinois and Indiana, finds its way to tlie 
Eascern markets over the lines of this road. The 
Wahash has always taken an advanced position in 
tariffs, and its course toward its patrons has been 
just and lihcral, so that it has alwaj'S enjoyed the 
coiiiniondation of the business and traveling i)ublic. 
Tiie road lied is one of the best in tlie country, and 
is ball.asted wfth gravel and stone, well tied and 
laid with steel rails. The bridges along the var- 
Unif lines and branches are substantial structuies. 
The depots, grounds and general property of the 
road are in good condition. The management of 
the .Wabash is fully abreast of the times. The 
road is progressive in every respect. The finest 
passenger cars on the continent are run on its lines, 
and every effort made to advance the interests of 
its patrons. The passenger department is unex- 
celled for the elegant and substantial comfort 
afforded travelers. On several of the more im- 
portant branches of the system, dining cars are 
run. 

Chicago & Alton. 

e^^HE Chicago & Alton has more miles of road 
lll/^ix in this conntv than any other line, and has 
v>^>?' been a great factor iu the development of 
the western part of the county, and especially of 
the city of Joliet. In conjunction with the Illi- 
nois cfe Michigan Canal it furnished the first oppor- 
tunity for the shipment of the immense output of 
the stone quarries of Joliet, and after the establish- 
ment' of the iron mills and other manufacturing 
concerns, other roads came in to compete for the 
traffc. In one continuous line it connects the 
three great cities — Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas 
City. The road h.as a large and increasing freight 
and passenger traflic, and its road bed is of a substan- 
tial and permanent character, wiiile its rolling stock 
is alwa^'S in first class shape. 



Michigan CentraL 

■^^ *)HIS road will prove an important adjunct 
in the develo|iment of .Toliet, inasmuch .as 
it furnishes with its extraordinary connec- 
tions the best of transportation facilities to the 
ICastern markets for the manufactured, farm and 
stone products of the county. 



Illinois Central. 

N September. IS.OO, Congress passed an Act, 
and it was approved by Tresident Fillmore, 
'ii granting an aggregate of 2,595,053 acres of 
land to aid in building this road. 

The Act granted the right of way, and gave 
alternate sections of land for sis miles on either 
side of the road. The grant of land was made 
directly to the State. On the 10th of February, 
1851, the Legislature of Illinois granted a charter 
to an Eastern conipanj', represented b\' Rantoul 
and others, to build it, with a capital sto( k of 
$1,000,000. The Legisl.ature, in granting the 
charter and transferring to the corporation tlii' 
lands, stipidated that scvan pfir cent, of the gross 
earnings of the road should lie paid semi-annually 
into the treasury of the State forever. This wise 
provision, in lieu of the liberal land grant, j'ields -a 
handsome annual revenue to the State. This road 
h.as a total length of seven hundred and six miles 
in Illinois alone, connecting Cairo with Chicago 
and Dunleith, or from Cairo to Centralia one 
hundred and twelve miles, and from Centralia to 
Dunleith three hundred and forty-one miles. At 
Dunleith a fine steel bridge spans t\^ Mississippi, 
connecting the former citj' with Dubuque, from 
which point a line traverses the State of Iowa, 
having for its western terminus the thriving city 
of Sioux Cit}'. 

At Cairo the Ohio is spanned by a high and 
splendid steel bridge, over which through trains 
are run to New Orleans. This road is one of the 
great trunk lines of Illinois and the Mississippi 
N'alley. Its principal leased line in this State is 
the Oilman & Springfield road, and with its 
Iowa and New Orleans divisions serves to mark il 
as one of the principal roads of the West. 



TRANSPORTATION. 



Chicago & Eiisterii Illiu<»is. 

(if^T^HIS important road passes through the town- 
shi|)s of Crete and Wasliington, in this 
eouiity. from nortli to soutii, having ahont 
thirteen miles, ineluding side tracks, in the county. 
The principal stations are Crete and Bcecher. This 
road furnishes fine facilities for the shipment to 
Chicago of the products of tlie a])ove-namcd 
township. 



Klgiu, Joliet & Eastern. 

)ETTER known as the .loliet Belt Line, with 
its numerous connections, has furnisiied 
superior facilities to the large manufacturing 
and quarry interests of the city, and has 
been a prominent factor in their development. 







A 



A.Kuu. William .750 

A lam, W. J 73' 

Adams, John 23 

Ailains, John Q 39 

Adlcr, Jacob 623 

Adk-r, P. P 330 

Akiii,!^. H 636 

Al-^xander, George 475 

Ari)ciier, Carl 581 

Arthur, Chester A gg 

Ashley, James K. 255 

Austin, J. B ■ ■ - 662 

Austin, J. E 762 



llaerchcck, Dr.C. M 713 

Mailey, Daniel 341 

r!aldwin,H. H., M. D 471 

llallance, Alexander 617 

Uannon, M. E 551 

liarher, F. E 355 

liarbcr, R. E 31S 

P.arney, V. L. D 597 

liarns, N 442 

Karrclt, J. 634 

Harthelme, Joseph 458 

i^artlett, George VV CoS 

Hatterniann, C 628 

Kallmann, C. F 719 

lied ford, John *. . . ..198 

Ueggs, S. R 765 

Hehrens, Henry 591 

licnnett, Nathan 660 

I'cnnctt. Thomas 6B3 

licnscn.O. H 551 

llcrgan, Bros 268 

I'erggren, Hon. A. W 282 

Hcrschied, Peter 460 

Bcseke, Charles 422 

Heutien. Wm 695 

Hcveridgc, John 1 171 



Kiggins, James 56S 

Binzen, Michael 425 

Birkett, Daniel 715 

Bissell, William H 151 

lilakely, U. S. G 548 

Bliss, Abel... 709 

Blogg, G. H . . .641 

Blood, Charles I ....642 

Boehl, August 299 

Bohi, Henry 286 

Boltni.Tnn, Fred ego 

Bolton, H. M 426 

Bond, Shadracli m 

Bovee, Harper 415 

Eowe, Moses 258 

Boyd, James S 429 

Boylan, R. J 654 

Brannon, G. H., M. D 667 

Brannon, Londus M ■ 1) 667 

Brauer, Rev. E. A 251 

Braun, C. C 444 

Bredemeyer. William 349 

Brinckerhoflf, John 387 

Briscoe, Patrick 69? 

Bristol, George S 288 

K^roadie, JohnC-.. 312 

Brockway , Henry S 735 

Brooks, A. B .... 196 

Brown, Elisha 558 

Brown, J. D 45^ 

Brown, Thomas W ^26 

Brumund, D 621 

Branson, G. M 406 

Buchanan, James 75 

Buck, George A. 405 

Buehler, Jacob 482 

Bump, Jefferson 468 

Eurkhart, John H 'J71 

Burlingame, H. R 426 



Cagwin.Hon. Abijah . 


369 


Cullioiin, William 


. ...296 


Campljell, Alexander 


30" 


Campbell G. M 


^65 


Campbell, James. ... 


....JOl 



Cann, John 212 

Carlin, Thomas 135 

Carpenter, A. P 764 

Carpenter, Rev. S. T Ceo 

Casey, John R.,M. D. 536 

Casseday, H.C 743 

Caton, W. P 723 

Cavanaugh, John 356 

Chadwick, Miss Jane 378 

Chamberlain, S. S 704 

Chrislensen, Peter 616 

Cliristian, D. 1 248 

Clark, Thomas 555 

CLiyes,L. M 241 

Clement, 'A. C s'9 

Cleveland, S. G rover 103 

Clow, William M 629 

Clyne,JamesA 75S 

Clyne, John T 210 

Cockett, Chas. S 470 

Cole, Henry 276 

Colegrove, L. G 668 

Coles, Edward 115 

Collins, Addison 654 

Collins, Hon. M 238 

Conley, E. D 579 

Cook, M. L 421 

Cook, William 728 

Cooper, N . P 720 

Corlett.John 527 

Crellin,R. R 633 

Crossen, R. W 381 

Crowe, Thomas 402 

Culbertson, Thomas 240 

CuUom, H. C ,..247 

Cullom, Shelby M 17S 

Culver, A. M 769 

Cunningham, M. J 297 

Curtis, Prof. Charles 511 

Cashing, Martin 469 



D 



Daggett, John F.,M.D 708 

Danby, William 596 

David;;on, William- . 365 

Davis, A. I. . 207 



l^ay, John .206 

Day. William 480 

Demmond, Martin H 305 

Deutschman, Harman 444 

Dibble, Edmund .599 

Dibell, Dorrance 358 

Diersen, J. W 250 

Dingley, William 492 

Dixon, George 706 

Dixon, John T 694 

Doescher, H.N ^d-j 

Doescher, J. C 592 

Doig, .'\Iexander 763 

Doig, John H 425 

Doig, Thomas 2eo 

Dougall. William, M. D 215 

Downey, J. W 246 

I>oxtader, Jerome 768 

Doyle, Michael 698 

I>rumm, Adam 410 

Duncan, Joseph 131 

Dunlap, George W 348 

Dunne, Patrick W 335 

Dyer, N. D 331 



E 



Eberhart, F 550 

Edwards, Ninian 119 

Ehrhardt, August . .345 

Eib, Amos 763 

Eib, George 535 

Eichelbarger, Urias 614 

El wood, James G 686 

Erb, William 467 

Eriksson, August 749 

Etheridge, Edward 737 

Ewing, William L. D 127 



Fahrner, John 336 

Fahs, Tobias 231 

Fargo, Mrs. E. M 477 

Fell, James 437 



INDEX. 



FcrEuson, Robert 466 

Ferguson, T. D 242 

Kcrris, James H 501 

Fcrriss, Daniel 375 

Fcwtrell. Saniiiel 338 

Kiddy incut, Daniel .353 

Kiddyment, F 618 

Fi<ldyirient, W. J a66 

FifLT, Joseph W 183 

Fillmore, Millard 67 

F lagg, G. \V 360 

Flags, W. H 720 

Ford, Thomas .139 

Foster, C. P 545 

Francis, A. A 05 

Francis, Charles .' 710 

Francis, G. L 710 

Francis, John 564 

Fraser, Samuel B 49* 

Frazer, H. V.... 615 

Fredrick, Joseph 473 

French, Augustus C 143 

Frcy, F. P 326 

Fridley, John. 677 

Fridley, John F. ...646 

Fry, David 431 

Kuller, }i. A .. 381 



G 



(JardcM, James A qs 

(-"■arnsey, Hon- C. IJ 745 

Ciciss, David B 398 

Ociithcr, John G 480 

;: truth er, J.N 672 

1 1 ise , V). K 577 

(ilasqow. Samuel 733 

tlJiddcn, Stephen 397 

Clover, Wil!i;iin ^oS 

Gockley, Abraham 252 

Gocdson, William. 2.15 

Goodspeed, Judge Francis. -. igi 

Gordon, Jay 715 

Goudy, Robert 594 

Gongar, John .211 

Gougar, J. E 193 

Gougar, William 6gi 

Grabc, Henry 731 

Grady, James C 770 

Granger. A. L 307 

Grant, B. A 705 

Grant, Ulysses S 87 

Graves, R. B 598 

Gray, Walter 455 

Green leaf, R. O. 611 

Gurney, G. F 535 



II 



H.iass, Emil, M. D 416 

Hack, John 489 

Haley, P. C 300 

H.imilton, John M lyg 

Harper, Joseph 678 



Harrison, Amos 686 

Harrison, Benjamin 107 

Harrison, WiUiain Henry 51 

Harsliharger, G. H ...i8o 

Hartong, Jacob J 319 

Hartwcll, Levi 476 

Haseman, Fred 335 

Hausscr, Simon.. . . 66r 

Haven, Dwight C 30J 

Haven, Hon. Dwight 587 

Haven. S, R., M. D 696 

Hawes, Mrs. Lucy 488 

Hawlcy, A. G 269 

Hayden, John 575 

Hayes, Rutherford B..*. .. gi 

Hayward, C- B 706 

Heldt, E 370 

Heidi, William 677 

Henneberry, D. S 259 

Henry, E. E ; 535 

Henry, Isaac -. 279 

Heniy,J. A 758 

Henry, William E 639 

Hentze. L. M 767 

Hertzog, Charles 796 

Hiles, Thomas 281 

HinckeL George S 66.<; 

Hinz, Christoph 666 

Hogan. D. L 492 

Hogan, J. E. M. D, 546 

Hohcnstein, Simon 732 

Holden, N. P.,M.D 485 

Holmes, J. E ^58 

Holmes, Julius S 245 

Holmstrom P. E '. 550 

Holz, Charles 357 

Hood, .Samuel, M. D 616 

House, George S 68r 

Howland, E. D., M. D 729 

Hunt,JohnJ 468 

Hunter, Joseph, Sr 445 

Hunter, William H 227 

Hurlbut, E. S 570 

Huston. Robert 509 

Hutcbins, Thomas H. 546 

Hyland, A. K 552 



Ingersoll, A. A . . 
Ireland, William. 



.309 
.683 



Jackson, Andrew ^^ 

Jackson, William (J 262 

Jar man, Edward 232 

Jaynes, E. E 453 

Jefferson, Thomas 27 

Jensen Augustus.. . . 724 

Jensen , Louis 726 

Johnson, Andrew 83 

Jones, James 766 

Jones, Noble 346 



Jones, Thomas W 449 

Jones. William 496 



K 



K a ps, Joseph 352 

Karch. Jacob 237 

Kaiika, Hon. Fred 272 

Reir, James , 388 

Kelly. M. W., M. D 575 

Kelly, Hon. Thomas J. 549 

Keniston, Jerry 502 

Kercheval, F. L 2T7 

Kiep, John .*; 366 

Killcy, John 512 

King, A. J 73b 

King. James B 407 

Kinsella, J. A 447 

Kipp, Henry 529 

Kirk. 'I'liomas J 302 

Knapp, 1. O., M. D 530 

Kncpper, P 479 

Korst, Nicholas 635 

Krause. Fred 537 



Lam be, William 50S 

Laml)ert. Krank 5^2 

Lambert, George 495 

Lanfear, W. H 714 

Langreder, H 311 

Laraway, Charles 683 

Larkin, Thomas 228 

Leising, J. F 199 

Lewis, C. A ...508 

Lewis, Rev. James 385 

Licbtenwalter, H. H 538 

Lincoln, Abraham 79 

Lincbarger, A. J 228 

Link, I 725 

Loebstein, Samuel.. 257 

Longshore, J. G 400 

Love, Samuel -709 

Luther, F. A 247 

Lynd, George M. 267 

Lynk, .Stanton 744 

Lynk, William 542 

Lyon, Edward P 308 

Lyon, Henry S 308 



M 

Madison, James 31 

Marsh, F. E 391 

Mmrsh,H. N 3^0 

Marshall, C. H 420 

Marshall, Griffin 372 

Mason, D. C. 457 

Mason, T. A iy4 

Matteson, Joel A 147 

Meers, E 378 

Meier, John O 518 



Messenger, H. I 735 

Mctterhausen, L 230 

Meyer, S„M.D 727 

McAllister. Capt. E (,„ 

McClaughry.C. C 330 

McClure.C.J 5,^ 

McDonald, John ,79 

McFaddcn, John, Jr ^oi 

McGovern, James J., D. 0-325 

McNamce, James 676 

Miller, Capt. James 4,5 

Miller, Simon j^o 

Miller, T. L ,^5 

Mills, Andrew J.,M. D 295 

Mills, T.O „„ 

Millspaugh, I. T 532 

Monroe, James 35 

Morrisey, J, F „, 

Munch, Xavier O04 

Miinroe, George 718 

Munroe, George J 640 



N 



Nachbour, J. F 501 

Nash, Alfred, M. D 3^0 

Nelson, Samuel G ; 200 

Ncuer, Leopold 545 

Niccolls, William S. 520 

Nicola us, W. A 768 

Noel, Gabriel 736 



O 



O'Dounell, James 1 589 

O'Gara, Rev. T. F 603 

Ogden. E. C, M.D 195 

Oglcsby, Richard J 163 

Ohlendorf, H. W 371 

Ohlendorf, John H. Jr 327 

Olin, Hon. Benjamin 289 

Osgood, Hon. Uri 219 



Paddock, Walter 236 

Paddock, William J 525 

Palmer, John M . .* 107 

Patrick. J. F 5^0 

Pattersoo, A. V ^tg 

Patterson, Robert 490 

Patterson, Daniel 260 

Patterson, Mungo 438 

Pauli, C. 362 

Paulsen , Claus 753 

Pease, S. B 500 

Pederson. Knud 478 

Pettigrew, Charles 275 

Pickel, George 368 

Picpenbrink, J.O 717 

Piepenbrink, John O.Jr 2ifl 

Picpenbrink, H. F 5S8 



INDEX. 



Pierce, Franklin 71 

Pinneo, J- H .516 

I'inneo, Charles F 372 

I'lagge, Fred 497 

I'olk, Jiinies K 59 

roincroy, George N 322 



R 



K:ipp.-il, M ich;icl 652 

I<anft,Jo!in 665 

Keynoltis, John 123 

Richards, Charles, M. D 205 

Richardson, Amasa 430 

Rincker, J.J --Gs^ 

Ritchcy, B. 1) .605 

Robertson, F. H 277 

Robins, Fitz J 646 

Robinson, John H 258 

Rockey, George E 525 

Rosenheim, David .725 

Ross, L. E 401 

Rowell,NatJ 675 

Rowley, P. K 707 

Riidd, K. 396 

Riige. C 443 

Russell. H. R 556 

Ryhurn, David C88 



Salzmann, Chrismph 724 

Sans, Rev, Christian 590 

Savage, Hon. Amos 350 

Sawyer. H. J.. 633 

Schirra, Charles 209 

Schmuhl, H. J 409 

Schoenstedt, C 193 

Schroeder, John. 674 

Scittly, Patrick V 406 

Scutt, F. W 459 



Searles, D. C fin 

Seaver, Charles S 315 

Seggebr:; :h, (iotlieb 310 

Sehring, Frederick f>5i 

Senholtz, F'red. - . - 217 

Shaffner, B ... 415 

ShaflTner, K. L 762 

Sharp, A. li 510 

Shaw, George E 328 

Shaw, J. B.,M. D 371 

Shenk. M 287 

Shutts. John 547 

Simmons, Hon. S 337 

Slaughi, A. W., M. D 541 

Smith, Capt- I. W 419 

Smitii,C. C 650 

Smith. (;. Y 684 

Sollitt, Charles W 197 

Solterman, J 432 

Spangler, Henry 630 

Spangler, Henry 771 

Spangler, P. W 441 

Spautding, Jacob 645 

Sperry, George 703 

Spragiie, C. N 6ofi 

Stafford, Enoch 571 

Stage, William C 405 

Stanner, Thomas B 568 

Starmann, T. M . H 737 

Starr, A. R 751 

Stassen, Hon.H. H 745 

Stedt, William 317 

Stellwagen, William 436 

Stephen, David S 201 

Stephen, E. C 359 

Stephen, John. 697 

Stevens, Capt Robert 528 

Stevens, E. L 435 

Stevens, \V. W. 427 

Stcjvart, M. N. M 685 

Stewart, W. B.,M. D 298 

Stewart, W, D 727 

Storrs, P. G 312 

Straight, W. A 389 

Strong, Albert M 569 

Strong, L. A 515 

Strong, W. A 320 

Studtmann, Hermann 613 



Sutphen, C. H 446 

Sweedler. John 68r 

Swiggart, J. M 32; 



Taylor, A. 5R0 

laylor, Zachary 63 

Theiler. John 317 

Thompson. Hon. ). M 755 

Thompson, J. C 387 

Thomson, D. M 392 

Tildcn, M. F 571 

Trainer, Thomas 697 

Trowbridge, W, C 205 

Tuck, Adam 396 

Tticker, Thomas 208 

Twining, Watson F 220 

Tyler, John 55 



u 



I'^msted, N orris 738 



Van Buren, Martin 47 

Vance, George L 30^ 

Van Duser, Gecrge 461^ 

Van Home, A. C 316 

Varley, Thomas 399 



w 



Walter, M 270 

Walz, John J 222 



Warner, Alfred ■■6g^ 

Warthen, O. H. P 316 

Washburn, R. S .448 

Washington, George iq 

Wassmann, H. C 539 

Weese, J.C 305 

Wehmhofer, William- 393 

Wenberg, Louis .262 

Wendling. George 582 

Werner, E.H 761 

Werner, F. W., M. D 285 

Westphal, Martin 26? 

Whit«. Julian E 286 

White, S.S 256 

Whitson. D. G 4,1 

Whitson,John H ^qS 

Whitlier, George 627 

Wilco.v, Charles C 43 , 

Wilcox, Edmund 235 

Wilcox, F. C 218 

Wilder, Almon 517 

Wilke, Hon Fred 61^ 

Wilkening, C 7^2 

Wilkening, John 521 

Willard, Judge D 376 

Williams, John Sr 505 

Williams, S. J 734 

Wilson, J. T. 362 

Wood, John 155 

Wood, Willard 439 

Woods, John 757 

Woods, Maj. R.M 671 



Yates, Richard. . . n^g 

Vonker. Nicholas 33Q 

Young, George W. eo^ 

Young, Sheldon 624 



Zarley, J. C. 
Zinser, G. H. 



.2QI 

.s6o 




Beseke, Charles 423 

Rinzcn, M 423 

Broad ie, John C 313 

Brumund, D 619 



Clark, Thomas 553 

Fiddyment. F 619 

Fiddyment. Mrs. Hannah.. .353 
Harper, Joseph 679 



Hyland, A. K 553 

Jaynes, Ezra E. . , 451 

Kaps, Joseph 353 

Killey, John .513 



Mills. ThomasO 451 

Strong, Lorenzo A 515 

Sweedler. John 679 

Thomson. i>. M 3^, 

Tuck, Adam 3^3 



INDEX. 



^ )C^^^ :a«K ^^ ^>C' 0^- 






Adams, John aa 

Adams, John Q 38 

Alexander, George 47* 

Arthur, Chester A 98 

Ashley, J. R... «54 

T^acrchcck, Dr. C. M 7" 

Barney, V. 1.. D 596 

lieveridse, John I ..170 

Kissell, William H ^o 

'Bond, Shadrach no 

Buchanan, James 74 

Buck, George A 404 

Campbell, George M 264 

Carlin, Thomas 134 

Casseday, G W 740 

Casseday, Henry C 741 

Caton, William P 722 

Cleveland, S. Grovcr- 102 

Coles, Edward 114 

"Crcllin, R. R 632 

^Cnrom, Shelby M 17^ 

Davidson, VVilHum 3'>4 

iJenimond, M. I! 304 

'l>oiiga!l, Dr William ?i4 

Duncan, Joseph 130 



Dunne, Rev. P. W 334 

Edwards, Ninian 118 

Ehrhardt, August 344 

Eriksson, August 648 

Ewing. William L. D T2b 

Ferriss, Thomas. 374 

Fifer, Joseph W 18a 

Fillmore, Millard 66 

Ford, Thomas 138 

Foster, Rev. Charles P 544 

Francis, A Allen 564 

French, Augustus C T42 

Fuller, B. A 380 

Garfield, lames A g.\ 

Goodspeed, Hon. Francis 190 

Gougar, William 690 

Grant. Ulysses S 86 

Gurney, G. F. . 534 

Hamilton, John M 178 

Harrison, Benjamin 106 

Harrison, William H 50 

Haven, Hon. D wight .584 

Haven, Mrs. Lizzie C 585 

Hayes, Rutherford H go 

Henry. William E 638 



Hinckel, George S 6^4 

HoUIen, N. P 484 

Holmes, J . S ._. 244 

Jackson. Andrew 4^ 

Jefferson, Thomas. zft 

Johnson, Andrew Rs 

Kclley, r)r. M. W 574 

Lewis, James 384 

Lincoln, Abraham 78 

Madison, James 30 

Matteson. Joel A 146 

McGovern,»Rev. James J 324 

Miller, T. L 224 

MilU, Dr. A. J 294 

Monroe. lames 34 

O'Gara, Rev. T. F 602 

Oglesby, Richard J 162 

Paddock, Willi.im J 524^ 

Palmer, John M 166 

Petti grew, Charles 374 

Pierce, Franklin 70 

Polk, James K 58 

Reynolds, John laa 

Richards, Dr. Charles 204 

Searles, D. C fo8 



Searles, M rs. H. N 609 

Sehring, Fred ....650 

Shaffner, B.. 414 

Smith, C. C 657 

Smith, Mrs. C. C 656 

Spaulding, Jacob 644 

.S perry. Gc«rge 700 

Sperry, Mrs. George 701 

Stevens, Capt. Robert ■ 598 

Stevens, E. L 434 

Taylor, Zachary 62 

Thompson, J. M 754 

Tyler, John 54 

Van Buren, Martin 46 

Van Diiser, George .462 

Van Duser, Mrs. KIminaM-.463 

Washington, George 18 

Werner, Dr. E. H 760 

Werner, Dr. F. W 284 

Whittier, George 626 

Wilcox, Edmund 234 

Williams. John 504 

Wood, John 15 » 

Woods, Maj. R. M 670 

Yates. Richard 158 



-^ 




X 10^ 4« 



